Cessna Citation III
The Cessna Citation III model 650 series is a midsize business jet produced by Cessna from 1983 until 1991. Distinguishing features of the Model 650 are an entirely new fuselage mated to a super-critical swept-back wing and T-tail. It seats up to 8 passengers and 2 pilots.
Specifications
Exterior Dimensions
Wing span: 53 ft 6 in
Length: 55 ft 6 in
Height: 17 ft 3 in(thru sn 099) 16 ft 9 in (sn 100 and up)
Interior
Cabin volume: 422 cu. ft.
Seating: typically configured for 8 passengers 2 crew
Avionics
Collins Pro Line II radios, Sperry/Honeywell SPZ-650 integrated flight director / autopilot, TAWS B, RVSM, ADS-B, MSP
Performance (thru SN 099)
| Horsepower: 3650.00 | Gross Weight: 21,000 |
| Top Speed: 472 | Empty Weight: 11,720 |
| Cruise Speed: | Fuel Capacity: 7;384 |
| Stall Speed (dirty): 89 | Range: 2,600 |
| Rate of Climb: 3,909 | Rate of Climb (One Engine): 902 |
| Service Ceiling: 51,000 | Ceiling (One Engine): 23,500 |
| Takeoff | Landing |
| Ground Roll: | Ground Roll |
| Takeoff Roll Over 50 ft: 4,710 | Landing Roll Over 50 ft: 2,560 |
Performance (SN 100 and up)
| Horsepower: 3650.00 | Gross Weight: 22,000 |
| Top Speed: 472 | Empty Weight: 11,811 |
| Cruise Speed: 461 | Fuel Capacity: 7;384 |
| Stall Speed (dirty): 97 | Range: 2,600 |
| Rate of Climb: 3,699 | Rate of Climb (One Engine): 805 |
| Service Ceiling: 51,000 | Ceiling (One Engine): 23,500 |
| Takeoff | Landing |
| Ground Roll: | Ground Roll |
| Takeoff Roll Over 50 ft: 5,030 | Landing Roll Over 50 ft: 2,900 |
Engines
Manufacturer: Honeywell
Model: TFE731-3B-100S
Horsepower: 3650 lb thrust
Fuel burn: Two engines use a combined 241 gallons per hour (GPH)
History
The Cessna Citation III (Model 650) is an American business jet with 2,350 nmi (4,350 km) of range produced by Cessna and part of the Citation Family Announced at the October 1976 NBAA convention, it made its maiden flight on May 30, 1979, received its type certification on April 30, 1982 and was delivered between 1983 and 1992. The cheaper Citation VI was produced from 1991 to 1995 and the more powerful Citation VII was offered between 1992 and 2000, 360 of all variants were delivered. An all new design, it had a 312 sq ft (29 m²) swept wing for a 22,000 lb (10 t) MTOW, a T-tail and two 3,650–4,080 lbf (16.2–18.1 kN) TFE731 turbofans. Its fuselage cross section and cockpit were kept in the later Citation X, Citation Excel and Citation Sovereign.
Design
In 1974, Cessna studied a long range model 700 stretch of its original Citation I powered by three JT15Ds called Citation III, with a 17,500 lb gross weight, an 8,000 lb empty weight and a 7,500 lb fuel capacity leaving 2,000 lb for the occupants, and targeting 1978 deliveries. This would have gave it a transcontinental range.
Cessna announced the 10 to 15 passengers, $2.5 million Citation III at the Fall 1976 NBAA convention. Scheduled for 1980, the model then presented had a cruciform tail and a cockpit similar to previous Citations. As the proposed three-engined Models 600 and 700 timing was inadequate, it would be powered by two TFE731 and would be lifted by a supercritical 35° swept wing. Its maximum cruise was targeted for 470kn, the long-range version had a 19,300lb gross weight and would cover 3,000 nmi. The program was to cost up to $50 million to launch.
In 1978, it had a specific cockpit and a T-tail, the wing had an area of 312ft² (29m²) and an aspect ratio of 8.94, the ER version targeted a MTOW of 18,300 lb (8,30 1kg) and an empty weight of 9,400 lb (4,264 kg). Assembly of the first production aircraft began in January 1979 and the first prototype made its maiden flight in May.
The second prototype first flew in April 1980. By July, certification was put back by six months and first deliveries were scheduled 11 months later than originally planned. $40 million were spent on R&D and $25 million for certification, for a total spending of $150 million by first delivery including tooling. By October, the two prototypes had logged 400 hours in 372 flights and FAR-25 certification was expected in April 1982 with first deliveries in October. The initial late 1982 production rate of one per month should grow to seven per month by 1985.
The FAA approved its type certificate on April 30, 1982. The aircraft is flown by a crew of two and it can seat up to 13 passengers but a typical corporate interior will seat six to eight passengers.
It was developed in seven years for $240 million. The first production model, owned by golfer Arnold Palmer, set time to altitude aircraft records of 12 min 1 s to 12,000 m (39,350 ft), and 23 min 43 s to 15,000 m (49,200 ft), and an airspeed record from Gander Airport to Paris le Bourget in 5 h 13 min, averaging 429 kn. Production continued for nine years until 1992, with a total of 202 Citation IIIs being built.
