DeSantis utilizes state-owned private jet for official travels

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DeSantis utilizes state-owned private jet for official travels

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CS-LAS Cessna Citation Latitude 680A | Wikimedia

By Sky Industry News

Jan 22, 2025

Ron DeSantis, the 46th Governor of Florida, is known for his use of a Cessna Citation Latitude private jet. Born in Jacksonville, Florida on September 14, 1978, DeSantis pursued history at Yale University and later graduated from Harvard Law School in 2005. He served as an officer in the United States Navy and worked within the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) before entering politics.

DeSantis was elected to the US House of Representatives for Florida's 6th congressional district in 2012 and reelected in subsequent terms. In 2018, he became the governor of Florida and secured reelection in 2022. A member of the Republican Party, DeSantis briefly ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The governor's private jet, a Cessna Citation Latitude registered as N943FL according to Celebrity Private Jet Tracker, is owned by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement based in Tallahassee. This aircraft is frequently used by Floridian politicians and executives and has flown multiple times across major Florida metro areas such as Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH), Ocala International Airport (OCF), Miami International Airport (MIA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Jacksonville International Airport (JAX).

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Cessna Aircraft Company began developing lightweight general aviation aircraft in the late 1920s. Despite initial setbacks during the Great Depression, Cessna eventually found success post-World War II with models like the Cessna 120 and Cessna 140. By venturing into business aviation with jets like the Citation I introduced in late 1971, Cessna established itself firmly within this sector.

The Cessna Citation Latitude was revealed at an industry convention in Las Vegas in October 2011. It made its first flight in February 2014 and received its type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by June 2015 before entering service that August.

The aircraft features modern avionics systems powered by Garmin G5000 technology and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306D1 turbofan engines. With a maximum speed of up to 446 knots (513 miles per hour) and a range of approximately 2,700 nautical miles (3,100 miles), it remains popular among politicians like Ron DeSantis due to its flexibility for travel needs.