Story ID: 
Second Citation Ascend Test Article Takes Flight
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: The program is on track for entry into service in early 2025
Word Count: 325
Textron Aviation's second Cessna Citation Ascend flight-test article—dubbed P1since it also is the first conforming production airplane—took to the air for the first time yesterday. The flight lasted one hour 24 minutes, during which the twinjet climbed to 13,500 feet and reached a speed of 308 knots. It was piloted by senior flight test pilot Michael Bradfield and principal engineering test pilot Maurice Girard.
The Ascend is an update to the 560XL family, replacing the XLS+ cabin’s trenched center aisle with a flat floor and the Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with a touchscreen-controlled Garmin G5000 system with autothrottles. Engines are uprated to more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545Ds, and the Ascend will have a 300-pound higher maximum takeoff weight of 20,500 pounds, maximum payload increase of 50 pounds to 2,390 pounds, and range increase to 1,900 nm at high-speed cruise, up from 1,750 nm in the XLS+.
Textron Aviation is also upgrading to the Honeywell RE100 [XL] APU, which is approved for unattended operations on the ground. Cabin amenities include new soundproofing, redesigned seats with electric pushbuttons, 19 USB charging ports, and three universal outlets. The Ascend is expected to enter service early next year.
The flight test plan for P1 includes testing of systems, propulsion, human factors, environmental controls, and avionics. Both the prototype Ascend and P1 will be flown for all the certification flight testing and so far the two jets have cumulatively logged more than 400 flight hours.
"Today’s successful flight of the second Citation Ascend test article marks another achievement for the program, and that’s a testament to the many great employees involved with this project,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president of engineering at Textron Aviation. “The aircraft has continued to perform well through the phases of testing, and I continue to be confident in the program’s momentum and in our skilled team members who make it possible.”