Approximately 50 of the world’s most cutting-edge business aircraft on the market, ranging from large intercontinental business jets, to smaller turbine-powered aircraft, as well as several piston engine aircraft, will be on display at the EBACE2023. The EBACE Aircraft Display at Geneva International Airport, adjacent to EBACE host facility Palexpo, will include the latest offerings from renowned European manufacturers such as Airbus, Dassault Falcon Jet and Pilatus, as well as global aircraft manufacturers including Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream and Textron Aviation. Visitors can expect to see aircraft with longer ranges, greater fuel efficiency, and advanced avionics systems designed to improve safety, comfort, and productivity.

Innovating in the aerospace industry for more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered its collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for its customers worldwide. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on Textron Aviation’s legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with its trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.

Textron Aviation 2022 & 2023 Q1 Figures

A leader in general aviation, Textron Aviation manufactures, sells and services Beechcraft and Cessna aircraft, and services the Hawker brand of business jets. The segment has two principal product lines: aircraft and aftermarket parts and services. Aircraft includes sales of business jets, turboprop aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft and piston engine aircraft. Aftermarket parts and services includes commercial parts sales and maintenance, inspection and repair services. Textron Aviation markets its products worldwide through its own sales force, as well as through a network of authorized independent sales representatives. 

The family of jets currently offered by Textron Aviation includes the Citation M2 Gen2, Citation CJ3+, Citation CJ4 Gen2, Citation XLS Gen2, Citation Latitude and the Citation Longitude. Textron Aviation’s turboprop aircraft include the Beechcraft King Air 260, King Air 360ER and King Air 360, and the Cessna Caravan, Grand Caravan EX and SkyCourier, which was certified in March 2022. In addition, Textron Aviation’s military trainer and defense aircraft include the T-6 trainer, which has been used to train pilots from more than 20 countries, and the AT-6 light attack military aircraft, which achieved military type certification from the U.S. Air Force in July 2022, enabling international sales of the aircraft. Textron Aviation also offers piston engine aircraft including the Beechcraft Garon G58 and Bonanza G36, and the Cessna Skyhawk, Skylane, Turbo Skylane, and Turbo Stationair HD. 

In support of its family of aircraft, Textron Aviation operates a global network of more than 20 service centers, two of which are co-located with Bell, along with more than 300 authorized independent service centers located throughout the world. Textron Aviation-owned service centers provide customers with 24-hour service and maintenance. Textron Aviation also provides its customers with around-the-clock parts support and offers a mobile support program with over 70 mobile service units. In addition, Able Aerospace Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Aviation, provides component and maintenance, repair and overhaul services in support of commercial and military fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft.

Textron Aviation have delivered more than 250,000 aircraft so far and has exceeded 150 million (more than 41 million flight hours across the globe have been accumulated by Cessna Citation jets) turbine flight hours in over 170 countries. With more than 12,000 employees building new products and supporting its customers every step of the way, the company continues to provide the industry’s widest-ranging offerings and most capable service.

Textron’s annual revenue for 2022 was $12.869 Billion (%4 increase year over year) and 39.4% of this figure was realized by Textron Aviation. Textron predicts $14 Billion revenue for 2023. Textron Aviation is continuing to work on raising production rates as demand remains robust, despite war in Ukraine. The company saw broad-based demand across its portfolio of products, including Cessna Citation Jets, Beechcraft King Airs, Cessna Caravans and the new Cessna SkyCourier. As a result of this strong demand Textron Aviation finished the year 2022 with a backlog of $6.4 Billion, up $2.3 Billion from year-end 2021, as a result of orders in excess of deliveries. According to Textron Aviation CEO Ron DRAPER, this large backlog allowing them for “stability in production, stability in pricing, opportunities for customers to plan replacements and a chance to pace the supply chain hiring needs according to the market.” Textron Aviation’s revenues increased $507 Million, 11%, in 2022, compared with 2021, reflecting higher volume and mix of $302 Million and higher pricing of $205 Million. According to Textron 2022 Annual Report, the increase in volume and mix was largely due to higher Citation jet and aftermarket volume, partially offset by lower pre-owned volume. The higher aftermarket volume reflected increased aircraft utilization. Textron Aviation delivered 178 Citation jets (54 of which were delivered during the fourth quarter [Q4] of 2022) and 146 commercial turboprops (47 of which were delivered during Q4 of 2022) in 2022, compared with 167 Citation jets and 125 commercial turboprops in 2021. 

