Cessna 550 Citation II
The Cessna 550 Citation II is a light corporate jet developed by Cessna as a stretched, higher-capacity version of the Citation I.
The Cessna 550 Citation II is a light corporate jet developed by Cessna as a stretched, higher-capacity version of the Citation I. It first flew on 31 January 1977 and was certified in March 1978. The aircraft was produced for business aviation and also served in military and government roles in some countries.
Development
Cessna announced the Citation II in September 1976 as a stretched and improved version of the Citation I. The design added fuselage length, fuel capacity, wing area, and gross weight to improve passenger capacity and range.
Design and performance
The aircraft is a twin-engine business jet with two crew and a cabin typically configured for six to eight passengers. Sources also describe a maximum capacity of up to ten passengers in some configurations, with improved cruise performance compared with the Citation I.
Variants
The Citation II family included the single-pilot Citation II/SP, the Citation S/II, and the later Citation Bravo. These variants extended the line’s production life and updated performance or avionics.
Operators
Beyond corporate and charter use, the Citation II was also used by military and government operators. Reported users include the United States Navy and United States Customs and Border Protection, along with several foreign military operators.
Key facts
- The Citation II (Model 550) was announced in September 1976 as an enlarged development of the Citation I.
- It kept the Citation family’s short-field and low-speed handling focus while improving cruise speed and capacity.
- The aircraft’s standard powerplant is two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4B turbofans.
- The Citation II led to later variants including the Citation II/SP, Citation S/II, and Citation Bravo.
- Production of the Citation II family ran from 1978 to 1994, according to one source.
The Citation II was built by Cessna, but it also connects to Canada through its use of Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D engines and through Canadian aviation interest in business jets and charter operations.[3][14]
Frequently asked questions
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References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_Citation_IISupports: Announcement date, first flight, certification, development history, family overview, and maximum speed.
- Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_550_Citation_IISupports: Crew, passenger capacity, dimensions, fuel capacity.
- Wikipedia (Catalan) — https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_Citation_IISupports: Stretched fuselage, increased wing length, fuel capacity, and engine type.
- Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_Citation_IISupports: Production period and variant names.
- GlobalAir — https://www.globalair.com/aircraft-specifications/cessna/citation-ii-specifications/184Supports: Announcement, first flight, certification, design changes, engines, and production notes.
- Skybrary Aviation Safety — https://skybrary.aero/aircraft/c550Supports: Aircraft role, service entry, variants, and engine type.
- Air Charter Service — https://aircharterservice.com/aircraft-guide/private/cessnaaircraftcompany-usa/cessnacitationiiSupports: Certification, production end, performance improvements, and reported operators.