Oshkosh, WI - July 25, 2005 - The Cessna Citation Mustang will make its world debut, arriving at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2005. The airplane will be piloted by Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton.
"I'm very proud of the quality work Cessna employees have put into the Citation Mustang - it's an honor to fly the airplane in for this important first public appearance," Pelton said. "The Citation Mustang is an example of the best getting better. Our test pilots say it's the best prototype we've built yet. With Cessna's 78-year history of safety and reliability, that bodes well for the future of this airplane."
More than 230 orders have already been placed for the airplane. Delivery of the first customer aircraft is expected in fourth quarter 2006. So far, about half the Citation Mustang orders have been from U.S. buyers. The non-U.S. orders are predominantly from Europe and South America.
Pelton credited the development of the Pratt & Whitney PW615F engine and the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics technology as important factors in the Citation Mustang achieving high levels of performance and value.
Cessna has delivered more than 4,200 Citations in the last 30 years - including more light jets than all other manufacturers combined - in addition to the more than 150,000 single engine Cessna airplanes. Cessna is the only general aviation manufacturer to certify 11 new jets in the last 10 years.
The Citation Mustang prototype has flown more than 80 flights, accruing more than 150 hours, since its first flight April 23.
With one of the most advanced testing, data collection and validation facilities in the world, and by using production tooling, Cessna has created a brand new airplane that meets the aggressive 35-month schedule we committed to in 2002. In that time, Cessna also made significant progress toward Federal Aviation Administration certification.
"The tooling used to build the Citation Mustang development and certification aircraft is the actual tooling that will be used to assemble the airplanes in Independence," Pelton said. "This allows required changes to the tooling to be determined and implemented early in the program. In addition, the Citation Mustang development and certification aircraft are built more precisely and have the quality appearance of production aircraft."
The Citation Mustang's tooling also takes advantage of a sophisticated tooling methodology that allows assemblies to be built using less sub-assembly processes and includes vacuum contour holding fixtures. This tooling allows Cessna to build the airplane from the exterior shell inward, versus building the exterior shell around the interior components, providing higher quality skin finish with significantly less process variation. Cessna has integrated the new tooling with lean manufacturing processes in assembly line design, work methods, and material delivery to achieve a consistent, high-quality product, which will be delivered to customers with shorter lead times.
"Once we are finished with the tooling in the development phase of the program, and that tooling is process-proven for use on the production line, the tooling will be relocated to Independence, Kan., and Columbus, Ga.," Pelton said. "Actual tooling relocation will begin late this month. The first Mustang assembled and delivered in Independence starts down the production line later this fall."
Forty-five Cessna employees from Independence, Kan., and 15 from Columbus, Ga., relocated for more than six months to Wichita, Kan., to assemble the prototype, test articles, and the first production aircraft, allowing them to acquire the necessary skills to bring the aircraft into production. Those employees will return to Independence and Columbus to begin production line flow.
The airplane will be certified as a single-pilot, FAR Part 23 aircraft, with a cruise speed of 340 KTAS, and maximum operating altitude of 41,000 feet.
Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron. Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 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, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com or 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.