Two New Jets For Cessna!

An ebullient press conference at the onset of NBAA 2004 shows that Cessna thinks the worst of the recent downturn is pretty much over and that times are looking much better for the GA manufacturer. 

Hinting for weeks that major news was in the offing, Cessna's Roger Whyte and Jack Pelton (pictured above) disappointed no one. Cessna announced two new versions of its Citation CJ1 and CJ2 series bizjets, equipped with new engines, avionics and an expanded list of standard equipment... assets which were once optional on the previous CJ generation.

The new Citation CJ1+ (below) uses the FADEC-equipped Williams FJ44-1AP engines... an update that will result in more payload and better cruise speeds. Priced at a tad over $4 million bucks, the first test bird flew just this week. Fourth quarter, 2005 deliveries are forecast.

The $5.5 million CJ2+ (below) will feature a new Williams FJ44-3A-24 engine to power the Citation CJ2+. With 35 orders already in hand, deliveries are expected in 1Q, 2006.

In other news associated with the press conference Cessna officials would not commit to any details about along-rumored cockpit upgrade for the Caravan line but did promise that hiring was on an upswing. Some 600 jobs are expected to be resuscitated by the end of next year and hinted that even more jobs may be added.

One somewhat contentious note occurred after Cessna's Pelton was asked as to whether they had any intention of adding ballistic parachutes to their single engine line (now that both the Cessna 172 and 182 are certified for their use). Pelton replied that since their airplanes "were certified for stalls and spins," that they had no need for such equipment...

FMI: www.cessna.com