The design of th eCitationX
Shared components
TheCitationX differed from them any Citation jets that Cessnahad already designed before it,"butit also borrowed some concepts from those past designs."For instance,"thecockpit,"as well as "thecabin cross-section,"were borrowed from "thealready certifiedCessnaCitationIIIand were integrated into "thedesignofth eCitationX."This allowed forTextronAviationengineers to reduce overall costs of"theprogramas carry-over designs."Thecockpitand cabinis whereth esimilarities would endfor th eCitationX,"with them ajorityof thenewdesign goingtooptimize"theaircraftforhigh speedsitwas settoachieve.
Innovations inthedesignofth eCitationX
Th eCitationX wassetto cruise ata topspeedofMach0 .92(613 knots/706 milesperhour),"andwouldneedtohavesomedesignimprovementstoitsairframefrompreviousgenerationsofCitationaircrafttoallowforsuchhighspeeds.TheprimaryinnovationwasthewingoftheCitationX;thenewwingwouldhaveaveryhighsweepangle(theangleoftheleadingedgeofthewing,measuredperpendiculartothefuselageoftheaircraft),measuring37degrees.Thishighsweepangle,usuallyreservedforhigh-performancejets,likemilitaryfighters,allowedtheCitationXtoachieveitsMach0 .92speedswithrelativeefficiencythatmorestraightsweptwingswouldnotallowfor.
MightyRolls-Royceengines
TheCitationXutilizeditshighwingsweepwithtwopowerfulengines,theRolls-Royce3007Cturbo fanengines.TheseenginesinstalledontheCitationXe achproduceamaximum thrustof6 ,442lbf(28 .66kN)anda remountedonthesidesoftheaftfuselage.The3007CRolls-RoyceengineswereactuallythefirsttimeCessna(andTextronAviation)hadusedaRolls-Royceengineontheiraircraft.TheCitationXrequiredsuchpowerfulengin essothatitcouldcruiseatitsmaximumMach0 .92speed.ThemaximumcruisingaltitudeoftheCi tationXwas51 ,000feet(15 ,545m),muchhigherthanatypicalairlinerwouldflyat,andth em aximumrangeofthea ircraftwas3 ,460nauticalmiles(3 ,982statutemiles/6 ,408km).Thefirst172Ci tationXa irplaneshadthe3007Cenginesinstalled.Howev er,the173rdCi tationXandonhadaslightlybetterversionoftheturbo fanengineinstalled,theRoll s-Royce3007C1.Improved3007C1engin escouldproduceev enmorethrust,e achwithamaximumpoweroutputratingof6 ,764lbf(30 .09kN).
InsideaCi tationX
A ttimeofproduction,theCi tationXwa sthelargestai rcraftthatwa smanufacturedbyTex tronAv iationunderCe ssnabrand.Highsw eepwing shadatotalwidth63 .6ft(19 .39m)fromtiptotipov erallengthai rcraftwa s73 .53ft(22 .04m)Ci tationXt ypicallyconfiguredholdtw opilotsuptotwelv epassengersFur thermoreCi tationXa dglasscockpitpow eredHoneywellPrimus2000av ionicssy stemCost sowningaCi tationXhighspeedsluxuryinteriordoesnotcomec heapanyonepurchaseAsCe ssnaCeasedproductiononlyusedai rframesav ailablepurchasemarketAccordingLibertyJetminimumpurchasepriceCi tat ionXi s275millioncangohigh6milliondependingcondi tionnumbertotalflighthoursLibertyJetshowstotal27unitscurrentlyforsaleusedbusinessjetmarketCost sowningbusinessjetdon tendjustpurchasepricethoughTherearemanyaddi ti onalcostsassoc iatedowningbusinessjetCe ss naxdifferentLibertyJetestimateswhil eflying200hoursperyearcommonflighthourtotalrequi rearound12milliontotaloperatingcostsPrimarycostsofw nershipcomefuelnationalaverageJetAfuelhov eringarou nd723perUSgal200hoursflighttimerequiresapproximatel y423000fuelcostsaloneNextbiggestcostoperatingtotalcrewcostminimumtw opersonrequiredcrewcosttingapproximatel y243000peryearaloneincludingnecessarygroundpersonnelanyotheraddi ti onalinflightcrewLastl ythirdbiggestexpenseengi neov erhaulaiframe maintenanceeachrequiringapproximatel y145000130000peryearrespectiv elyOtheroperatingcostsassoc iatedCI tat ionXt hesewerjustthreelargestHowCI tat ionXBrokeRecordsCI tat ionXFas testBusinessJetWorldFirstProducedBeforeCertifi cati onAircraftManyFlig htTestsGoingThroughVerifi cati onFAA Mach092TopSpeedWouldBeenVerifi edFlightTestingInstrumentati onInstalledThroughoutTestArti cleAircraftPhotoQuitni9WikimediaCommonsCI tat ionXD idSomeIssuesDuri ngCert ifi cati onManyProblemsDel ayi ngProgramPastIntendedTargetDateEngi nesAddi ti onalTesti ngIntegrati ngNewRollsRoy ceAv i oni csSy stemsReduc ingSoundLev elsPowerfulThroughoutInteri orCabinLos ingRecordFastestBus inessJetDiscuss ionsSurround ingSpeedRecordAllPastTenseRel ati onArt ic leThatsBecauseLostBack2010GulfstreamG650BecameOfferedTopMach0925617Kn ots710Mi lesHourThoughG650OnlyHoldBrie fTi meCert ifi edImprovedModelIntoImprovedEng inesHigher7042Lbf313kNForceOnceAg ai nKi ngSk iesRemainEv entuallyJo inedOtherAi rcraftGulfstreamG700EventuallyBombardierGlobal8000Wi llFastestBecomesMax imumMach094627Kn ots721Mi lesHourSaidComm unitySt illHoldFavor iteSi nceBrokeBarrierFi rstEvenCompet itorsCont inueAmongTi meRela tedFastestGulfstreamJetNewlyCert ifi edSurpassedPrev iousTermsSpe edPosts
Alerts Sign-up
