The Cessna Citation V is a family of aircraft produced from 1989 to 2011. This series of aircraft began with the Citation V, or the model 560, before becoming theCitation Ultrain 1994. Eventually, Cessna upgraded this aircraft yet again to the Citation Encore in 2000 and the Citation Encore+ in 2007. As you may have guessed, this family of aircraft is all made from a similar airframe, which happens to be developed from a stretched Citation S/II fuselage. However, each of these aircraft had various upgrades and improvements made as the variations progressed. Let’s briefly examine the history of thisfamily of aircraft. Let’s also take a closer look at what changed between each variant, as well as some notable features of each of theCitation jet aircraft.
The original Citation V
Development of the type began in the late 1980s. An aircraft with a modified fuselage first flew in 1986, although the first official prototype flew for the first time in August 1987. Eventually, the aircraft was awarded its type certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in late 1988, and deliveries began the following year.
Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock
The Citation V was originally developed from the successful Citation S/II, which saw over 1,000 total aircraft produced from 1978-2006. The Citation V kept many features from this aircraft but added a longer fuselage and other subtle improvements. The new fuselage of the Citation V is approximately one and a half feet longer than the Citation S/II.
One of the features maintained while developing Citation V includes the swept wing roots. The fuselage cross-section remained the same, although, as previously mentioned, the length was increased by a foot and a half. The interior was also redesigned to increase space. The dimensions of the cabin are as follows:
- Length: 17.3 feet
- Width: 4.9 feet
- Height: 4.8 feet
The cabin also included a dropped aisle and had seven windows on each side of the aircraft. This allowed up to nine total passengers in addition to the two pilot seats. That said, the aircraft only required one pilot to fly.
Cessna utilized two powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15-51 turbofan engines to power the aircraft. These two engines provided just under 3,000 pounds of thrust each. This was a significant increase from the Citation S/II and powered the aircraft to reach a typical cruise speed of 425 knots (490 miles per hour). However, the range was slightly decreased from the Citation S/II, and the Citation V could reach a maximum range of about 1,960 nautical miles (2,255 miles). This was just under the Citation S/II’s range of 2,090 nautical miles (2,405 miles). This was due to the increased fuel consumption from the powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada engines.
Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock
Other new improvements to the Citation V include replacing the fluid deicing system of the Citation S/II. The newer Citation V utilized pneumatic deicing boots. This replacement system decreased weight and allowed for easier maintenance. The horizontal stabilizer was also widened, and the Citation V was the first Citation business jet to offer its electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) as standard equipment, although it was only offered on the captain’s side of the aircraft.
These new features, on top of an already established business jet like the Citation S/II, made the Citation V the best-selling business jet when it was manufactured. Over 260 total aircraft were produced from 1989 to 1994. Eventually, Cessna replaced the Citation V with the Citation Ultra.
The Citation Ultra upgrade
After five successful years of production of the Citation V, Cessna decided to upgrade the aircraft. Originally announced in September 1993, the type certificate for the new Citation Ultra was awarded in 1994.
Photo: Enrico Powell | Shutterstock
The most notable upgrade from the Citation V to the Citation Ultra was new Pratt & Whitney JT15D turbofan engines. These increased the thrust from the older engines that were used on the Citation V. The newer engines could reach about 3,050 pounds of thrust each. The new engines also reduced fuel consumption and weight, improving the aircraft’s performance.
The Citation Ultra had the following specifications:
|
Length |
48 feet eleven inches |
|---|---|
|
Wingspan |
52 feet two inches |
|
Height |
15 feet |
|
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) |
16,300 pounds |
|
Maximum speed |
Mach 0.755 (579 miles per hour) |
|
Cruise speed |
430 knots (490 miles per hour) |
|
Range |
1,960 nautical miles (2,260 miles) |
|
Ceiling |
45,000 feet |
Additionally, the Citation Ultra added upgraded avionics, which was the Honeywell Primus 1000 glass cockpit. The EFIS was also extended to the copilot’s side. These upgrades helped the Citation Ultra become one of the best-selling aircraft of the 1990s, and it was even named theBest Business Jetof 1994 by Flying Magazine. Nearly 280 aircraft were produced from 1994 to 1999 before another upgrade was introduced.
The Citation Encore upgrade
After several successful years with the Citation Ultra, Cessna decided to upgrade the business jet even further. The newest aircraft was called the Citation Ultra Encore, or the Citation Encore, and was introduced in 2000. This enhanced aircraft added newer PW525 engines and expanded the plane’s fuel capacity to add range. The weight of the aircraft was increased by 200 pounds. Other upgrades included a trailing link main undercarriage and upgraded interior options. Over 150 examples were produced until 2007.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
In 2007, Cessna upgraded the Citation Encore to the Citation Encore+. Major avionics upgrades were introduced, including Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. This added a FADEC system and several multi-functional displays.
The Citation Encore+ was the final upgrade of the Citation V family of aircraft and was produced through 2011. In total, just under 775 total aircraft were built, making it a highly successful Citation jet.
