Business Jets - The Cessna Citation Excel

Business Jets - The Cessna Citation Excel

The Cessna Citation Excel, Model 560XL, is a turbofan-powered small-to-medium sized business jet built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. Several jets in the Citation family, which includes the Excel, the Citation XLS, the Citation XLS+ and the Citation Sovereign, precede it. The Excel project was originally announced in October, 1994, and the prototype aircraft debuted on February 29, 1996.

Similarly to its main inspiration, the Citation X, which enjoyed great popularity by the time it was introduced in the market, the Citation Excel broke from the traditional image of the Citation line by using a new combination of technologies and designs. It represented a chance to hit the traditional Citation market with the new and revolutionary features introduced by the Citation X.

The basis of the Excel is a shortened Citation X fuselage combined with a modified unswept supercritical wing, a cruciform tail configuration and the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW-545A series turbofans. This allowed the Excel to develop a maximum cruising speed of 429 knots.

Additional design features include a standard Honeywell Primus 1000 three 8 x 7in screen EFIS avionics package and trailing link main undercarriage units.

The Excel's maximum certificated altitude is 45,000 ft and its range at economical cruising speed with two pilots, four passengers and IFR reserves is 2,080 nm. It weights 11,910 lb empty and has a maximum takeoff weight of 20,000 lb. The fuselage has a 51ft 10in length, 55ft 10in wingspan, and a height of 17ft 3in. The Excel has several interior configurations with seating for up to 10 passengers in the main cabin.

The Citation XLS superseded the Excel, featuring the upgraded PW545B engines with increased performance. It was later upgraded to the XLS+, with the inclusion of FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Controls) engine controls and improved PW545C engines.

The Model 680 Citation Sovereign debuted in February, 2002, and featured FADEC equipped, Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306C turbofan engines. It surged to cover the need for a high-performance jet midway between the Excel/XLS size and the Citation X.

The Sovereign is flown by two pilots and can seat between 8-12 passengers. With a length of 63.6 ft, a wingspan of 63.2 ft and a height of 20.4 ft the Sovereign provides adequate room for a mid-sized business jet. It has a 17,700 lb empty weight and a 30,550 lb max takeoff weight. The Sovereign is able to develop a max speed of 458 knots and a range of 2,603 nautical miles, with a rate of climb of 3,571 ft/min and a service ceiling of 47,000 ft.

Cessna's mission of reinvigorating the Citation line is proceeding strongly. What started with the introduction of the Citation X continues with the Citation Excel.