Serial 002

Textron Aviation subsidiary Cessna Aircraft Company has conducted the first flight of its second production Citation Latitude aircraft (Serial 002), marking a milestone for the programme.

Being the third Citation Latitude to join the certification flight test programme, the Serial 002 is the first aircraft will feature an operational configuration, including full cabin layout and systems.

The flight lasted 2.7 hours and reached a maximum altitude of 45,000ft with a maximum speed of 305 KIAS and 0.80 Mach.

Autopilot and auto-throttle, landing gear, pressurisation, engine operating characteristics, environmental systems, and flight control systems were evaluated during the flight.

"The Latitude certification flight test programme has accumulated more than 330 hours to date."

Cessna plans to showcase the Serial 002 at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual event in Orlando in October.

Cessna Jet Aircraft vice-president Chris Hearne said: "The focus of the Latitude team has been on designing and producing the highest quality aircraft, on time that meets our customers’ requirements, and today’s flight was right in line with expectations."

The Latitude certification flight test programme has accumulated more than 330 hours to date in at least 150 flights.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306D engines, the Citation Latitude will feature a flat cabin floor and 6ft of cabin height, Cessna’s Clairity cabin-technology system, and can accommodate up to nine passengers.

It will have new cabin cooling system, a pressurisation system, an electronically operated cabin door and Garmin G5000 avionics.

Image: The flight lasted 2.7 hours and reached a maximum altitude of 45,000ft. Photo: courtesy of Cessna Aircraft Company.

Defence Technology