Expects Certification In Fall 2006
Thursday morning, Cessna Aircraft Company announced its first
flight of the Citation Encore+, a significant step toward the
anticipated certification of the airplane in the early fourth
quarter of this year. Equipped with its new dual-channel FADEC
engines and full Pro Line 21 avionics suite, the first production
unit Encore+ took off from Rockwell Collins' facility in Cedar
Rapids, IA at 11:40 am CST Wednesday.
"During the one-hour and nine-minute test flight, the pilots
flew an aggressive flight profile to test basic stability, flap and
landing gear extension and retraction, controllability, trim
actuation, engine operating characteristics and basic autopilot
operation," said Lynn Young, Citation Encore+ program manager. "We
are pleased this first flight adheres to our schedule, marking a
major milestone that moves us toward on-time customer deliveries in
the first quarter of 2007."
Cessna representatives tell ANN the next step toward
certification includes further development of avionics and engine
software.
First announced just five months ago at
the 2005 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
conference, the Encore+ succeeds the Encore, offering
increased efficiency, a new integrated avionics suite, increased
payload capability, more standard equipment, and new interior
styling features like LED indirect cabin lighting. Propulsion for
the Encore+ is generated by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535B
engines equipped with dual-channel Full Authority Digital Engine
Control (FADEC), each rated at 3,400 pounds of thrust.
Maximum takeoff weight for the Citation Encore+ has been
increased by 200 pounds over the Encore, enabling the typical
operator to have a full fuel payload (in addition to two pilots) in
excess of 1,100 pounds. The Citation Encore+ is expected to be
certified for single-pilot operation.
Cessna says the avionics on the Encore+ are the most advanced
available on this class of business jet. The integrated Collins Pro
Line 21 avionics suite encompasses many of the same features as the
Citation CJ3 and CJ1+ and CJ2+. The heart of the integration
resides in the File Server Unit (FSU) serving as a portal to
display electronic charting, graphical weather, and enhanced
mapping in the cockpit. The Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and
enhanced Multi-Function Display (MFD) are presented on three 8-inch
by 10-inch active matrix color liquid crystal displays.
The Encore+ is also equipped with standard Terrain Collision
Avoidance System (TCAS II), Mark VIII Enhanced Ground Proximity
Warning System (EGPWS), and broadcast graphical weather including
Next Generation Doppler Radar (NEXRAD) information, Meteorological
Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METARs), and textual
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF).
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's
largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2005, Cessna
delivered 1,157 aircraft and reported revenues of about $3.5
billion. The global fleet of more than 4,500 Citations is the
largest fleet of business jets in the world.