Legacy Tails: Citation—Cessna’s Revolutionary Jet | Aviation International News

Citation: Cessna’s Revolutionary Jet

Cessna’s original Citation broke new ground for small business jets

Cessna's Citation 500 — The first of thousands of aircraft to bear the Citation name, N500CC was the prototype Model 500, seen here in a partly modified state prior to the increase in fin area and revised nose shape. © Kansas Aviation Museum

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

June 2, 2025

Cessna’s Model 500 Citation was a groundbreaker in several senses. It was the first successful entry-level business jet and the first to provide for single-pilot operations. It also brought Cessna—the world’s leading airplane maker in terms of production numbers—into the world of civilian jet aircraft, and the name “Citation” would become synonymous with the company’s top-line offerings through to today’s Ascend, Latitude, and Longitude.

Cessna cut its teeth on jet-powered aircraft in the early 1950s. The company’s Model 318 was one of eight projects bid for a U.S. Air Force competition for a basic jet trainer. Powered by a pair of Continental-Teledyne J69 engines—a license-built version of the French Turbomeca Marboré turbojet that powered the MS.760 Paris light private jet/trainer—the Model 318 was successful and became the T-37 Tweet, of which more than 1,200 had been built by the time production ended in 1975. It also spawned a light attack version, the A-37 Dragonfly, which accounted for another 577 airframes.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Cessna Citation 500, 501, I, and ISP

Textron Aviation

KlasJet Wins FAA Approval for U.S. ACMI Operations

Company targets seasonal peaks and capacity shortfalls

Boeing 737 from the rear, on the ground

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location

Vertical VX4 prototype being rolled into new hangar

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

eFlyer 2 in flight

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Two Starfighters Space F-104s in flight

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon and MC-55A Peregrine aircraft

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Textron Aviation rollout of 500th Cessna Citation Latitude

Piaggio Marks Avanti’s Ruby Anniversary, 40+ Evo Sales

More than 270 Avanti variants have been delivered across four decades

Piaggio Aerospace Avanti Evo aircraft

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

Trump administration says $24.3 billion deal will bolster Saudi Arabia's self-defense capability

Formation of three F-35As against clouds