Story ID: 621 Longitude Wing Mating
Cessna Completes First Wing-fuselage Mating of Longitude
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: Six months after unveiling the clean sheet design, the newest Citation is on track to enter service in 2017.
Word Count: 217
Six months after unveiling its newest jet, Cessna announced today at EBACE 2016 that it completed the wing and fuselage mating of the first Citation Longitude on Thursday. The new twinjet is on track for first flight this summer followed by entry into service in 2017.

“The team has been working diligently to meet a development schedule unmatched in the industry, and it’s rewarding to see the aircraft taking shape,” said Scott Ernest, president and CEO of Cessna parent company Textron Aviation.

The clean-sheet design integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, including a Garmin G5000 flight deck, head-up display, enhanced vision capability, and Fadec-equipped Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines with fully integrated autothrottles. According to Cessna, the Longitude offers the lowest ownership costs in the category, as well as the lowest cabin altitude–5,950 feet–in its class.

With seating for up to 12 passengers, the flat-floor, stand-up cabin features a standard double-club configuration, and class leading walk-in baggage compartment, which is fully accessible in flight.

Cabin environmental and entertainment systems can be controlled by passengers using their mobile devices, and high-speed internet connectivity is standard.

The Longitude boasts a maximum cruise speed of 476 knots, a high-speed range of 3,400 nm, and a full fuel payload of 1,500 pounds.