Textron Aviation displayed
its new super-midsize Cessna Citation Longitude for the first time in Europe
at EBACE in Geneva.
The aircraft - the fourth to
join the test program - is the first flying test aircraft with a fully
fitted interior and is being used to evaluate systems related to the overall
passenger experience and technologies in the cabin.
“We are confident that the
Citation Longitude will set the new standard in business aviation with its
incredible cabin comfort, low operating costs, long maintenance intervals
and combination of speed and range,” said
Rob Scholl,
senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. “Throughout the flight-test
program our test pilots have been reporting that the Longitude is the best
flying Citation to date. Now, with this full interior test aircraft, we’re
able to showcase its class-leading and incredibly quiet cabin experience.”
With four aircraft flying in
the Longitude test program, the company has tested various systems and
technologies throughout the last eight months including avionics, stability,
handling and cabin technologies. The program team has also completed many
important development and certification tests such as the ultimate load
testing, which evaluates the maximum forces the fuselage and wing can
endure, as well as extreme climatic and environmental testing at the U.S.
Air Force’s McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
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Citation Longitude arrives at EBACE
2017 |
The first Longitude flew in
October 2016 and to date, the flight test program has amassed more than 230
sorties, accumulating over 450 hours. A fifth and final flying test article
will join the program this summer, showcasing the company’s dedication and
commitment to getting the aircraft in the hands of its customers. The
company anticipates achieving Federal Aviation Administration certification
by the end of this year (2017), followed by European Aviation Safety Agency
certification next year (2018).
“The dedication of our team,
and the early success of our development program demonstrates that we are
not entering this super-midsize space lightly,” Scholl added. “The design of
the Longitude was driven by input from customers around the world, so we’re
thrilled to showcase this particular aircraft to our European customers, who
will benefit from the industry-leading cabin comfort and performance
capabilities required to connect them to important destinations throughout
the region.”
With a range of 6,482
kilometers (3,500 nautical miles) and full fuel payload of 726 kilograms
(1,600 pounds), the Longitude is poised for the European market by
connecting city pairs such as London to Dubai, Paris to Boston or Geneva to
New Delhi.
The aircraft is set to
elevate passenger expectations in this class of aircraft by delivering the
quietest cabin, lowest cabin altitude (1,814m), more standard features, and
a comfortable, bespoke interior with a superior fit and finish. With seating
for up to 12 passengers, including an optional crew jump seat, the Longitude
features a stand-up, 6-foot tall flat-floor cabin. A standard double-club
configuration allows the most legroom in the super-midsize class. Fully
berthable seats are designed and manufactured in-house and a class-leading
walk-in baggage compartment is accessible in flight.
Natural light is plentiful
with 15 large windows positioned throughout the cabin for optimal viewing. A
large, forward wet galley offers versatility to meet a wide variety of
passenger needs. State-of-the-art cabin technology allows passengers to
manage their environment and entertainment from any mobile device, while
standard internet maximizes productivity in flight.
The clean-sheet design of the
Longitude integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, bringing
customers the lowest ownership costs in this class. It features the next
evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck and is powered by FADEC-equipped
Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines with fully integrated autothrottles.
With optional head-up display and enhanced vision capability, the Longitude
facilitates eyes-up flying. The spacious cockpit incorporates easier access
and an ergonomic design that fully focuses on crew comfort and efficiency.
No super-midsize business jet
offers more range, greater payload or higher cruise speed at a lower
expected total ownership cost. The Longitude is designed to feature the
longest maintenance intervals in its class - 800 hours or 18 months -
expected to make it the most cost effective to operate in its category.
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