Textron Aviation has given its Cessna Citation CJ3 a makeover with an upgraded interior, new exterior writing, and new features that enhance both the passenger and pilot experience. The Wichita-based manufacturer revealed the redesigned CJ3 Gen2 on Monday at NBAA-BACE 2023.
The single-pilot-approved aircraft has seating for up to nine passengers, range of 2,040 nm, and a maximum payload of 2,135 pounds, “which rivals the larger jets in this class,” said Lannie O'Bannion, Textron Aviation's senior v-p of sales and flight operations.
“The CJ3 series is built on 20 years of success in the marketplace. Whether you're flying for personal use, charter, in a corporate flight department, or even a special mission, there's nothing else in the market that competes with the CJ3 Gen2's cabin and performance,” O’Bannion said.
Walking up to the airplane, the first thing passengers will notice is its fresh exterior, with a paint job “that will really catch your eye,” said Christi Tannahill, Textron Aviation's senior v-p for customer experience. The airplane also features newly redesigned steps with added handles and lighting to make boarding safer and easier, she explained.
The first thing pilots will notice is the abundance of legroom, with extra space around the left seat that makes stepping in and out of the cockpit a breeze. The CJ3 Gen2 comes equipped with Garmin G3000 avionics and autothrottles.
In the front of the cabin, customers have the option to add a side-facing seat that folds down to create room for about 50 pounds of baggage. That space can also be filled with storage cabinets adjacent to the refreshment center, and optional high-power outlets can be added for small appliances like Keurig or Nespresso machines, said Jimmy Beeson, the senior manager of technical marketing at Textron Aviation.
Dimmable and color-changing accent lights are spread throughout the cabin, including under tables, within storage pockets, and inside the cupholders, which are deeper and wider in the CJ3 Gen2. CoolView skylights also add some ambient lighting to the cabin.
In the aft cabin, the seats have an enhanced swivel option that “allows you to customize that cabin on the fly and really make the cabin fit that day's mission,” Beeson said. “There really is no detail too small.”
“What I think will be one of the more popular features of the aircraft is that the lavatory is now externally serviceable,” Beeson added.
Company president and CEO Ron Draper said the upgrades to the CJ3—his favorite airplane in the company’s product lineup—were shaped by feedback from a customer advisory board.
The company brought in a number of current owners to work with its engineers “on what features they would really love in the airplane,” Draper noted. “That's why we're excited to be rolling out and announcing at NBAA.”
Textron Aviation aims to have the $10.99 million CJ3 Gen2 in service by 2025.