CESSNA CITATION EXCEL

The aircraft combines transcontinental range, first-class cabin comfort for up to 9 passengers and remarkable performance efficiency in a midsize jet.  It is also loaded with features generally reserved for a large, commercial aircraft.

With the success of Cessna’s high-end Citation VII, the manufacturer saw a market for an aircraft with the Citation X’s features but aimed at a more traditional market, where it would chiefly compete with twin-turboprop aircraft.

The project was announced in October, 1994, and the prototype aircraft took off on its first flight on February 29, 1996. Federal Aviation Administration certification was granted in April 1998, by which time Cessna had over 200 orders for the aircraft. By the time the 100th Excel was delivered in August 2000, an aircraft was coming off the Wichita production line every three days. A total of 308 were built before production switched to the Citation XLS.

The Citation XLS was the first “makeover” that the Excel received, with deliveries beginning in 2004. It was produced in 330 units.

The Citation XLS+, or simply “Plus” configuration was another upgraded version of the aircraft which began delivery in 2008, with the inclusion of FADEC engine controls, improved PW545C engines, and a completely revised nose design similar to that found on the Citation Sovereign and Citation X. The Citation XLS+ features Collins Pro Line 21 Avionics and a four screen LCD EFIS display as opposed to the three tube (CRT) Honeywell display in the XL and the three screen LCD Primus 1000 in the XLS.

Aircraft of similar role, configuration and eraare: Hawker 800XP, Bombardier Challenger, Dassault Falcon, Embraer Phenom 300.