The first production Citation Encore, serial number 539, saw daylight in Wichita at the start of March. Cessna says the programme is on schedule for spring certification and first customer deliveries by autumn. \rThe Encore flight test programme has accumulated 950 flight hours over 600 flights; systems operation, controllability and stalls have all been successfully completed and signed off by the FAA. Currently, Cessna is focusing on icing and cold weather operations testing. This portion of certification will conclude with 75 hours of reliability testing. \r"We are confident that customers will be pleased with the Encore," said Roger White, vp of sales and marketing. "It has been designed to retain the features that Citation V and Ultra customers value most while adding more fuel efficient engines, trailing link landing gear for softer taxi and landings, heated leading edge wing de-icing and improved maintainability."\rEuropean customers have placed about 12 per cent of orders, next available delivery slot is in May 2002.