Cessna Aircraft Co. is planning to launch its fifth Special Olympics Airlift. Cessna expects the 2006 Citation Special Olympics Airlift to include more than 400 Citations that will transport more than 2,600 Special Olympics Athletes and coaches across the nation to the 2006 Special Olympics U.S. National Games held at Iowa State University, July 3-6, 2006. "We applaud Cessna and their Citation aircraft owners for providing this opportunity to our Special Olympics athletes," said Timothy Shriver, chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. Cessna first organized the airlift in 1986.
In other Cessna news: Cessna Citation XLS deliveries number 13 less than eight months after receiving FAA approval in March. The Citation XLS is the successor to the Excel, powered by Pratt and Whitney PW545B engines. At max takeoff weight, the XLS is able to climb direct to 45,000 feet in 29 minutes and cruise at 429 KTAS at that altitude. The XLS features all-new Honeywell Primus 1000 control display system with three 8 x 10-inch liquid crystal displays, one for each pilot and one MFD. The XLS standard equipment list now includes over $600,000 of once-optional Excel equipment.
The FAA has granted full type certification for the model 525B Citation CJ3. The type certificate was presented to the CJ3 design team by the FAA Central Region Aircraft Certification Office during a small ceremony held at Cessna's Mid-Continent facility in Wichita. "This has been a remarkable year for Cessna. The CJ3 marks the third Citation to receive the FAA's signature of approval in 2004," said Jack J. Pelton, Cessna's president and CEO. "From the development of the concept through FAA test flights, the Citation CJ3 has repeatedly surpassed or equaled performance specifications we originally announced."
Cessna has taken its first Garmin G1000 Skyhawk fleet order. Kansas State University's College of Technology in Salina, Kan., will take delivery of five new G1000-equipped 172 Skyhawks that will join an existing fleet of 15 Skyhawks that Kansas State University took delivery of in 1999 and 2000. The new G1000 aircraft are scheduled for delivery in April 2005. "The new G1000 Skyhawk will be a state-of-the-art training platform and also a great marketing tool for prospective students," said Kansas State aviation department head Marlon Johnston.
