Cessna's third Citation Mustang, the second production aircraft, successfully completed its maiden flight, joining the Mustang prototype and first production aircraft in the development and certification flight test programme.

The third Mustang will be used primarily for systems certification, function and reliability tests and post-certification service tests. The 90-minute first flight puts the Mustang certification flying programme at more than 360 flights and 580 hours.

The Citation Mustang prototype will primarily be used for aero-dynamic and performance certification.

FAA certification for the aircraft is scheduled for late 2006. It will be the first Citation business jet to be built at Cessna's facility in Independence, Kansas, though it started life in Wichita before being moved to the Independence facility. The next model will be the first Mustang to be built from scratch and completed at the same plant.