Cessna announced at the recent Dubai Airshow the first delivery to a Middle East client of a new Citation X business jet retrofitted with elliptical winglets. Saad Wallan, chairman of Wallan Aviation, Cessna's authorised sales representative and Citation service centre for the Middle East, says: "Cessna and Winglet Technology, LLC, collaborated to develop the LLC's patented elliptical winglet for retrofit on the Citation X. The shape ensures that the lift distribution closely matches the optimum along the span of the wing, which reduces the induced drag of the aircraft. The resulting drag reduction enhances operational performance for the Citation X including decreased fuel consumption, increased speed and increased range."

Wallan will be one of those who benefits from reduced operating costs. He uses his Citation X to travel between diverse business interests in the Middle East, United States, Europe and Asia. Wallan says: "The elliptical winglets will boost the range by 480 nm with six passengers."

Winglet Technology received FAA approval for the winglet installation on the Citation X in June 2009. The retrofit kit includes flight and operations manual supplements along with an updated version of Cessnav for clients who have purchased that subscription service from Cessna. In addition to the installation of the winglets, the retrofit kit includes the replacement of the existing anti-collision and position light system with LED versions.

Trevor Esling, Cessna's international svp, says: "Plans are underway to offer installation of the winglets on the Citation X at all nine Cessna service centres located throughout the US and in Europe. Cessna parts distribution will be providing spares support for Citation Xs with the winglets installed."

Cessna markets the Citation X as the world's fastest non-military aircraft with a top speed of .92 Mach, just under the speed of sound. It is derived from the stretched Citation III with GMA 3007 engines, a typical passenger capacity of eight and a range of 2,890 nm with a cruise speed of 525 knots.

Capt Allan Thomas of Grosvenor Estate, which has its own CAA approved maintenance operation, confirms he is very satisfied with Citation X maintenance support. "I am very satisfied with the dispatch reliability. There have been only two dispatch failures in the last two years," he reports.

Capt Thomas is also very satisfied with the operating capability of an aircraft that has been used throughout the US, Canada, Europe and North Africa. "I am very satisfied with the value," he adds. "The best aspects are the speed and comfort and the ability to climb FL430 at gross weight but the worst thing is that there are too many computers! However, it is a pilot's aeroplane and a joy to fly."