Largest Single Order To Date For VLJ

The hits just keep on coming for Cessna at NBAA 2007. At a Tuesday briefing in Atlanta, the planemaker announced a 30-plane order for its Citation Mustang light jet from an unnamed European customer.

"This is a very significant order on a number of fronts," said Trevor Esling, Cessna vice president, International Sales. "Foremost, it is a departure from our usual customer profile and shows the Mustang is very attractive to the large-fleet air-taxi market. It is telling evidence of the suitability of the Mustang for the European market. It also demonstrates the durability of the airframe for the demands of high-utilization operators."

The order represents the largest single order-to-date for the Mustang, Cessna's answer to the very-light-jet marketplace. Most of Cessna's 350-plus orders for the Mustang are from individual owner-operators, corporate flight departments or smaller-fleet charter companies.

The Citation Mustang became the first of a new category of entry-level jets to achieve full certification from the Federal Aviation Administration -- in September 2006 -- and the European Aviation Safety Agency in May 2007. The aircraft also is certified in Australia, Mexico and Venezuela, with certification in Brazil imminent.

The six-place Mustang has a top speed of 340 knots, a range of 1,150 nautical miles (with NBAA IFR Reserves) and a service ceiling of 41,000 feet enabling more efficient operations above most weather and commercial traffic.

FMI: www.cessna.com