Textron Aviation rolled out the first production model of its Cessna Citation Ascend, the latest iteration of the 560XL series. The manufacturer has delivered more than 1,000 560XLs over the past quarter-century.
Launched at the EBACE show in 2023, the midsize Ascend made its first flight in June last year and will eventually replace the XLS Gen2 in the airframer’s product lineup. It is expected to receive FAA certification by the end of the year.
Employees at the OEM’s Wichita assembly facility held a celebration to mark the event. “It is your craftsmanship that continues to make milestones like this possible,” said Todd McKee, Textron Aviation senior v-p of integrated supply chain. “By infusing new technology and bringing new features to the market, we continue to drive the future for us to build these legendary aircraft.”
With standard seating for up to nine, the Ascend takes many of its design features from its siblings Latitude and Longitude, with a flat floor for extra passenger leg room and the Garmin G5000 avionics suite with autothrottles.
The Ascend will offer a full-size airstair, an externally serviceable lavatory, single-point refueling, and an upgraded Honeywell RE100 (XL) auxiliary power unit that can be left unattended while running. The aircraft will be equipped with 19 USB charging ports and three universal power outlets.