Begins Testing On All Systems
Cessna's Citation Mustang has made tremendous progress during
its first two weeks of flight-testing. Since first flight on April
23, 2005, the Citation Mustang has logged over 36 hours in 19
flights.
Testing on all Citation Mustang systems, including the Garmin
G1000 integrated avionics system and the Pratt & Whitney PW615F
engines and FADECs, has begun. The initial flight envelope
expansion was completed on May 2, 2005, and the Citation Mustang
successfully demonstrated its interim flight envelope limits of 200
KIAS (0.63 Mach) and Flight Level 41,000 feet (FL410). Cessna
anticipates further expansion to Vmo and Mmo in mid-summer.
"The Citation Mustang is getting off to a great start," said
Jack J. Pelton, Cessna's Chairman, President and CEO. "We were able
to complete first flight ahead of schedule, and during the first
two weeks of flight testing we have not lost any flights due to
mechanical or system failures."
Ground testing on the Citation Mustang cyclic fatigue test
article begins in July at Cessna's 74,000 square foot structural
test facility in Wichita.
The test article will fly over five lifetimes (75,000 hours)
prior to Citation Mustang certification. In addition, 20 other
ground test articles will be used for development and
certification. Ground tests completed to date include safety of
flight proof load conditions on the static article airframe,
development drop testing for both the main and nose landing gear,
and proof testing of all flight control systems. Ongoing ground
tests include autopilot development, environmental testing, landing
gear and hydraulic system operation, and antiskid tuning.
The cyclic fatigue and ground test articles join three flying
Citation Mustang prototypes, which will also be used for
certification efforts. The Citation Mustang prototype will
primarily be used for aerodynamic and system tests. The first
production Citation Mustang (serial number 001) will be used for
avionics development and certification. The second production
Citation Mustang (serial number 002) will primarily be used for
function and reliability tests and post certification service
tests.
The Citation Mustang was announced at the 2002 National Business
Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. It is Cessna's newest
entry-level business jet and offers customers the same quality,
safety, value and support that have been the foundation of the
Citation program for over 30 years. The Citation Mustang will be
certified as a FAR Part 23 aircraft, with an anticipated cruise
speed of 340 knots, and maximum operating altitude of 41,000
feet.