In the late 1990s, Cessna wanted to fill a gap in its midsize line-up as demand for its Cessna Citation III/VI/VII waned, with greater cabin comfort, performance and utility than its concurrence but with Citation reliability, a high aerodynamic lift wing for runway performance, and near transcontinental flight range to compete with the Hawker 800, a thrust-to-weight ratio to rival the climb performance of the Learjet 60. It was announced at the 1998 NBAA convention, it made its maiden flight in February 2002 and deliveries began in late September 2004. FAA certification was awarded on June 2, 2004. EASA certification came on 31 March 2005. The improved Sovereign+ was announced at the October 2012 NBAA, it rolled out in early March 2013, first flew in April, and began deliveries on December 23 after certification, at a time when the Sovereign fleet reached 349 and had flown 802,000 hours. Winglets were for more range of, new PW306D engines with autothrottles provides of thrust for a top speed and a FL450 direct climb, full fuel payload was increased and the Garmin G5000 replaces the avionics.
Design
The Citation Excel fuselage was stretched for a longer cabin and joined with a large, newly-designed wing with large trailing edge flaps for good runway performance, with 16.3° wing sweep and a relatively high critical Mach number for efficient TAS cruise. It is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306C engines, derated from the Gulfstream G200 or Do 328JET, and uses Honeywell Primus Epic glass cockpit avionics with four LCD screens. The cabin maintains a altitude with the pressurization and typically comprise double-club seating for eight, two more than the Gulfstream G150, plus a side facing seat, and can accommodate up to 11. It can carry a full fuel payload of and can fly at a block speed of. It can takeoff in and climb to FL410 in 19 min and to FL430 in 26 min. It travels in the first hour while burning at FL410, the second hour with the third hour at FL430. At a weight of and ISA -5°C, it burns 653 kg per hour at Mach 0.778 / or /h at a long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.634 /.
Operations
Basic maintenance is due at 400 hr or every 12 months and dispatch reliability is over 99%. The Learjet 60 cruises faster with less fuel but its cabin is smaller, the slower Hawker 900XP has less range and a wider but shorter cabin like the Gulfstream G150 which has more range, speed and fuel economy. In 2017, the Sovereign were sold from $5 to $9 million for early 2004 models to 2013 aircraft. In 2013, two-thirds of the fleet was in the U.S. with NetJets as its largest operator with 44. In Americas, 20 were in Brazil, 12 in Canada and eight in Mexico. In Europe, ten were in U.K., nine in Germany, three in Prague and in Austria, two in the Netherlands. In Africa, eight were in Egypt, four in South Africa and one in Morocco. In Asia, eight were in Turkey, five in China, three in Australia and one in Jordan. Most corporate operators fly the aircraft 350- to 400-hr. per year, less for individuals while fractional ownership and air charter aircraft may be used 1,200 hr. per year.
Operators
Japanese Air Self Defense Force - 3 U-680A Citation Sovereigns for flight inspection missions, to replace NAMC YS-11s in same role.
