Private Jet Review
Citation III
Anyone familiar with the private jet industry knows about Cessna’s line of Citation business jets: economic, high-performing, comfortable private jets that consistently stand out in the market. The Citation III is one private jet that strikes the perfect balance between cost, performance, and comfort. It can fly from the Midwest to either coast, or nonstop from New York to Miami or Dallas.
The interior of the Citation III was designed to look and feel like the interior of a much larger, more expensive private jet. The cabin of the Citation III has a volume of 438 cubic feet and is about 5.7 feet high. Special headliner lighting and window design provide bright, indirect lighting, giving the cabin a spacious, open feel. The cabin holds eight passengers in seats that recline, swivel, and have adjustable armrests and footrests. There is an available 61 cubic feet of baggage space. Best of all, travel in the Citation III is fairly quiet due to its compliance with the FAR part 36 noise standards.
One of the best features of the Citation is that it is fast. It was designed for optimal speed: the body utilizes lightweight composites wherever possible and smooth, bonded metal surfaces to cut down on drag. It climbs quickly to its flight level of 43,000 feet where it can cruise at a maximum speed of .81 to .83 Mach (455 knots). Its maximum range with four passengers is 2,920 miles (2,530 nautical miles). At the time of its release, the Citation III had the longest range and fastest overall cruise speed of any midsized jet.
Flights in the Citation III are smooth even in turbulence, as are taxiing and landings are due to the trailing link landing gear. Pilots report excellent control and smooth performance in stalls, easy landings, and very effective brakes. The two Honeywell TFE731-3B-100S engines are reliable and allow for great flexibility in flight operations.
The Honeywell digital SPZ-8000 flight control system comes standard in Citation IIIs. It includes many safety checkup systems that are uncomplicated, so checking the status of many vital flight systems is literally as easy as pressing a button. The Citation III is certified to FAR part 25 safety standards, the same standards that commercial jets must adhere to.
In short, Cessna set out to build a private jet that would meet the needs of private jet business travelers in range and speed while keeping costs low and performance high. The resulting Citation III is a low-priced business jet that delivers comfortable travel accommodations, economic operating costs, and good speed and range.
