Cessna/Textron Aviation News

Cessna is moving in the right direction with their super-midsize Longitude business jet after clearing a critical series of windtunnel validations on the wing, says chief executive Scott Ernest. The windtunnel tests were necessary to examine the new wing of the Longitude, which shares the fuselage but not an aerofoil with its smaller Latitude sister jet. The windtunnel validated airflow over the gently-swept wing in a variety of conditions, re-affirming the manufacturer's projected Mach 0.82 cruise speed with a 4,000-nautical mile range and Mach 0.85 maximum speed, Ernest says.

A look at the new Cessna SkyLane...

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announces the first production flight of its Turbo Skylane 182 JT-A took place yesterday at the company’s facility in Independence, Kan. The aircraft has the distinction of being the first modern single engine aircraft powered by a piston engine specifically designed to run on Jet-A fuel.

Tamarack Aerospace Group recently showed good performance results with its new Active Winglets attached to a Cessna Citation CJ1. Tamarack has been testing the new winglets and have been getting encouraging results so far. The jet flew 1,853 nautical miles from Idaho to White Plains in New York which is reportedly nearly 50 nautical miles further than without the winglets and with 45-min IFR Fuel Reserves.

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Six pilot interns will take off from Strother Field and Industrial Park in Winfield, Kan., tomorrow to launch the 2013 Discover Flying Challenge. The pilots will fly cross-country for the next eight weeks to raise awareness for aviation and philanthropy. Cessna partnered with the American Red Cross, United Way, EAA - Young Eagles, Special Olympics and Veterans Airlift Command for the 2013 event.

Cessna features five charities as part of 2013 discover flying challenge

Cessna Grand Caravan EX with floats finishes testing

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX on Wipline 8750 floats has now completed certification flight testing and performance testing, Wipaire announced on Tuesday. The float-equipped airframe has also completed FAA Type Inspection Authorization this week. So expect that certification of the float package will come in July if everything goes well.

From Cessna...

Cessna Internship Offers Participants Much More than Flight Time

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is in the final weeks of the 2013 Discover Flying Challenge (DFC), a unique summer internship program for seven aviation students, designed to generate awareness for partnered charitable organizations and general aviation.

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH CESSNA PILOT CENTERS

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced a collaboration with Kansas State University (K-State) to complement the University’s Aviation Open Distance education program. Under this agreement, K-State will recognize training completed at any of the domestic Cessna Pilot Center flight schools as credit towards the student’s bachelors degree in technology management at the University’s aviation school at their campus in Salina, Kansas. “Cessna is thrilled with this unique opportunity to be even more involved in supporting pilot training, side by side with the highly respected, accredited aviation program at K-State Salina,” said Jodi Noah, Cessna senior vice president of single engine/propeller aircraft. “K-State is known for having one of the premier aviation programs in the country, just as Cessna Pilot Centers are recognized as the program of choice for those wanting to train on the most up-to-date, advanced aircraft. With this partnership, we are demonstrating the continued commitment to our heritage of providing the best tools for the finest pilot training available.”

The relationship between Cessna Pilot Centers and K-State will be made official at a signing ceremony at the Cessna exhibit at the 2013 EAA AirVenture Convention on Tuesday, July 30. Students will be able to take flight training at Cessna Pilot Centers and begin receiving university credit as of the fall semester of 2014.

“This is a great day for Kansas State University, for Cessna Aircraft Company, and for students pursuing aviation as a career,” said Verna Fitzsimmons, dean of Kansas State University Salina. “To our knowledge, this is the only arrangement of its kind in the country, with a top collegiate aviation program partnering with the undisputed leader in aviation training to provide convenient educational opportunities for aviation students all over the country.” Cessna Pilot Centers have been in operation for more than forty years, teaching students to fly using the most updated technology and aircraft. Currently the centers use the Cessna Flight Training System, a comprehensive flight training program that combines home study labs with flight lesson courses resulting in a more thorough and in-depth curriculum.

Comprehensive look at the Citation X.

http://www.cessna.com/citation/citation-x

Cessna also flies first production model of the new generation Citation X, it hit a top speed of Mach 0.935. The first delivery is expected in early 2014.

Cessna thanks you for patronizing them at Oshkosh

Thanks to all the folks who stopped by Cessna's booth at #OSH13! We had a great show, and we'll see you next year!

http://ow.ly/i/2M60G

Cessna Veteran O’Bannion Named Regional Vice President Of Sales For Midwest And Canada

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced Lannie O’Bannion as its regional vice president of Sales for the Midwestern U.S. and Canada. Based in Wichita, O’Bannion will report directly to Kriya Shortt, senior vice president of Sales, and will be responsible for representing the broad range of Citation products to customers.

Most recently, O’Bannion served as business leader for Cessna’s Caravan product line, during which time he achieved multiple years of product growth in a challenging market. Since starting his career with Cessna in 1995, O’Bannion has gained broad experience with the Citation product line and demonstrated proven leadership capabilities by advancing through a variety of customer-focused positions within the Citation team and throughout Cessna.

“I’m thrilled to have Lannie join the sales leadership,” said Shortt. “His extensive understanding of our products, customers and company uniquely positions him to provide strategic vision and leadership to his team and ensure Cessna is meeting customer needs."

“It’s an outstanding opportunity to step into this new role and empower a team to act not only on Cessna’s behalf, but on the customer’s behalf as well,” said O’Bannion. “We pride ourselves on manufacturing and delivering aircraft that exceeds customer expectations. Delivering on the Cessna promise is what we are here to do, and I’m happy to be able to lead a team that delivers on that every day.

A key focus under Shortt’s leadership has been continued growth of Cessna’s global sales force. O’Bannion joins the worldwide sales leadership team with more than 100 years of combined experience at Cessna, comprised of Bob Gibbs, Latin America; Bill Harris, Asia-Pacific; Tom Perry, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Rob Scholl, North America, Eastern U.S. and Henry Yandle, North America, Southwest/Western U.S.

New aircraft hitting the market in ‘13 – M2, new X and new Sovereign and the Grand Caravan EX.

Cessna's production slowdown of light jets dragged down the entire industry's delivery results in the second quarter, despite strong increases in large cabin jets and non-agricultural turboprops, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Overall shipments of business jets and non-agricultural turboprops in the second quarter amounted to 294 aircraft, a 4.2% reduction from the same period a year ago.

Cessna debuts the Sovereign, Grand Caravan EX and the TTx at #LABACE13 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Citation Latitude is expected to provide non-stop travel between Santiago to Bogota.

The initial fuselage for the Citation Latitude is being used as a static test article while the second test article for the Citation Latitude will be used for structural trials.

Citations across the country will be put to work in June 2014 flying athletes & coaches to the @2014USAGames #CSOA14.

The new Cessna Citation M2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFT-sLUqpCg