Cessna 500 Citation I
Twin-engine light corporate jet, U.S.A.

Archive Photos ¹

Cessna 500 "Citation I" at the 1990 MCAS El Toro Airshow (Photos by John Shupek)

Cessna Citation I Overview ²

• Cessna 500 Citation I
• Role: Corporate jet
• National origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Cessna
• First flight: September 15, 1969 (FanJet 500)
• Produced: 1969-1985
• Number built: 689
• Variants: Cessna Citation II

The Cessna 500 Citation I is a small business jet announced by Cessna in October 1968 and is the basis of the Citation family. The Fanjet 500 prototype first flew on September 15, 1969 and it was certified as the Citation on September 9, 1971, upgraded in 1976 as the Citation I and a single pilot variant, production ended in 1985 after 689 deliveries. Powered by JT15D turbofans, the straight wing aircraft was developed into the Citation II/Bravo.

Development ²

In October 1968 Cessna announced an eight place business jet capable of operating from light/medium twins airfields. The Fanjet 500 prototype first flew on September 15, 1969. The renamed Citation had a relatively long development program with a longer forward fuselage, repositioned engine nacelles, a larger tail and more dihedral to the horizontal tail. It was FAA certified on September 9, 1971.

In early 1976, its wing span grew from 43.9 to 47.1 ft (13.4 to 14.4 m). It also gained thrust reversers and higher gross weights. The enhanced Citation I was introduced later in 1976 with higher weights, JT15D-1A engines and an increased span wing. The 501 Citation I/SP, certificated for single pilot operations, was delivered in early 1977. Production ended in 1985, it was developed into the Citation II/Bravo and the Citation V/Ultra/Encore. Over 690 Citations, Citation Is and I/SPs were built between 1971 and 1985.

Design ²

The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 turbofan engines after Cessna’s experience with the T-37 Tweet twinjet trainer. Turbofan rather than turbojets and straight wings rather than swept wings made it cruise slowly compared to other business jets and Learjet salesmen mocked it as the "Nearjet" vulnerable to "bird strikes from the rear; Cessna renamed it the Citation after the thoroughbred but it was nicknamed as Slowtation.

Operators ²

Civil Operators

• Norway: FlyDirect

Military Operators

• Angola: National Air Force of Angola
• Argentina: Argentine Army
• People’s Republic of China: People’s Liberation Army Air Force
• Ecuador: Ecuadorian Navy
• Mexico: Mexican Air Force
• Venezuela: Venezuelan Air Force

Accidents ²

New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson was killed in his Citation I/SP on August 2, 1979 while practicing touch-and-go landings.

Cessna 500 Citation I Specifications ²

General Characteristics

• Crew: Two (One pilot on I/SP)
• Capacity: Five passengers
• Length: 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 1 in (14.35 m)
• Height: 14 ft 3 in (4.37 m)
• Wing area: 278.5 ft² (25.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 6,631 lb (3,008 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 11,850 lb (5,375 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1B turbofan, 2,200 lbf (9.77 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 0.705 (465.3 mph) (above 28,000 ft (8,530 m))
• Cruise speed: 357 knots (411 mph, 662 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,670 m)
• Stall speed: 82 knots (95 mph, 152 km/h)
• Range: 1,328 NM (1,528 mi, 2,459 km) (45 min reserves, max fuel, 1,562 lb payload)
• Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,495 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,719 ft/min (13.8 m/s)
• Wing loading: 42.5 lb/ft² (208 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.37

References

1. Shupek, John. Photos by John Shupek, Copyright © 1990 John Shupek. All Rights Reserved
2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Cessna Citation I