Cessna Citation I/SP
The Citation 1 S/P is the single-pilot version of the original, turbo-fan-powered business jet in, what has come to be, the successful Citation family. It was built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. The Citation line of business jets encompasses several distinct aircraft families, and the Citation I was the basis for the first of those. The Citation I/SP aircraft is another member of this family.
History of the Citation I
In October 1968, Cessna announced plans to build an eight-place business jet that, unlike its competition, would be suitable for operations from shorter airfields, essentially aiming to compete in the light-to-medium twin turboprop market, rather than the existing business jet market. The first flight of the prototype aircraft, then called the FanJet 500, took place a little under a year later, on September 15, 1969.
After a longer-than-expected development flight test program, during which the name Citation 500 was tried, and several changes to the design, the finished aircraft debuted with the new name Citation (Model 500) and received its FAA certification in September 1971. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 turbofan engines. With fan engines, rather than turbojet engines such as powered the contemporary Learjet 25, and straight, rather than swept wings, the Citation was over 120 knots (220 km/h) slower than the Lear 25 (max speed of 350 knots (650 km/h) compared with 473 knots (876 km/h) for the LJ25), which led to nicknames such as “Slowtation” and “Nearjet”, and raised eyebrows in the aviation media. The Citation I had a maximum take-off weight of 10,850 lb (4,920 kg) and a maximum of 8 people on board.
Like the Learjets, the Citation I required a crew of two. However since the Citation was intended to be marketed against twin turboprops, which can be flown by a single pilot, this restriction limited its intended market. Cessna’s answer was the Model 501 Citation I/SP, with SP referring to its certified single-pilot capability. The aircraft was first delivered in early 1977, and a total of 312 aircraft were produced, and production also ended in 1985.
Description
The Citation 1 S/P’s single-pilot configuration allows room for an extra passenger in the right seat of the flight deck. The “tight” cabin, measuring 12.7 ft. in length, 4.9 ft. in width and 4.3 ft. in height, can seat six passengers. In addition, it contains a full-width lavatory and a small galley/refreshment center.
In short, Cessna’s original Citation offered performance at a reasonable cost, when there was a definite need for a sensible, entry-level business jet. Between 1971 and 1985, over 690 of the highly-popular Citation 1’s and Citation 1 S/P’s were built.
Aircraft Data
- ICAO Code: C501
- Manufacturer: Cessna
- Class: Business Jet
- Model Types: I/SP
- Crew: 1
- Passengers: 7 max
- Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney of Canada JT15D-1/A/B turbofan engines
- Max Speed: Mach 0.705 (465.3 mph) (above 28,000 ft (8,530 m))
- MTOW: 11,850 lb (5,375 kg)
- Max Range: 1,328 NM (1,528 mi, 2,459 km) (45 min reserves, max fuel, 1,562 lb payload)
- Max Flight Level: 41,000 ft (12,495 m)
RocketRoute added advanced performance data for the following profiles:
- Climb (Hight Speed, Normal, Climb CRUISE CLIMB 200 KIAS, Climb CRUISE CLIMB 220 KIAS, Climb MAXIMUM RATE CLIMB)
- Cruise (Max Speed, Normal, Long Range, Cruise Long Range Cruise, Cruise Long Range Cruise AI (ON), Cruise Maximum Cruise, Cruise Maximum Cruise AI (ON), Cruise Normal Cruise 1, Cruise Normal Cruise 1 AI (ON), Cruise Normal Cruise 2, Cruise Normal Cruise 2 AI (ON), Cruise Normal Cruise 3, Cruise Normal Cruise 3 AI (ON)
- Descent (Descent High-speed descent, Descent High-speed descent AI (ON), Descent Low power descent, Descent Normal descent, Descent Normal descent AI (ON)
- Holding (Anti-Ice On, Anti-Ice Off, HOLDING AI OFF, HOLDING AI ON)
- Mass and Balance