Geneva, Switzerland - May 24, 2004 - Cessna's all new Citation Sovereign will make its international debut at the 2004 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, May 25-27, 2004. Citation Sovereign serial number 680-0003 will arrive at Geneva International Airport on May 24, and will be on static display throughout EBACE.
"The Sovereign is the first clean-sheet airplane to enter general aviation's traditional-midsize market in the past 20-years," notes Roger Whyte, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We focused on this market because our customers indicated they needed an airplane with the best combination of size, range, and price. The Sovereign meets or exceeds all of their requirements.
"The Sovereign is ideally suited to European operators' needs. Its impressive 3,040 nm range allows it to complete missions from Geneva to anywhere in Europe, Northern Africa, or Middle East with ease. We anticipate the Sovereign will be very popular in Europe because of its range, short field performance, and cabin comfort," concludes Whyte.
Since introducing the Sovereign, Cessna's flight-testing has revealed dramatic performance improvements. The most recent improvements include a new top speed of Mach 0.80, maximum nonstop range of 3,040 nm, and the shortest take-off capabilities in its class, 3,694 feet (1,126 m).
The Sovereign is Cessna's first aircraft to incorporate the Maintenance Steering Group (MSG) program. Cessna received Sovereign MSG approval from the FAA on December 11, 2003. The MSG program, which develops an aircraft maintenance program through fault analysis, provides operators with substantial financial savings in scheduled maintenance cost.
Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, 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, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.More information is available at www.textron.com. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
For additional information or questions about the general aviation industry, contact the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at 202-393-1500 or www.GAMA.aero.