Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Cessna Citation 560XL, Excel, XL, XLS, and Ascend

Matt Thurber

As the Cessna Citation Ascend flight-test program continues, Textron Aviation is once again highlighting the next iteration of the 560XL family at its BACE static display in mockup form so visitors can see what’s changed in the cabin and flight deck. Textron Aviation announced the midsize twinjet in May 2023 and expects it to enter service next year.
From the outside, it’s hard to tell the difference between the Ascend and its XLS+ predecessor, but the Ascend’s cabin windows are 15% larger and its windshields have built-in UVA and UVB protection.
Inside, the jet has major upgrades, with a Garmin G5000 avionics suite replacing the Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The cabin’s trenched aisle is filled in to provide a flat floor (although an option is available to keep the original XL/XLS dropped aisle at no extra charge). The flat-floor height is 60 inches—eight inches less than the dropped-aisle height. One of the benefits of the flat floor is that it is more pet-friendly, a feature that the growing number of business jet travelers with pets will appreciate.
Upgraded seats give passengers more room to move the seat around and find more comfortable positions. Each seat has USB power and there are a total of 19 USB ports and three standard universal outlets in the Ascend, as well as wireless phone charging pads.
Textron Aviation showed P1, one of two flight-test airplanes and the first in production configuration, to media during a pre-BACE visit to company headquarters in Wichita. We didn’t get to look inside the airplane; while it had previously been equipped with the planned full interior, that was removed for the flight test campaign and replaced with test equipment.
Improvements in the Ascend include a full-size airstair, an externally serviceable lavatory, single-point refueling, and an upgraded Honeywell RE100 [XL] APU that can be left unattended while running.
Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW545D engines deliver better fuel efficiency thanks to a more efficient high-pressure compressor, enhanced single-stage high-pressure turbine module, and upgraded exhaust mixer.
Like the Citation Latitude and Longitude, the Ascend will feature autothrottles, as well as the same avionics—Garmin’s G5000 with three 14-inch displays and four touchscreen controllers and the GWX 8000 StormOptix auto-scanning radar.
The avionics suite includes Garmin's Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), notably a guidance system that provides continuously updating visual depictions of external topography and an augmented runway display, supporting approaches as low as 150 feet. The SVT also includes SafeTaxi technology with 3D depictions and 2D maps, allowing for touchscreen entry for taxi routes and guidance.
Preliminary performance numbers that haven’t yet been finalized include a range of 1,900 nm at high-speed cruise with four passengers, up from the XLS+’s 1,750 nm. Maximum cruise speed at 441 knots and range at 2,100 nm are the same, as is time to climb to the maximum altitude of FL450 at 30 minutes.
With an 20,500-pound mtow that is 300 pounds higher than the XLS+, the Ascend’s maximum zero fuel weight is up 400 pounds, to 15,500 pounds; maximum payload is 150 pounds higher, to 2,390 pounds; and payload with full fuel is 850 pounds. It's takeoff field length of 3,660 feet is 60 feet longer than the XLS+, while landing distance is 3,220 feet versus the XLS+'s 3,180 feet.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Cessna Citation Ascend Preps for Service Entry in 2025

Latest member of the 560XL family has a flat-floor cabin and Garmin G5000 avionics

The Ascend cabin’s trenched aisle is filled in to provide a flat floor, though there is an option to keep the original XL/XLS dropped aisle at no extra charge.

Citation Ascend Preps for Service Entry in 2025

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Business jets are often used by governments for diplomatic purposes.

Germany’s Fleet of VIP Bombardier Global 5000s and Airbus Jets Flies Its Leaders around the World

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

U.S. technology group will now provide inceptor controllers for pilots

Honeywell Expands Role with Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL Aircraft 

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Airframer had its highest revenues in nearly a decade

Embraer Sees Strong Q1 Revenues and Deliveries

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

U.S. Air Force funds work on quiet, autonomous, hybrid-electric cargo aircraft

Whisper Reveals ‘Collaborative Logistics Aircraft’ Family

Kerry Lynch

In the shorter term, Global 8000 is nearing completion

Bombardier Eyes Uncrewed Future for EcoJet Technologies

Revenues reached $1.5 billion in the first quarter with 23 deliveries

Bombardier Sees Revenue Jump, More Tariff Certainty

The high-performance turboprop goes fast and is a pleasure to fly

Pilot Report: An Epic Epic E1000 GX

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

NBAA-BACE 2024

In this article

Cessna Citation 560XL, Excel, XL, XLS, and Ascend

Textron Aviation

Garmin

Pratt & Whitney

More In Aircraft