Textron Aviation
has rolled out the first production unit of the
Cessna Citation Longitude, the company’s latest
clean-sheet design, super-midsize business jet.
State-of-the-art
assembly and fabrication tools and techniques bring
exceptional quality and superior fit and finish to
this revolutionary aircraft.
“The Citation
Longitude sets a new standard in the super-midsize
segment, not only through the aircraft’s design and
performance, but also in the way we are
manufacturing it,” said
Ron Draper,
senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain.
“We’re incorporating a number of new and innovative
fabrication and assembly techniques that will
improve processes, reduce the number of parts and
provide excellent quality and precision that will
aid in the overall maintainability of the aircraft.”
The Longitude
production program takes advantage of new
technologies such as monolithic machining where
major assemblies are milled from a single piece of
metal rather than assembled from smaller pieces,
reducing the number of parts and resulting in more
precise tolerances for easier assembly. Textron
Aviation also has employed and expanded vertical
tooling on the assembly line of the Longitude. First
utilized on the Citation Latitude midsize jet, the
vertical tooling stations provide enhanced
ergonomics for employees and make more efficient use
of factory space.
“Careful attention
to detail, combined with advanced manufacturing
techniques results in a production process that
greatly benefits our customers,” Draper said. “We
are able to move more quickly from concept to
delivery with a high-quality product that we know
will exceed the expectations of our customers.”
This aircraft will
join the company’s demonstration fleet this summer
and will travel the world to showcase the
Longitude’s amazing capabilities and class-leading
interior to customers.
The first
Longitude flew in October 2016 and to date, the
flight test program’s four aircraft have accumulated
more than 550 hours. A fifth aircraft will join the
flight test program this summer, showcasing the
company’s dedication and commitment to getting the
aircraft in the hands of its customers. The
Longitude is expected to enter the market by the end
of the year.
With a range of
3,500 nautical miles and full fuel payload of 1,600
pounds, the Citation Longitude is set to elevate
passenger expectations in the super-midsize class by
delivering the quietest cabin, lowest cabin altitude
(5,950 feet), more standard features and a
comfortable, bespoke interior. 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. State-of-the-art cabin
technology allows passengers to manage their
environment and entertainment from any mobile
device, while standard high-speed internet maximizes
in-flight productivity.
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 Garmin’s new Head-up
Display (GHD 2100) 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. 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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