Cessna Citation III

The Cessna Citation III, officially designated the Model 560, entered service in 1983 as Cessna’s first high‑performance, medium‑range business jet. Developed from the earlier Citation II, the III featured a powered lift‑dump flap and a redesigned wing with increased span and double‑slotted flaps, allowing higher cruise speeds of Mach 0.73 and a typical range of 2,000 nautical miles. Its twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A turbofan engines delivered 3,000 pounds of thrust each, providing rapid climb rates and a ceiling of 45,000 feet. The cabin, pressurized to a comfortable 8,000‑foot equivalent, accommodated up to eight passengers in a spacious, flat‑floor layout, a notable improvement over its predecessors. Introduced during a period of expanding corporate aviation, the Citation III set new standards for reliability and operating economics, thanks to its straightforward systems architecture and lower maintenance demands. Over 500 examples were built before production ended in 1990, and many remain active in charter fleets and private ownership. The aircraft’s blend of speed, range, and cost efficiency solidified Cessna’s reputation in the business‑jet market and paved the way for the successful Citation family that followed.

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