Textron has achieved the successful flight of its second Cessna Citation Ascend flight test article (P1) as certification momentum builds for the newest Citation business jet. This comes after the Ascend prototype completed its first flight in 2023, and marks the P1 as the first conforming production flight test aircraft. The Ascend is expected to enter into service in 2025.

The initial flight of P1, piloted by Michael Bradfield and Maurice Girard, lasted one hour and 24 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 13,500ft with a maximum speed of 308 knots. The aircraft will be used for the flight test programme, primarily for systems testing, including propulsion, human factors, environmental control and avionics.

“This successful flight of the second Citation Ascend test article marks another achievement for the programme, and that’s a testament to the many great employees involved with this project,” says Chris Hearne, senior vice president, engineering. “The aircraft has continued to perform well through the phases of testing, and I continue to be confident in the programme’s momentum and in our skilled team members who make it possible.”

The Citation Ascend flight test certification programme is expected to complete certification testing with the two test articles, the prototype and P1. To date, the programme has accumulated more than 400 flight hours.