CESSNA CITATION X

• Passengers 8

One of the fastest private jets on the market, the Cessna Citation X can carry its passengers at .90 Mach – just under the speed of sound. 

About this aircraft

• The Cessna Citation X was manufactured between 1996 and 2012.
• As one of the fastest private jets available, it’s perfect if you’re looking to charter a speedy jet without compromising on comfort.
• The Citation X can fly from New York to Los Angeles almost an hour faster than other super-midsize or larger business jets.
• It can carry up to 12 passengers, but most are configured for eight or nine.
• There’s room in the hold for 12 suitcases, meaning at least one item of luggage per person, and it can also accommodate trade show equipment, skis and golf clubs.
• The Citation X+ is a major upgrade on the Citation X with an increased payload, higher cruise speed and longer range than its predecessor.

The Cessna Citation X once held the record for the fastest civilian jet since Concorde and is still much faster than any other aircraft in its category. With a range of over 5,600 km, it can complete non-stop intercontinental flights like Dubai to Nice.

Interior design

The Citation X’s luxurious cabin comes with a fully equipped galley at the front and a bathroom large enough to double as a dressing room at the rear. It typically seats eight passengers in a spacious executive layout, but can also carry up to 12 people in a higher-density seating arrangement if needed.

The heated, pressurised baggage compartment helps to prevent damage to cargo regardless of external weather conditions.

Interesting facts to learn before you fly

• The Citation X can fly non-stop across North and South America, Europe and from the US to the Caribbean.
• Its incredible performance allows the aircraft to excel in the high altitudes of ski country and the heat of the Caribbean, Mediterranean and desert.
• The Bombardier Challenger 300 and Dassault Falcon 50 come with more luxurious interiors as standard, but aren’t as quick as the Citation X.

Technological features

Getting the Citation X to cruise at .90 Mach was no small feat. Cessna turned to Rolls-Royce for a high-bypass AE3007C1 turbofan engine, which delivers 8,600 lbs of thrust and is designed to operate at a lower temperature so the jet can run for longer. The engine had the highest thrust-to-weight ratio at the time and the lowest specific fuel consumption for a super-midsize jet.

The aircraft has a dual flight management system and comes as standard with Honeywell GPS. In 2004, Cessna announced the optional Enhanced Vision System: an ingenious tool that uses infrared sensors to create a visual for the pilot when flying in tricky conditions such as at night or during fog, snow and rainstorms.

History

Taking over from the well-established 650 series, the Citation X marked the launch of Cessna’s 750 line. It was announced at the NBAA Convention in October 1990, with the prototype taking flight in December 1993. The first aircraft in the line was delivered to famous golfer Arnold Palmer in 1996. 

Over 300 Citation Xs were manufactured before the upgraded Citation X+ was launched in 2010. Despite their age, they remain among the fastest private jets on the market.

Manufacturer

Cessna was founded in 1927 by Clyde Cessna and Victor Roos. It was originally called the Cessna-Roos Aircraft Company, but Roos’ name was dropped after he resigned just one month into the partnership and sold back his interest to Cessna.

Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, the company specialised in producing small piston-powered planes and business jets. After becoming one of the world’s biggest general aviation producers, it was bought by General Dynamics in 1985 and by Textron in 1992. In March 2014, Cessna stopped operating as a subsidiary company and joined Beechcraft and Hawker as one of the three distinct brands produced by Textron Aviation.

Cost

The price of a pre-owned Cessna Citation X can range from $10-15 million (USD). 

Charter rates

Charter rates for the Cessna Citation X can vary greatly depending on the length of the journey you have planned, as well as the airports you decide to fly in and out of.

Contact our team to book a private charter on a Cessna Citation X, or browse our list of available aircraft.

Wet lease rates

ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) wet lease rates for the Cessna Citation X can vary depending on the age of the aircraft, length of the lease term, the number of block hours being guaranteed and the average cycle ratio.