Flight Controls Modified on New Citation Sovereign

When the Citation Sovereign receives certification, expected before year-end, it will include modifications that reduce lateral control forces. According to Cessna, initial flight tests showed lateral forces at high speeds of 40 to 50 pounds for roll rates of less than 10 degrees per second. While these forces meet FAA requirements, Cessna decided it might be a “customer-satisfaction issue.” Modifications to the aileron input ratio result in a 23-degree-per-second roll rate with just a 10-pound force at typical cruise speeds, Cessna said.