Despite environmental concerns, bizjet charters have skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic and currently show no signs of slowing. In this Flight Adventure, we take a look at one of the more stunning bizjets in the skies today: the Cessna Citation X.
The words Cessna and Citation have been paired since 1972 when one of the most prominent general aviation aircraft manufacturers in the world, Cessna, released its first Citation twin-engine business jet. Initially designed to be more economical and able to operate out of smaller airfields than its competitors, sales performed well but accelerated when the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973/4 saw fuel costs go through the roof and suddenly a more economical bizjet option was very appealing to the accountants.
As that fuel shock eased, Cessna in turn produced a range of larger and faster Citation models but was having trouble shaking the general impression that they were slower than other brands.
The ‘X’ model was borne from a need to improve the expanding Citation range to not only shake off the perception that they were slow but to keep up with the demands of the expanding bizjet market. When the first Citation X (model ‘C750’) was delivered in 1996, it immediately started to set sp…