WICHITA, Kan., Sep 26, 2013 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is today celebrating the successful completion of the wing mate on the Citation Latitude first test article. This achievement is another program milestone for the Latitude as it approaches its first prototype flight expected in the first quarter of 2014. The Latitude was announced at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA) in October 2011.
Terry Shriner, Cessna business leader for the Latitude, says: “It is very rewarding to see an aircraft take shape that, until now, you’ve only seen on paper, and the Latitude team is enthusiastically looking forward to the prototype’s first flight in a few months. This is an exciting project for customers as well, as the Latitude design is driven in part by customer input on performance and cabin amenities. Cessna has always been known for our dedication to the customer, and the Latitude is a perfect example of this commitment.”
Kriya Shortt, Cessna senior vice president of Sales, says: “We started with a clear vision for the Latitude – to make the widest Citation, engineered with the performance, luxury and value for which Cessna Citation jets are well known. Now we have seen the Latitude make the leap from concept to reality. This is a fantastic aircraft that will set a new standard for the mid-size category of business jets.”
The wingspan on the Latitude will be 72 ft 4 in (22.05 m), while the aircraft will measure 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) in height. The Latitude is designed to fly two crewmembers and up to nine passengers to 43,000 ft (13,106 m) in just 23 minutes. The aircraft will have the widest cabin of any Citation jet, has a 6 ft (1.83 m) cabin height, and will be equipped with Cessna’s Clairity™ cabin management system.
Passengers on the Latitude will be able to fly non-stop between such cities as Los Angeles and New York., Houston, Texas and Bogotá, Colombia, Rome to Dubai, and Singapore to Beijing. Visit Cessna.com to learn more about the Citation Latitude.
About Cessna
Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered nearly 200,000 airplanes around the globe. This includes 6,500 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2012, Cessna delivered 571 aircraft, including 181 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $3.111 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.
About Textron
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at textron.com.