News
Cessna Aircraft introduces Citation M2
Sept. 27, 2011, Wichita, Kan. - Cessna Aircraft Co. has introduced a new
light business jet which it plans to build at one of its Kansas
facilities.
September 27, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
The Citation M2, unveiled to prospective buyers at a customer event in
Wichita, aims to fill the market gap between the company's Citation
Mustang and the Citation CJ planes. The company says feedback from
owners have shown a market exists for a plane with the size, speed and
range of the Citation M2.
"If you are going to continue to be competitive and stay in this
business you continually have to look at introducing new product," said
Scott Ernest, Cessna president and chief executive officer. "And so
investing in the product, investing in the people is absolutely the
right thing to do."
The $4.2 million aircraft has room for two crew members and six
passengers. It can go faster and farther than the Mustang with a cruise
speed of 400 knots and a range of 1,300 nautical miles, the company
said. It can operate on runways as short as 3,250 feet and can climb to
41,000 feet in 24 minutes.
No decision has been made yet about whether the plane will be built at
the company's Wichita or Independence plant. Ernest said production of
the new jet will be in addition to existing product lines. It provides
an opportunity to add more employees, but Ernest offered no specifics.
He told reporters after the unveiling that the company has already sold a few of the planes, sight unseen.
The announcement comes as other aircraft makers are scaling back
production amid an uncertain global economy. President Barack Obama also
has drawn criticism in this aircraft-manufacturing city for a job
stimulus plan that includes changing the favorable tax treatment of
corporate jets.
"You've got a president who is not actively supporting business jet
growth, that is a challenge for this industry," Ernest said. "But from
our perspective we are going to continue to build a very reliable
product and make sure that we have the ability to deliver new product to
meet our customer needs because it is a productivity tool."
The first test flight of the prototype is expected next year, with the first deliveries anticipated in the second half of 2013.
