Cessna’s updated Citation X has been officially validated as having the fastest maximum operating speed of any civilian aircraft currently flying, reclaiming the title from Gulfstream’s G650.
The Citation X regained its position following the conclusion of high-speed certification flights with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which recorded a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935 (536kt TAS).
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The high-speed testing regimen includes handling qualities, stability and control in addition to manoeuvrability conditions at high speeds. The validation was accomplished as a result of collaboration with FAA pilots and Cessna’s Engineering Flight Test Team during the past weeks. More than 1,300 hours have been flown in the Citation X test program in preparation for certification, which is expected in the early part of 2014.
The new Citation X has a range of 3,242nm and seating capacity for nine people.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.