Customers Get Early Look At Ultra-Lux Interior
Cessna unveiled its new Citation Columbus concept mock-up
Monday, reflecting progress to date on the program and two years of
research into customer preferences. The mock-up was unveiled to
customers and the media at a special event on the opening day of
the National Business Aviation Association Meeting and Convention
in Orlando, FL.
"This next-generation mock-up represents a departure from
conventional Cessna design, exploring unique concepts, many of
which are based on customer input collected during the global tour
of our first conceptual design unveiled at NBAA 2006," said Jack J.
Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO. "From the more fully
developed cockpit to the full-size baggage compartment, our Cessna
interior design team has done a phenomenal job of synthesizing the
market feedback from the recent tour. The result is a flexible,
functional and very chic interior."
In addition to a new color palette,
the interior features a flight attendant seat, more galley space,
new lighting, newly sculpted sidewalls, heated passenger seats and
moveable cup holders. Features such as the cabin management system
will be integrated later as technology advances to meet
Cessna’s requirements.
Cindy Halsey, vice president, Interior Design, Engineering and
Development, said the strategy in designing the Columbus interior
remains keeping the configuration flexible, a process aided by the
fact Cessna’s interior design is handled exclusively by its
in-house design team.
"In an aircraft this size, personalization is critical to
customer satisfaction, so our design team made flexibility a top
priority,'" Halsey said. "Of course, everything inside this mock-up
will have to meet the same rigorous certification standards as any
other aircraft, and it has to 'win' its way onto the program as
being the best and most useful technology demanded by our
customers. As we gather more feedback, the design will be balanced
with sound engineering to produce the right solution for our
customer -- balanced for form and function."
Cessna launched the Columbus program earlier this year, and to
date holds more than 70 orders for the aircraft, priced at $27
million in 2008 dollars. The Citation Columbus is expected to be
the only aircraft in its class capable of 4,000 nautical miles
non-stop at Mach .80.
Preliminary performance numbers set a maximum cruise speed of
488 knots (Mach .85), a maximum operating speed of Mach .86, a full
fuel payload of 1,950 pounds and takeoff field length of 5,400 feet
at maximum takeoff weight.
1st Annual Affordable Flying Exposition Gets Its Footing
See All