Noteworthy CJ2+ Delivered To Previous Customer

If it seems like Cessna business jets are everywhere, consider this: the planemaker recently delivered its 1000th CitationJet.

Representatives with the Wichita, KS-based planemaker tell ANN the aircraft, a CJ2+, was delivered last week to Colin Bailey, founder and CEO of Xpressdocs in Fort Worth, TX.

"Having a passion for both aviation and my business, the CJ2+ delivers on both. With the CJ2+ at our disposal, our national customer base is not only 'right around the corner', but also enjoyable and economical to get to," Bailey said. The company previously operated an earlier CitationJet model.

The first single pilot CitationJet was certified on October 16, 1992. Since then, the CJ family has grown to include three different models -- the CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3 -- with configurations varying from six to eight passengers in the main cabin.

All CJ models are powered by Williams International FJ44 series engines. The FJ44-1A model powers the CJ1+ to a maximum cruise speed of 389 KTAS and a service ceiling of 41,000 ft. With FJ44-3A-24 engines, the larger CJ2+ is capable of 418 KTAS and 45,000 ft. The CJ3, with FJ44-3A engines, carries more payload than the CJ2+, with the performance to match.

With 1.5 million CJ series fleet hours of experience as a pedigree, the fourth and largest model, the CJ4, is currently in the developmental stage. Configured for seven to eight passengers, the CJ4 is expected to have a full fuel payload of 1,000 pounds and maximum payload of 2,100 pounds, more than 300 additional pounds compared to the typical CJ3. The estimated cruise speed of the CJ4 is 435 KTAS.

As Aero-News reported, Cessna anticipates first flight of the CJ4 to occur in 2008.

FMI: www.cessna.com