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A TIMELESS CLASSICA It’s best not to tinker with a successful product, but it can evolve to reflect changing client requirements. One result is the “modern, connected and digital” version of a large aircraft that has made its mark in the history of executive planes, a tireless workhouse that has become indispensable. The most recent new specs mean the game is once again on for small-medium bizjets
by Sergio Barlocchetti - ph. courtesy by Textron/Cessna
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scend is the fifth generation of the Citation 560XL, itself a descendant of the Cessna Citation V. It will be available in 2025, and if the American company
has decided to invest in this jet it means the market wants. When I first started out on my career I was able to rack up a few hundred flight hours on the ‘Bravo’, the third generation of this aircraft, so I was intrigued by the idea of trying out the Ascend, too, before retiring from flight testing. It looks set to become another aviation workhorse, a machine backed by over half a century of experience, an aircraft large enough to seat nine passengers – twelve in the high density version – on short to medium range flights in a totally personalisable cabin made more spacious by a dropped aisle. Let’s talk about money first – the cost will be between 18 and 20 million dollars depending on the configuration, with a rental cost of about 8,000 euro per hour compared to 4,000-5,500 euro per hour with an annual fixed cost which, if managed by an American agent, will remain between 500,000 and 700,000 dollars. According to information provided, the aisle has 68 inches (1.73 metres) of headroom and the cabin is 66 inches (1.68 metres) wide. Cessna maintains that the new fuselage enables the installation of an acoustic barrier for enhanced soundproofing, a high-end sound system and the Advance L3 Max system, although other systems will be available in the USA. The mock-ups that have appeared around the world reveal 19 USB ports and larger windows (+15% in size compared to the previous model) with wirelessly-controlled shade settings.
Opening, the integrated Garmin G5000 digital instrumentation, the state-
Passengers can also adjust the position of their seats from their
of-the-art product from the American navigation giant. Right, the Citation
own PDA.
Ascend in hangar. Note the revamped design of the lower section of the
The general idea is to offer an aircraft of a class above, with
fuselage and the unmistakable dihedral of the tailplanes. This photo, the
luxury finishes for the toilet and galley floors, too. It has to be
interiors fitted out with new materials that create lightness and greater
said, in most cases the choice of a twin-jet like this is made by the
comfort when compared to previous models
trusted pilot without oversight from the accountable manager, so it’s very important that the crew appreciate the avionics – here it’s the Garmin 5000 suite that can also be powered by the Honeywell Re-100 auxiliary power unit. The Garmin suite comprises three 14” high-resolution displays, one with personalised configuration. It also features a synthetic visual, a satellite voice and data communications system and detects and 124
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The Ascend in flight. Airplane management has been redesigned to further reduce workload for the crew, facilitating operations like maintenance and navigation. With a payload of four people the aircraft can cover a distance of 1,900 nautical miles
avoids marginal weather condition. It is programmed directly by Garmin
long within range. Maintenance has also been optimised, with inspection
to support clients with a more direct routing between North America and
and half-life review intervals extended respectively to 3,000 and 6,000
Europe. The Ascend will be the first to offer 3D airport maps, including
hours for operators enrolled in the Textron Aviation Power Advantage or
obstacles, the taxiways and images of the surrounding buildings. The
Power Advantage Plus programme, or the Eagle service plans approved
aircraft is powered by a pair of PW545D turbofans providing 4,213 pounds
by the builder. Especially useful for engine management, the package
of thrust, practically the same as before but calibrated to provide 1 per cent
offered by Pratt & Whitney Canada includes predictive maintenance. The
more power, required more for energy generation than thrust. However,
catalogue of interesting aesthetic features includes improvements like the
the high-pressure compressors are more efficient, as are the turbines, and
new winglet, LED lighting and – finally – a light above the baggage area
this translates into a cruising speed of 441 knots (817 kph), a maximum
to facilitate night-time loading. That was one of the things I felt the lack
range of with four passengers of around 2,000 miles or 2,400 in economy
of, especially at small airports with poorly-lit aprons – the places, in fact,
cruise, enabling flights between London and destinations such as Athens,
where the Ascend will be at its best.
Prague and La Mole. In short, wherever there is a runway 1,150 metres
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