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.

FMI: www.textron.com, www.cessna.com