The Cessna Citation CJ4 Reaches a Major Milestone as the Gen3 Prepares for Take-Off
Textron Aviation celebrates 500th Cessna Citation CJ4 delivery as Gen3 era advances | Image credit: Cessna
There is a particular pleasure in flying an aircraft whose character is as recognisable as its name. Cessna has long occupied that space for me; as a flying instructor, I’ve spent much of my time around Cessna aircraft, and have always appreciated the combination of considered engineering, honest handling and practical design that runs through the range. So the news that Textron Aviation has delivered its 500th Cessna Citation CJ4 feels like more than a production milestone. It is a testament to the enduring appeal of an aircraft that gets the essentials right, while continuing to evolve with the needs of the people who fly it.
The 500th aircraft, a Citation CJ4 Gen2, has now been delivered to a customer in the Philippines, marking more than a decade of confidence in a light jet that has established itself as one of the most capable aircraft in its class. Its appeal is easy to understand. The CJ4 combines speed, efficiency and range with the flexibility to serve everything from corporate travel and owner-operated flying to specialist missions such as air ambulance, search and rescue and aerial surveying.
And while 500 deliveries would be reason enough to celebrate, the CJ4 story is far from over. The next generation is already preparing to take its place. The Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 is expected to receive Federal Aviation Administration certification this year, bringing a host of new technology to a platform that has already proved its worth.
At the centre of the Gen3 is Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics, designed to make the flight deck more intuitive, alongside Garmin Emergency Autoland, giving pilots and passengers an additional layer of reassurance. The aircraft remains single-pilot certified, too - an important part of its appeal for owner-operators — while offering the performance and economics expected of a considerably larger aircraft.
The numbers are impressive. The CJ4 Gen3 is expected to offer a maximum range of 2,165 nautical miles, a maximum payload of 2,200 pounds and seating for up to 11 occupants, with 1,040 pounds of baggage capacity. More than 880 flight-test hours have already been completed across two test aircraft as Textron Aviation works towards certification.
Yet perhaps what makes the CJ4 most interesting is that, despite all the technology and impressive figures, the philosophy remains remarkably simple: build an aircraft that people enjoy flying and passengers enjoy travelling in.
Five hundred deliveries speak for themselves. And with the CJ4 Gen3 now approaching certification, Cessna’s presence in the light jet market looks set to enter an exciting new chapter.