According to 2023 Q1 financial results Textron Aviation’s revenue rose by 10.5% to $1.1 Billion in the first quarter (Q1) of the year, up from $1 Billion in Q1 2022. According to Textron Aviation the increase was largely due to favourable pricing of $58 Million and higher volume of $51 Million, which included higher defense and aftermarket volume. Profit also increased in the same period from $100 Million to $125 Million, largely due to favourable pricing, inflation and higher volume. Textron Aviation contributed $125 Million to the $259 Million in corporate-wide profits. Meanwhile, business jet deliveries in the quarter were down from Q1 2022, to 35 jets delivered from 39 last year, while turboprop deliveries increased from 31 to 34.

Textron Aviation at EBACE2023

Textron Aviation portfolio features; Cessna Citation CJ Family, with over 2.400 aircraft in service it is the most delivered business jet family in the world; Citation Latitude, the world’s best-selling midsize business jetd esigned to feature the longest maintenance intervals in its class; Citation Longtitude super midsize business jet; KING AIR Series (over 7.700 built) and CARAVAN Family (more than 2.900 delivered) aircraft, both class-leading turboprops; and the Skyhawk and Bonanza (with 200.000 deliveries) advanced piston aircraft for transport and efficient pilot training. 

At EBACE2023 in Geneva Textron Aviation will display five Cessna business jets and Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft along with Bell 429 Helicopter (has proved popular for the corporate VIP mission in many of the most prestigious locations throughout Europe and as of March 2023 Bell has delivered more than 90 429 Helicopters in Europe) and the world’s only fully certified electric powered aircraft Pipistrel Velis Electro. Based in Slovenia and acquired by Textron in march 2023, Pipestrel remains a seperate brand under the Textron umbrella and continue to hire locally in Slovenia. Company manufacturers a range of smaller aircraft, including ultralights and gliders to the electric-powered Velis Electro and four-seat Panthera. Pipistrel delivered first Velis Electro electric aircraft to Canada in November 2022.

Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Business Jets at EBACE2023 

The Citation series of business jets has evolved to offer an unmatched range of capabilities, systems and options that allows customers to expand their business reach. More than 30 Citation models have been certified over the 50-year history of the Citation line. There are currently six Citation models in production: Citation M2 Gen2, Citation CJ3+, Citation CJ4 Gen2, Citation XLS Gen2, Citation Latitude and Citation Longtitude. Textron Aviation delivered its 8.000th Cessna Citation business jet, a Cessna Citation Longitude, in February 2022 to Scotts Miracle-Gro, one of the world’s largest marketers of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care and a long-time Citation owner. With this delivery, the claimed that the Cessna Citation Family is the world's most popular line of business jets is once again reinforced.

According to Textron Chairman and CEO Scott DONNELLY as of April 2023 there are 7.000 Textron aircraft in service today. Europe is an important region for the company. In 2021 38% of turbine aircraft delivered on the continent—Citations, Cessna Caravans, and King Airs—came from Textron Aviation. Novadays, Textron Aviation has more than 1,000 jets and 700 turboprops based in Europe.

The Textron Aviation business jets planned for display at EBACE2023 include; Citation Longitude, Citation Latitude, Citation CJ4 Gen2, Citation CJ3+ and Citation M2 Gen 2.  

Citation Longitude

The Cessna Citation Longitude is the flagship aircraft of the Cessna Citation Family. Announced in 2012, the Longitude made its first flight in 2016 and obtained certification in 2018. Deliveries of the Longitude began in early 2019.

