The Citation Mustang is a very light business jet built by US-based manufacturer Cessna and stands out as the smallest of the jets in the company’s commercial lineup. The Mustang is a very popular very light jet, the smallest size categorization of private jets that typically operate as short-range aircraft with a capacity of under 10 passengers.

The plane was first launched in 2002 at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. It was delivered to its first customer on 22 November 2006, just two months after receiving certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aircraft was produced between 2006 and 2017, with 479 aircraft rolling off the company’s assembly lines during the 11-year production run.

The aircraft is highly maneuverable and incredibly robust, with the vast majority of Citation Mustang pilots extremely happy with how the plane flies. In this article, we will take a deeper look at five key reasons why pilots love the Mustang.

1 Powerful engines

Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F turbofans

The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F, a member of the engine manufacturer’s popular PW600 family, is among the best engines out there for private jets. The engine is compact but powerful, making it ideal for the jet’s pilots as it provides impressive thrust control for dynamic takeoff, landing, and inflight operations.

The engines offer the latest Full-Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) technology, which provides pilots with a significantly reduced workload alongside advanced engine health monitoring and diagnostic systems. These factors combine to give the Citation Mustang an impressive aircraft dispatch availability, making the plane extremely reliable.

Operators of the Citation Mustang are also huge fans of the PW615F, as it is both fuel-efficient and easy to maintain, providing impressive operating economics for jet owners, according to Pratt & Whitney. Three versions of the PW600 family were produced, including engines that power the Eclipse 500 and the best-selling Embraer Phenom 100 business jets.

2 Advanced avionics

The cockpit features the industry’s most modern control systems

The Citation Mustang is one of the easier business jets to fly, and it is definitely designed that way. The plane maintains advanced avionics and cockpit controls that all make for extremely easy and reliable operations.

The plane’s cockpit provides real-time flight info, weather conditions and traffic updates to a single operator, as the aircraft is one of the few business jets certified for operations by just one pilot. The aircraft features a user-friendly interface alongside a robust autopilot that makes the plane easy to handle and navigate, especially during lengthy flights, according to Blade.

3 Impressive performance

Cruising speed: 390 miles per hour

The Cessna Citation Mustang is undeniably not the strongest or most powerful private jet in the skies, nor is it capable of completing the longest flights. However, the aircraft is impressively efficient, and has a number of systems that ensure it maintains cruising speeds, stays at appropriate altitudes and navigates around unfavorable weather patterns without significant pilot effort.

It is widely known that the Citation Mustang is not the most dynamic aircraft in the skies. However, many will argue that the aircraft offers the perfect medium for pilots and operators, with Twin and Turbine writing the following about the jet:

“No surprise, the Mustang is not a fighter jet in handling, but it is honest, docile and stable in all situations. It is one of the easiest transition jets ever produced.”

The plane is also known for its impressively soft landings, which are the norm among Citation Mustang pilots. The aircraft is also extremely easy to handle on the ground.

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4 State-of-the-art landing gear and breaking systems

The aircraft’s landing gear system allows for smooth landings

Three key pieces of the system:

1. Tricycle undercarriage landing gear
2. Nosewheel steering
3. Anti-skid brakes

The Citation Mustang is among the most pilot-forgiving private jets in the skies, especially during landings. According to Cessna, the aircraft features state-of-the-art anti-skid brakes, bringing the aircraft to a stop at impressively fast speeds.

The aircraft’s landing gear can be deployed rapidly, with only six seconds required for it to lock into place upon landing and 11-14 for it to be brought up post-takeoff. The Mustang’s gear can be hydraulically retracted or dropped, and in the event of a hydraulic failure, it can also be mechanically dropped into place.

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5 An improvement over time

The Citation Mustang is Cessna’s third light private jet

Pilots over time have continued to praise the Citation Mustang, and have also been quick to relay their praise towards manufacturer Cessna as a whole. Time and time again, the company has been able to take customer feedback and adjust newer generations of its planes to meet its customer’s critical needs.

The Cessna Citation family has grown massively over time, and currently features dozens of different variants. According to Flying Magazine, the key value of the Citation Mustang is that it delivers exactly what a light private jet should be, especially for pilots. The aircraft has uncomplicated control systems and maintains pleasant and predictable flight patterns, and, as a result, is extremely easy to fly.