Cessna’s first production Citation Mustang very light jet completed a test flight on August 29 – two months ahead of schedule. The aircraft – serial number 0001 – flew for two hours as systems, avionics, handling, autopilot, engine response and the de-icing system were tested.

“We have a strong team working on the Mustang programme and they’ve achieved a major milestone by getting production unit one off the ground a month early,” commented Citation Mustang programme manager Russ Meyer III.

“The Mustang team laid the foundation for this success in the early assembly and use of production tooling to build these first aircraft, significantly decreasing the amount of rework and squawks. In addition, systems installation and functional testing progressed well ahead of schedule.”

The first flight of the Mustang took place on April 23 and the programme has since logged more than 230 flight hours with three aircraft. With more than 230 orders placed already, Cessna expects to receive certification for the aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2006.