Designed, produced and delivered by Textron Aviation Inc., the Cessna Citation Longitude super-midsize business jet achieved certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in July 2021. The EASA certification cleared the way for customer deliveries to begin in the Europe. Textron Aviation has showcased its super-midsize Citation Longitude business jet for the first time at EBACE in May 2018 before starting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification.

The largest jet in the Cessna Citation lineup, the Longitude was designed with business and return on investment at the forefront, with the lowest direct operating cost of any super-midsize jet. Capable of flying from Geneva to Dubai or Rome to New Delhi, the Longitude offers class-leading comfort, the quietest cabin in class, and advanced connectivity for those focused on staying productive in the air. As a clean-sheet aircraft, the Longitude was designed with innovation front of mind, and a cabin experience shaped around customer input and a broad range of mission capabilities.

With a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 kilometers) and full fuel payload of 1,600 pounds (726 kilograms), the Citation Longitude is designed to elevate passenger expectations in the super-midsize class by delivering a quiet cabin, a low cabin altitude (5,950 feet/1,814 meters), more standard features and a comfortable, bespoke interior. With seating for up to 12 passengers, including an optional crew jump seat, the Longitude features a stand-up, 6-foot tall flat-floor cabin. A standard double-club configuration delivers the most legroom in the super-midsize class. Fully berthable seats are designed and manufactured in-house and a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment is accessible throughout the entire flight. State-of-the-art cabin technology enables passengers to manage their environment and entertainment from any mobile device, while high-speed internet maximizes in-flight productivity.

The clean-sheet design of the Longitude integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, delivering what is anticipated to be the lowest ownership cost in its class. It features the next evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck and is powered by FADEC-equipped Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines featuring fully integrated autothrottles with envelope protection. With Garmin’s new Head-up Display (GHD 2100) and enhanced vision capability, the Longitude facilitates eyes-up flying. The spacious cockpit incorporates easier access and an ergonomic design that fully focuses on crew comfort and efficiency. No super-midsize business jet offers more range, greater payload or higher cruise speed at a lower direct operating/total ownership cost. The Longitude is designed to offer best in class maintenance intervals of 800 hours or 18 months (expected to make it the most cost-effective aircraft to operate in its category) and Textron Aviation maintenance and diagnostic systems (AReS).

The Cessna Citation Longitude competes alongside the Gulfstream G280, Challenger 350, Dassault Falcon 2000S and Embraer Legacy 6000.

Citation Latitude

Textron Aviation had displayed the Cessna Citation Latitude for the first time in Europe at EBACE 2015 and showcased its air ambulance configuration, that purchased by Babcock Scandinavian Air Ambulance for aeromedical operations in Norway, at its static display during the EBACE 2019.

Citation products have been successful in Europe since the very beginning. The name stands explicitly for a proven and reliable product. Being known in Europe for reliability and performance the Latitude business jet is the “market leader in the midsize aircraft market.” For up to eight passengers, it provides the best performance, a full-size and spacious cabin and on top the best price-performance ratio in the market.

Designed for comfort, the Citation Latitude hosts a spacious cabin with 10 large windows, 30 inches of legroom and offers a wide, flat-floor with a 6-foot stand-up cabin. The technical performance allows the Citation Latitude to operate on short runways, allowing the use of secondary airports, considerably closer to your final destination. With this aircraft, you can fly nonstop from Los Angeles to New York or Geneva to Dubai.

