Encore Will Serve The Nation As The UC-35D
The United States Marine Corps and Naval Air Systems Command has
taken delivery of the thirteenth and last military version of
the Cessna Citation Encore, the UC-35D, at the Cessna Aircraft
Company production plant in Wichita, Kansas.
During the acceptance ceremony, Mr. Pat Sullivan, Director
Government and Special Missions Sales told the audience, “On
November 22, 1999, we delivered Ultra Unit 524, as the first UC-35C
to the Marine Corps and today we deliver the last of 13 Citations
to the Marine Corp, Encore Unit 696. This program broke new ground
in Government Acquisition. It was one of the first programs awarded
under the new Department of Defense (DoD) “Commercial Item
Acquisition” initiative. This was an attempt to streamline
Government acquisition to be more in line with the way commercial
companies do business, and save the Government money.”
“Delivery of this aircraft signals the end of a highly
successful aircraft production program for the military. All the
aircraft have been delivered within cost and on schedule since the
commencement of the program in 1999,” said Capt. Mark Stone,
Program Manager, Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft Program
Office, PMA-207.
“For the last seven years these aircraft and the
accompanying spare parts and maintenance support has met the high
tempo worldwide operational demands. In addition, they also have
the distinction of being Naval Aviation’s least expensive
aircraft to operate. Cessna Aircraft should be very proud of the
efforts they have made in support of the Global War on Terrorism
and the Marine Corps.”
“In closing”, Mr. Sullivan stated, “Cessna
would like to be on record as noting that we have experienced
nothing but competent professionalism from the Government agencies
associated with the UC-35 Program, including: U.S Army Program
Manager for Fixed Wing, USMC Deputy Commandant for Aviation Branch
for Plans and Policies (APP), and Branch for Aviation Weapons
Requirements (APW), Naval Air Systems Commands Program Office for
Support and Commercially Derivative Aircraft (PMA-207), Defense
Contract Management Agency and the Army and Marine UC-35
operational units.”
The UC-35D Encore provides a significant increase in range,
speed and payload to the Marine Corps airlift fleet. It is a
state–of-the-art, twin turbofan commercial aircraft certified
by the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft has a range up
to 1,800 nautical miles, a maximum speed of 525 knots, and a
payload of up to 2,750 lbs.
This aircraft represents Cessna’s commitment to the
commercial and military market of continuous improvement to its
product line with the incorporation of numerous improvements over
the UC-35C Ultra. The Encore has an improved avionics suite,
quieter and more fuel-efficient engines with greater thrust, a more
rugged landing gear, improved anti-icing system, increased payload,
more seated headroom, and an estimated 15 percent lower maintenance
cost.
Utilizing the Performance Based Logistics (PBL) model, the UC-35
program employs a long-term life cycle contractor support (LCCS)
concept. The LCCS concept allows the Navy/Marine Corps to take
advantage of the available support in the private sector and
establish critical long-term supplier relationships to maintain and
support these aircraft globally. [ANN Thanks Rob Koon, NAVAIR
Public Affairs]