Aircraft

Speedy Citation X+ continues record-setting ways

Cessna's Citation X+ has set four new city-to-city speed records over recognized courses across the US
Cessna's Citation X+ has set four new city-to-city speed records over recognized courses across the US

Even before it received FAA type certification, Cessna's New Citation X, now known as the Citation X+, had claimed the title of the world's fastest civilian aircraft. After receiving certification in June, the aircraft has continued its record-setting ways with a number of US city-to-city speed records.

Having supplanted the Gulfstream G650 as the world's fastest certified civilian jet with its maximum speed of Mach 0.935 (compared to the G650's Mach 0.925), the Citation X+ is now rewriting several speed records for an aircraft in its 12,000 to 16,000 kg (26,455 to 35,274 lb) weight class over a recognized course.

Over a two-day period, a Citation X+ started by making the 2,303 km (1,431 mi) journey from Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (KICT) to King County International Airport (KBFI) outside Seattle in 2 hours, 58 minutes at an average ground speed of 419.7 kts (777 km/h, 483 mph) before flying the 4,378 km (2,720 mi) from Seattle to Opa-Locka Executive Airport (KOPF) near Miami in 4 hours, 52 minutes at an average speed of 486.2 kts (900 km/h, 560 mph).

The aircraft then reversed course, flying back to Seattle in 5 hours, 13 minutes at an average speed of 453.1 kts (839 km/h, 521 mph) before returning to its original location in Wichita in 2 hours, 22 minutes at an average speed of 526.4 kts (975 km/h, 606 mph). Overall, the aircraft averaged a maximum speed of Mach 0.916 over the two-day period.

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) certified the four speed records, which saw the aircraft loaded with the required two member crew, four passengers and luggage to simulate a typical customer flight.

Source: Textron

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4 comments
John Sehler
Who builds the engines for the Citation X?
Ed Yee
Rolls-Royce engines.
kilomonk
Two dual-channel FADEC-controlled Rolls-Royce AE3007C2 turbo fan engines power the Citation X+. (from company site)
Steve Ross
How much fuel?