With a four-passenger range of 2,700 nautical miles (5,000 km) at high-speed cruise, the Cessna Citation Latitude a can fly nonstop from Los Angeles to New York, Los Angeles to New York City, Las Vegas to Honolulu or Geneva to Dubai and to Europe from various locations in the U.S., with one-stop. The aircraft’s class-leading take-off field length of 3,580 feet provides operators with greater range out of short fields. Inside, the Latitude offers an unrivaled cabin experience featuring the most open, spacious, bright and refined cabin environment in its category. With a flat floor and six feet of cabin height, innovation abounds with exceptional features designed throughout the aircraft. Textron Aviation’s wireless cabin management system provides productive connectivity and entertainment to each passenger through their personal electronic devices. Improving cabin comfort for passengers and crew alike, the Latitude features a new cabin cooling system and a new pressurization system which provides a 5,950-foot cabin altitude at the aircraft’s maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet. With standard seating configurations, the Latitude can comfortably accommodate up to nine passengers. Extended maintenance intervals provide owners with the lowest direct operating costs in the midsize segment. The Citation Latitude flight deck features fully integrated auto-throttles and the LinxUs on-board diagnostic system, setting a new standard to efficient operation. Pilots enjoy a view of the world through the Garmin G5000 avionics with four full-color touch-screen displays and primary flights displays (PFD) featuring Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology system (SVT). Pilots type-rated for the Citation Sovereign+ aircraft are already type-rated for the Citation Latitude.

Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2 Jet

In Februrary 2021 Textron Aviation announced the newest addition to the Cessna Citation business jet family, the Citation CJ4 Gen2. The Cessna Citation CJ4, which achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification in 2010 and achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification in 2011, remains a 525C type aircraft and has already received EASA interior certification current interior certification for the CJ4 Gen2.

Reporting revenue growth and stable deliveries, Textron Aviation celebrated the handing over of the 400th Cessna Citation CJ4 business jet to Koch Holdings in April 2023.  “This milestone delivery for the Cessna Citation CJ4 series reinforces the Citation family as the world’s most popular line of business jets and demonstrates the company’s commitment to continued innovation for customers as exemplified in the latest Citation CJ4 Gen2 aircraft,” Textron said.

Geneva-based private jet charter company DALaviation Switzerland is the first Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2 customer in Europe. Due to the aircraft’s light jet segment’s leading range-to-payload ratio and a best-in-class IFR range of 1,926 nautical miles (3,567 km) the CJ4 Gen2 is the ideal aircraft for charter operators like DALaviation Switzerland.

The Citation CJ4 business jet series, which entered service in 2010, continues to stand out due to its combination of high performance, low operating costs and class-leading cabin amenities. It’s recognized as one of the premier single-pilot business aircraft in the world. The CJ4 Gen2 is the largest Citation aircraft in the light jet segment, combining superior speed, range and operating economics compared to larger aircraft, making it the ideal platform for owner operators or corporate missions.

With a maximum cruise speed of 451 knots (835 kph) the single-pilot certified CJ4 Gen2 combines superior speed, range and operating economics when compared with larger aircraft, making it the ideal platform for owner operators or corporate missions. The CJ4 Gen2 has seating for up to ten passengers and offers a 1,040-pound baggage capacity. Valued by customers around the world for luxury and productivity, the CJ4 Gen2 is also used for a wide range of missions including air ambulance, maritime patrol, search and rescue and aerial survey. The cabin has been designed to optimize comfort and productivity, with an upgraded wireless cabin management system that enables passengers to stream entertainment and wirelessly control cabin lighting, temperature and window shades from their mobile device. The pilot-friendly flight deck features technology and ergonomic enhancements centered on the state-of-the-art Collins Aerospace Pro Line 21 avionics suite. Added navigation technology includes weather tracking with the Collins Aerospace MultiScan system and a standard Enhanced Ground Proximity warning system. The Citation CJ4 Gen2 jet interior is highly customizable. From custom carpets and enhanced cabin lighting, to seats specially engineered for the contours of your body, your aircraft can be made to order—right down to the last stitch.

Cessna Citation jets continue to lead the light jet segment, with more than 5,000 aircraft delivered worldwide, offering customers the broadest range of options on the market. From the popular Cessna Citation M2, to the upgraded efficiency and comfort of the CJ3+ and the leading CJ4 Gen2, the Citation family of light business jets has evolved to offer a range of capabilities, systems and options unmatched in the industry. 

