Cessna's new Citation Latitude made its public debut here in Orlando this week at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. First announced at the 2011 NBAA show, it's the newest jet from one of the most venerable names in aviation, and here's why you want one.
Citation Latitude first flight, February 2014
The first prototype of the Citation Latitude just flew for the first time this February, and the test fleet has since grown to four planes, accumulated over six hundred flight hours. Its curved wingtips are reminiscent of the Airbus A350. Carrying 9 passengers up to 2,700 miles, it needs less than 3,700 feet of runway to get airborne. It can climb to it's 43,000-foot cruising altitude in just 23 minutes. It's powered by twin Pratt & Whitney PW306D1 turbofans, which are FADEC controlled. FADEC stands for Full Authority Digital Engine Control, which manages all aspects of the engine's performance and efficiency.
The Latitude on display at NBAA 2014 (pic by Paul Thompson)
Cessna has been on a roll, getting FAA Type Certifications for four other new jets in the past year — the Citation X+, Citation Sovereign, Citation CJ3+ and Citation M2. First introduced in 1972, Cessna's Citation line of jets is the largest in the world, with over 6,600 in service. Cessna offers 10 Citation models, ranging from the 5 passenger Mustang with a 1,207 mile range to the Longitude, which can carry up to 12 passengers a distance of 4,000 miles. The FAA Type Certification for the Latitude is expected to be earned in the second quarter of 2015.
Citation Latitude Cabin
The cabin of the Latitude is the widest in the Citation line, a flat cabin floor and measures six feet from the floor to the peak of the ceiling.
Flight deck of the Citation Latitude, with Garmin 5000 avionics
Cessna has been on a roll, getting FAA Type Certifications for four other new jets in the past year — the Citation X+, Citation Sovereign, Citation CJ3+ and Citation M2. First introduced in 1972, Cessna's Citation line of jets is the largest in the world, with over 6,600 in service. Cessna offers 10 Citation models, ranging from the 5 passenger Mustang with a 1,207 mile range to the Longitude, which can carry up to 12 passengers a distance of 4,000 miles. The FAA Type Certification for the Latitude is expected to be earned in the second quarter of 2015.