Textron Aviation has rolled out the first production Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 at its Wichita, Kansas, facility, moving the light business jet programme closer to FAA certification and entry into service. The aircraft combines the established CJ4 platform with Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics, integrated autothrottles and Garmin Emergency Autoland, with service entry now expected in 2027.
The CJ4 Gen3 programme has accumulated nearly 1,100 flight-test hours across two aircraft. Recent activity has included hot-weather operations and electrical-system certification testing, while the CJ4 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3 and M2 Gen3 programmes have logged more than 1,220 combined flight-test hours.
Garmin Emergency Autoland is designed to guide the aircraft to a suitable landing site and complete a landing if the pilot becomes incapacitated. The CJ4 Gen3 is expected to be the first light jet to enter the market with the system.
Textron Aviation lists a projected maximum range of 2,165 nautical miles and a maximum cruise speed of 451 ktas. The company has not provided a specific delivery date, customer or firm entry-into-service date, and the programme remains subject to FAA certification.