Cessna Citation CJ3+

The Citation CJ3+ delivers exceptional performance, Garmin G3000 avionics and in-flight WiFi capability. Best-in-class acquisition and operating costs, seating for nine passengers, and up to 1,000 lbs of baggage capacity make the CJ3+ the ultimate utility player. With a range of up to 2,040 nautical miles, the Citation CJ3+ is perfectly suited for the light jet market segment and can fly single-pilot and up to four passengers nonstop from Washington DC to Monterrey, Mexico, Sao Paulo to Santiago, London to Athens, or Shanghai to Tokyo. 

According to Textron Aviation, designed to provide the most efficient flight profile by minimizing fuel costs and environmental impact, the Citation CJ3+ burns, on average, 10 percent less fuel and costs 5 percent less in maintenance per flight hour versus other aircraft in the light jet segment. 

Cessna Citation M2 Gen2

Following the completion of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification Textron Aviaton started delivery of Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 business jets in April 2022. Elite Team Offices, headquartered in Clovis, California, took delivery of the first production Citation M2 Gen2 in April 2022. The milestone realized less than six months after Textron Aviation announced the latest model during the 2021 National Business Aviation Association - Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition.

Textron Aviation has redefined the entry-level light jet segment when they brought the Citation M2 to market in 2013, and with the integration of next generation interior technology and design, M2 Gen2 is believed to continue to be among the most popular light jet models.

The latest updates to the Citation M2 platform strengthen the model’s focus on pilot and passenger comfort as well as productivity. Textron Aviation’s investment in reimagining the interior of the Citation M2 platform strengthens the model’s focus on pilot and passenger comfort as well as productivity. With a thoughtfully designed interior from front to back, the M2 Gen2 brings an enhanced cabin experience that includes premium interior styling, ambient accent lighting, remastered illuminated cupholders and a newly designed optional folding side-facing seat that converts into additional cargo storage. Productivity has been bolstered with the latest technology in the cabin such as wireless charging capabilities and USB-A and USB-C ports at each cabin seat. In the cockpit, three inches of legroom has been added to the co-pilot position for enhanced comfort. Additionally, cabin entry threshold materials have been improved for durability and maintainability.

The Citation M2 Gen2 has a maximum cruise speed of 404 knots true airspeed (464 miles per hour) and a range of 1,550 nautical miles. The aircraft can operate at airports with runways as short as 3,210 feet and will climb to 41,000 feet in 24 minutes. The Citation M2 Gen2 is designed for single-pilot operation and features two Williams FJ44 engines, updated touch-controlled Garmin G3000 avionics and seating for seven passengers.

King Air 260

More than 7,700 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964, making it the best-selling business turboprop family in the world. The worldwide fleet has surpassed 62 million flight hours in its 58 years, serving roles in all branches of the U.S. military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world. The new King Air 260 turboprop aircraft was introduced in 2020 and achieved U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in March 2021. Textron Aviation achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification for the King Air 260 in September 2021. This major milestone paves the way for King Air 260 aircraft deliveries to end users in Europe. Renowned for their versatility and reliability, King Air turboprops have been a popular choice across Europe with more than 460 aircraft throughout the region. Nearly half of all King Airs in Europe are owned and operated in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The King Air 260 has a maximum range of 3,185 km (1,720 nautical miles), allowing four passengers and a single pilot to take complete flights such as Rome to Madrid or Paris to Stockholm without refueling. 

The King Air 260 brings state-of-the art technology to the cockpit and offers greater ease of flight. The cockpit features the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle system, which supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, landing, and go-around phases of flight. This enhancement reduces pilot workload and is designed to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp and over-torque conditions. The King Air 260 cockpit also features a digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the powerful Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

The aircraft includes the Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar, providing pilots with a fully automatic system that is optimized to detect short, mid and long-range weather