With Citation VII Passing into History, There's Still a Choice of a Dozen Mids

Say goodbye to Cessna's Citation VII, the last of which will be delivered in December. But don't worry if you're in the market for a jet, and are figuring to spend at least $5 million, and perhaps as much as $12 million. There are still nearly a dozen models to choose from. You may have to wait a few years to get your jet, but you have plenty of selection.

Business has been almost too good in recent years-Cessna, for example, is sold out through 2000 and 2001, with all models unavailable to new buyers until 2002, and some even later. Cessna offers four midsize jets, counting the all-new Sovereign:

• The seven- to 11-passenger Bravo, priced at $5.2 million, is based on the airframe of the old Citation II, but with PW530A engines yielding a range of 1,900 nmi. The Bravo's 400-knot cruise speed makes it 135 mph faster than a comparably priced turboprop, Cessna says, yet it can fly nearly two miles higher (at 41,000 feet) with lower operating costs.
• The $7.2-million Citation Encore got its FAA type certification this past April. It's also promoted for cheaper-than-turboprop operating costs, and seats from seven to 11 passengers. Pratt & Whitney PW535A engines give it a 427-knot cruise speed. Honeywell Primus 1000 is standard. The first Citation Encore was delivered just prior to NBAA 2000.
• Cessna prices the Citation Excel at $8.8 million, for which customers get an eight- to 11-passenger airplane with stand-up cabin and PW545A engines affording a range of 2,080 nmi, with maximum cruise speed of 429 knots. The 100th Excel was delivered this past August. More than 200 orders are in hand.
• Effectively replacing the eight- to 13-passenger Citation VII is the Model 680 Citation Sovereign. It'll boast the biggest cabin in its class, and for about $12 million will bring "the best combination of size, comfort, range, and price in aviation history," Cessna says. The Sovereign will have twin PW306C engines. Assembly of the first flying prototype begins in the first quarter of 2001, followed by first flight in the first quarter of 2002. Certification is expected in late 2003, and Sovereign customer deliveries are to start in early 2004. A Honeywell Primus Epic integrated avionics package will be standard.

With nearly as a solid a position in midsize jets as Cessna's is Bombardier, with its Learjet 31A and 45. The $6.4 million Learjet 31A, a model that became Bombardier's when the Canadian company bought Learjet ten years ago, seats as many as ten passengers and can take them about 1,200 nmi. The Bombardier-designed Learjet 45, which first flew in October 1995, costs just shy of $9 million, but is roomier and can travel nearly 2,200 nmi. The six- to ten-passenger Learjet 60 is priced at $11.6 million and can travel nearly 2,500 nmi, Bombardier says. Virginia's Teal Group pegs total Learjet sales at 124 this year, falling off to 92 in 2001.

Raytheon's got products at either end of the midsize market, with the Beechjet 400A for $6.3 million and the Hawker 800XP for $11.9 million. Raytheon is talking up a "completely redesigned" Beechjet cabin with swiveling center club seating and a quieter ride behind new engine mounts and additional sound dampening materials. The aircraft seats seven to nine passengers. It has two P&WC JT15D-5 engines yielding a maximum cruise speed of 468 knots and range of 1,770 nmi.

The Hawker 800XP has twin Honeywell TFE731-5BR engines giving maximum cruise speed of 466 knots and range of 2,619 nmi. It can accommodate as many as 15 passengers, though is promoted as being extremely comfortable for eight.

Galaxy Aerospace offers midsize customers the six- to nine-passenger Astra SPX, priced at $12.1 million. The SPX is built by Galaxy partner Israel Aircraft Industries, which designed the original Astra, and is completed at the Galaxy complex at the Alliance Airport at Dallas-Fort Worth. The SPX has twin Honeywell TFE731-40R-200G engines, 'typical' cruise speed of 470 knots, Galaxy says, and range of 2,950 nmi.

By Rich Piellisch