Fastest Civil Aircraft Selling Briskly, Too

Cessna tells ANN it continues to increase production of its Citation X, to meet customer demand for the speedy bizjet.

"We have increased production of the Citation X more than 40 percent since 2003 and we will continue to ramp up production in the future to meet the growing demand for this popular aircraft," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president of sales and marketing. "The exceptional speed, reliability and cabin comfort offered by the X have contributed to its great success."

More than 260 Citation Xs have been delivered to customers around the world ,and the backlog for the aircraft extends well into 2008. The fleet has amassed almost one million flight hours over its 10-year history. With a top speed of .92 Mach, Cessna contends the Citation X is not "just" the world's fastest business jet... but the fastest civil aircraft flying today.

Of the 1,239 aircraft Cessna delivered in 2006, 307 were business jets. That's more jets than any other manufacturer; for 2007, Cessna expects to deliver 375 jets. 

"Our traditionally strong US market will remain so in the near future, but the business jet market outside the US continues to grow," Whyte said. "As an example, business jet orders outside the U.S. accounted for 48 percent of our total orders last year."

Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes.

FMI: www.cessna.com