Cessna’s New Flagship Revealed

Cessna has revealed details of a new large-cabin intercontinental aircraft—its largest business jet to date—to be known as the Model 850 Citation Columbus, which, according to Cessna, has been designed to be one of the most advanced, fuel-efficient, cleanest business jets ever conceived. Cessna expects the development programme to cost around US$750 million.

The Citation Columbus, which will have an aluminium airframe, is designed for intercontinental travel with a target range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometres) at Mach 0.80 carrying eight passengers. The aircraft will feature new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW810 engines and Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion™ advanced avionics system.

Cessna expects that the Citation Columbus will be the only aircraft in its class capable of travelling 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometres) non-stop at Mach 0.80. Preliminary performance numbers predict a maximum cruise speed of 488 knots (904 km/h, Mach 0.85), a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.86, a full-fuel payload of 1,950 pounds (886 kg) and a takeoff field length of 5,400 feet (1,646 metres) at maximum takeoff weight.

Cessna’s chairman, president and CEO, Jack Pelton, said, “In naming this new model, we looked for a word that embodies the spirit of our company and the performance of this airplane. With an adventurous and visionary attitude, explorer Christopher Columbus is globally recognised as one of the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean. That inspired us as we worked toward our design goal.” He described the kinds of non-stop transcontinental routes that the Columbus will open up to users such as Munich–New York, London–Dubai, Sydney–Singapore and Sao Paulo–Miami.

The Columbus will be 77 feet (23.5 metres) long with a wingspan of 80 feet (24.4 metres). It will have a cabin length of 36.3 feet (11.1 metres) with a standing aisle height of 73 inches (1.85 metres) and seating for ten passengers. The cabin, which will be pressurised to 6,700 feet at 45,000 feet, will have a fully enclosed aft lavatory, and both interior and exterior storage compartments including an in-flight-accessible pressurised baggage compartment.

The newly engineered wing is moderately swept, and the entire aircraft surface is contoured based on results from the computational fluid dynamics analysis and wind tunnel verification, which allow for a design that supports the highest speeds with the highest efficiency and least amount of drag. The wing will have bleed-air anti-ice, as will the horizontal stabiliser and engine inlets, while the windscreen and sensors will have electro thermal anti-icing.

The Columbus will be the first aircraft to feature Pratt & Whitney’s new PW810 engine. Part of Pratt & Whitney’s new 10,000 lb-class PW800 Family, the Columbus’s PW810 will have a thrust rating of 8,830 pounds. Designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible, it will produce up to 50 percent less nitrous oxide and 35 percent less carbon monoxide than current ICAO emission standards. The aircraft will have noise levels well below Stage IV standards.

The Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion™ avionics combine the proven capabilities of that company’s Pro Line 21 with significant technological advancements. The fully integrated flight deck has four high-resolution 15-inch liquid crystal displays working in concert with graphical flight planning, synthetic-enhanced vision, auto throttle, Rockwell Collins’ MultiScan™ Hazard Detection system and an optional head-up display.

Cessna’s initial price estimate for the Citation Columbus is US$27 million in 2008 dollars. Cessna plans to achieve FAA certification for the new aircraft by the end of 2013, with deliveries beginning in 2014.