Cessna Chalks-Up $1.4 Billion in CJ2, Sovereign Sales

Russ Meyer, chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft, didn't wait for the public debut of Cessna's four new Citation models to get a head start on marketing. Months ago, Meyer's sales team started selling the CJ2. The results? They sold 76 units, representing more than $326 million of new business. Two weeks ago they started marketing the midsize Sovereign and today they have 80 orders, accounting for almost $1.1 billion in more new business.

Cessna is having the "best financial results" in its 71-year history, Meyer said. The company will deliver close to 200 Citation aircraft in 1998 and its total Citation order book tops 400 units, representing an almost $4 billion backlog.

Meyer said he expects to deliver the 3,000th Citation in mid-1999, just 27 years after first delivery of the original Fan Jet 500, which became the Citation I.

By Fred George