D
uring January this year the
Cessna Aircraft Company, an-
nounced that the Citation M2 had
commenced its initial production run in
the company's Independence, Kansas fa-
cility. The front and aft cabin assemblies
for the light business jet are being built
at Cessna's Wichita, Kansas facility and
are then transported to Independence for
final assembly and delivery.
Unit 800 is slated for demonstrator
purposes, and is expected to roll off
the assembly line this April. Lily
English, General Manager of Cessna's
Independence Plant, says the production
start was a rewarding moment that
possessed its own challenges and benefits.
"It's great to see production begin, and see
a product take shape. The team members
are ready, and they're thrilled to be a part
of bringing the M2 to customers."
The much-anticipated business jet
is on track for certification in the second
quarter of 2013. "The M2 looks to be a
fantastic product for the market in the
light business jet category," said Brian
Rohloff, business leader for the M2. "We
asked our customers what they wanted,
and we worked their requests into the
M2 design. The outstanding customer
response is proof that this aircraft
delivers on their needs for mission scope,
performance and finishes. Designing
and manufacturing products based on
customer use and needs is at the heart of
Cessna's legacy and is what has shaped
the company's aviation pride through
the years."
The M2 features the Garmin
G3000 avionics suite, offering design
commonalities with the larger jets in
the Citation family such as the Citation
Sovereign and Citation X. "The M2 has
space for six passengers and a private
lavatory, features that many of our
Mustang customers said they wanted in
their next jet," said Rohloff. "The M2 is
faster than many comparable airplanes,
has a faster climb rate, and has strong
value at the entry segment."
Cessna
Citation
Off to flying start!
M2