The Cessna Citation III was the first of the Model 650 series of Citation jets, which are mid-sized, high-performance business jets. Development of the Citation III began in 1978, and its first test flight took place on May 30, 1979, with the second prototype flying on May 2, 1980. The aircraft received its FAA type certification on April 30, 1982. A total of $150M was spent in the first production and delivery of the Citation III.
The interior is 422 cubic feet, seating six to ten passengers, as well as two crew members. Two Garrett TFE731-3B turbofan engines power the Citation III with 3,650 pounds of thrust. This attributes to the jet’s long range of 2,054 nm.
Production of Cessna Citation III continued for nine years, with 202 of the aircraft being built. The unit cost in 1990 was priced at $8.1M. As of May 2018, 100% of operating models are pre-owned, and 21.2% are for sale on the market. This jet will spend an average of 493 days on the market. Today, there are 184 Cessna Citation III’s in operation, with 179 being independently owned and 5 in shared ownership. North America is the largest operator, with 80% of the operating fleet.
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Cessna Citation III Full Specifications
Exterior
- Exterior Height: 16 ft 10 in
- Wing Span: 53 ft 6 in
- Length: 55 ft 6 in
- External Baggage: 61 cu ft
Interior
- Cabin Volume: 422 cu ft
Occupancy
- Crew: 2
- Passengers: 7
Operating Weights
- Max T/O Weight: 22000 Lb
- Max Landing Weight: 20000 Lb
- Operating Weight: 13800 Lb
- Empty weight: 11670 Lb
- Fuel Capacity: 7329 lbs Lb
- Payload W/Full Fuel: 1071 Lb
- Max Payload: 1600 Lb
Range
- Normal Range: 1770 nm
- Max Range: 2000 nm
- Service Ceiling: 51000 ft
Distances
- Balanced Field Length: 5630 ft
- Landing Distance: 4208 ft
Performance
- Rate of Climb: 3699 fpm
- Climb Rate One Engine Inop: 805 fpm
- Max Speed: 465 kts
- Normal Cruise: 427 kts
- Economy Cruise: 418 kts
- Cost per Hour: $ 3,416.09
Power Plant
- Engines: 2
- Engine Mfg: Honeywell Engines
- Engine Model: TFE 731-3B
