Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

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

Kerry Lynch

Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Ascend entered service last week with the first delivery to a retail customer. That handover to an unnamed client follows&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-11-05/textron-aviations-citation-ascend-gets-faa-nod">FAA certification</a> of the aircraft in November. Launched at EBACE 2023, the Wichita manufacturer formally <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-09-15/textron-aviation-rolls-out-first-production-ascend">rolled out</a> the first production model of the Ascend during a ceremony at its factory in September.
“The first Citation Ascend delivery underscores Textron Aviation’s commitment to redefining the midsize segment with an aircraft that blends innovation, efficiency, and unmatched comfort,” said senior v-p of sales and marketing Lannie O’Bannion. “We look forward to seeing the Ascend begin its journey with customers around the globe.”
While Textron Aviation did not disclose the first retail customer, NetJets will be among the early customers under a multiyear potential $32 billion order placed in 2023 for up to 1,500 Citation Longitudes, Latitudes, and Ascends.
One of the most significant updates to Textron Aviation’s 560XL series, the Ascend brings a flat floor and larger windows to the family, along with the Garmin G5000 avionics suite and improved performance. With three 14-inch ultra-high-resolution displays and dual flight management systems, the G5000 folds in autothrottles, synthetic vision, advanced weather detection and avoidance, and a second Iridium data link, along with optional controller-pilot datalink communications.
The cabin can accommodate 12 passengers and features 15% larger windows, customizable interior options, and wireless control of lighting, temperature, window shades, and entertainment. Gogo’s Avance L3 Max Wi-Fi is standard but customers can upgrade to Avance L5 or Galileo HDX.
Two Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW545Ds increase fuel efficiency and thrust, providing for a maximum speed of 441 ktas and 1,940-nm range. Other features include an unattended Honeywell RE100 [XL] auxiliary power unit.

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Textron Aviation Hands Over First Citation Ascend Bizjet to Retail Customer

Aircraft received FAA certification in November

The Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Ascend is now in service, with delivery of the first copy to a retail customer last week.

Textron Aviation Hands Over First Citation Ascend

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

Textron Aviation

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