Textron Aviation has rolled out the first production unit of the Cessna Citation Longitude, the company’s latest super-midsize business jet. 

This aircraft will join a demonstration fleet this summer and will travel the world to showcase the Longitude’s amazing capabilities and class-leading interior to customers. 

State-of-the-art assembly and fabrication tools and techniques bring exceptional quality and superior fit and finish to this revolutionary aircraft, Textron Aviation says.

“The Citation Longitude sets a new standard in the super-midsize segment, not only through the aircraft’s design and performance, but also in the way we are manufacturing it,” said Ron Draper, senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain. “We’re incorporating a number of new and innovative fabrication and assembly techniques that will improve processes, reduce the number of parts and provide excellent quality and precision that will aid in the overall maintainability of the aircraft.”

The Longitude programme takes advantage of new technologies such as monolithic machining where major assemblies are milled from a single piece of metal rather than assembled from smaller pieces, reducing the number of parts and resulting in more precise tolerances for easier assembly. Textron Aviation also has employed and expanded vertical tooling on the assembly line of the Longitude. First utilised on the Citation Latitude midsize jet, the vertical tooling stations provide enhanced ergonomics for employees and make more efficient use of factory space. 

“Careful attention to detail, combined with advanced manufacturing techniques results in a production process that greatly benefits our customers,” Draper said. “We are able to move more quickly from concept to delivery with a high-quality product that we know will exceed the expectations of our customers.” 

The first Longitude flew in October 2016 and to date, the flight test programme’s four aircraft have accumulated more than 550 hours. A fifth aircraft will join the flight test programme this summer, showcasing the company’s dedication and commitment to getting the aircraft in the hands of its customers. 

The Longitude is expected to enter the market by the end of the year. 

With a range of 3,500 nautical miles and full fuel payload of 1,600 pounds, the Citation Longitude is set to elevate passenger expectations in the super-midsize class by delivering the quietest cabin, lowest cabin altitude (5,950 feet), more standard features and a comfortable, bespoke interior, according to Textron Aviation. 

With seating for up to 12 passengers, including an optional crew jump seat, the Longitude features a stand-up, 6-foot tall flat-floor cabin. A standard double-club configuration allows the most legroom in the super-midsize class. Fully berthable seats are designed and manufactured in-house and a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment is accessible in flight. State-of-the-art cabin technology allows passengers to manage their environment and entertainment from any mobile device, while standard high-speed internet maximizes in-flight productivity. 

The clean-sheet design of the Longitude integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, bringing customers the lowest ownership costs in this class. It features the next evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck and is powered by FADEC-equipped Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines with fully integrated autothrottles. With Garmin’s new Head-up Display (GHD 2100) and enhanced vision capability, the Longitude facilitates eyes-up flying. The spacious cockpit incorporates easier access and an ergonomic design that fully focuses on crew comfort and efficiency.

No super-midsize business jet offers more range, greater payload or higher cruise speed at a lower expected total ownership cost, the US manufacturer says. 

The Longitude is designed to feature the longest maintenance intervals in its class – 800 hours or 18 months – expected to make it the most cost effective to operate in its category.