CJ3
Citations
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Cessna
Citation Forum
The CJ3 is the sixth generation of the popular CitationJet series,
a class of private jets designed to be economical and high-performing.
They aren’t the most luxurious private jets available, but
they may be the most popular. Business travelers like the idea of
a private jet that understands bottom-line thinking, without sacrificing
performance or reliability. How does Cessna manage to create private
jets with competitive capabilities and still keep costs down? Simplicity.
The jets of the Citation series bypass much of the complexities
of their competitors and use the most economic engines available.
The CJ3 is the jet that Cessna is calling “the largest, fastest,
most advanced aircraft of its kind.” Even taking into account
Cessna’s natural bias towards their newest arrival in the
Citation Business Jet fleet, their bold statement may be right.
When Cessna redesigned their popular CJ2 private business jet,
known for its low operating costs and high performance, the result
was the CJ3: bigger, faster, and better. The cabin stretched an
additional two feet, the wingspan widened by three feet. Its cruise
speed outdoes the CJ2 with a significantly reduced fuel burn.
The CJ3 is extremely fuel-efficient. Its owners continually report
that it meets or exceeds Cessna’s fuel burn data of 150 gallons
per hour. The economy of its fuel burn can be largely attributed
to Cessna’s choice of engines. It uses two Williams/Rolls-Royce
FJ44-3A turbofan engines, each of which delivers 2,780 lbs of thrust
on takeoff (480 lbs more than the CJ2). They are equipped with firewall
shutoff of fuel and hydraulics, as well as dual fire extinguishers
for fire protection.
An additional contributing factor to the fuel-efficiency of the
CJ3 is the use of natural laminar flow wings. This wing delays the
onset of flow separation longer, which significantly improves the
lift-to-drag characteristics.
Another of the CJ3’s strong points also contributes to its
low operating cost: the simplicity (but reliability) of its flight
systems. It uses the fully integrated Pro Line 21 avionics suite,
the most advanced in its category. Industry professionals have rated
Pro Line 21’s avionics as the very best avionics system available
for situational awareness and information management.
Despite the CJ3’s economy in flight, it allows for a surprisingly
high payload.
Its baggage compartments can carry a total of 74.4 cubic feet of
luggage. The Citation Jets have been specifically designed to be
able to easily operate from a short runway. The CJ3 can take off
in just 3,450 feet.
The CJ3 has a significantly increased payload capacity in comparison
to the CJ2. Its maximum take-off weight was increased to 13,870
pounds and the maximum fuel weight rose to 4,710 pounds. These alterations
result in a better maximum range/payload flexibility, offering owners
more options in flight planning. The most surprising result of the
significant increase in payload is that, despite the additional
weight, the CJ3 is faster than the CJ2.
Most private jet owners, originally interested in the CJ3 for its
economical features, are pleasantly surprised at how comfortable
it is. It seats six passengers in the twenty foot, ten inch cabin.
Fourteen windows and a new configuration of LEDs make the cabin
feel even roomier than it is. The cabin has multiple 110-volt AC
power outlets and folding writing tables so that getting there can
be as productive as being there.
As usual, Cessna carries through on its reputation for producing
reliable, high-performing private jets at affordable costs in the
CJ3. It is designed to be efficient in both purchase and operation
costs while still maintaining a good level of comfort and competitive
range.
Information gathered from various internet sources. Reasonable
attempts have been made to ensure accuracy and veracity of sources.
However, this information should not be used for flight planning
or official purposes.
© 2006 BusinessJet.com, LLC
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