Textron Aviation announced at NBAA in Las Vegas that the Citation CJ4 Gen3 prototype completed its maiden flight in early October.
The light business aircraft can seat up to 11 passengers and is part of an announcement of three new Gen3 jets, including the Citation M2 and Citation CJ3.
“The first flight of the CJ4 Gen3 prototype aircraft marks a major step forward in the flight test program, paving the way for future certification and customer deliveries,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering and Programs. “Our flight test pilots reported that the aircraft flew well and performed as expected. The program will now move into a rigorous testing phase, ensuring the aircraft meets the highest performance standards.”
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The CJ4 Gen3 is powered by two Williams International FJ44-4A turbofan engines and took off from the company’s west campus in Wichita, Eisenhower National Airport, for a 1-hour, 47-minute flight.
Among the aircraft’s new features is the new Garmin G3000 Prime avionics suite, which includes a simplified touchscreen and smoother cockpit flow, reducing pilot workload.
The CJ4 Gen3 is also equipped with Garmin Autothrottles and Garmin Emergency Autoland.
The Citation CJ4 is one of Cessna’s most popular business jets. In 2023, 31 Gen2 aircraft were delivered, second only to the Citation Longitude.
According to Textron, the CJ4 Gen3 will have a maximum range of 2,165 nm with a payload of 2,200 pounds. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2026.
