Cessna’s Citation XLS is a few months away from its first customer delivery. The first production aircraft was rolled out of Cessna’s main manufacturing facility on April 17, 2004 and will be delivered during the summer of 2004.

The first European delivery, to an operator in Portugal, is scheduled for the third quarter of 2004.

“We have already seen signs that the XLS will be as popular in Europe as its predecessor, the Excel,” said Trevor Esling, Cessna’s director of international Citation sales.

“New XLS owners have been most attracted to the 150 nautical mile improved range capabilities and the 34 knots greater cruise speed at maximum altitude.”

Today, approximately 15 per cent of Cessna’s Excel fleet operates in Europe. Countries with the largest Excel population are England, Portugal and Switzerland.

The XLS travels at 430 ktas at 43,000 feet and has an NBAA IFR range of 1,798 nautical miles.