Textron Aviation announced on October 22, 2024, that its Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 prototype aircraft successfully completed its first flight in early October. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the flight test program for the new business jet.
During the 1 hour and 47-minute flight, piloted by senior test pilot Corey Eckhart and chief test pilot Ed Wenninger, the team evaluated new avionics systems, propulsion, environmental, and flight control systems. The aircraft performed as anticipated, according to pilot reports.
The Citation CJ4 Gen3 is the first business jet to announce the inclusion of the all-new Garmin G3000 PRIME next-generation avionics suite, along with Garmin Autothrottles and Garmin Emergency Autoland. The aircraft is expected to enter into service in 2026, following a rigorous testing phase to ensure it meets performance standards.
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