Textron Aviation completes first production unit of Citation Ascend

Textron Aviation has announced the completion of the first production unit of the Cessna Citation Ascend, new member of the 560XL series. The aircraft was manufactured at the company’s facility in Wichita, Kansas, and now awaits certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), expected later this year.

A ceremony was held to mark the event, with senior vice president Todd McKee highlighting the role of team craftsmanship in advancing the program. 

“Today is a big celebration and thank you to everyone who has been a part of building up to this point. It is your craftsmanship that continues to make milestones like this possible,” said McKee. “By infusing new technology and bringing new features to the market, we continue to drive the future for us to build these legendary aircraft.”

The Citation Ascend introduces several updates over previous 560XL models. The aircraft features a flat cabin floor, increasing usable space and configuration flexibility for passengers. Standard seating capacity accommodates up to nine passengers.

The jet is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D engines, offering improvements in fuel efficiency and thrust compared to earlier variants. Avionics are supplied by Garmin, with the G5000 suite and autothrottle capability. An APU Honeywell RE100 [XL], certified for unattended operations, is also included.

Additional equipment includes 19 USB charging ports and three universal power outlets for passenger and crew use. The 560XL series has seen over 1,000 deliveries in the past 25 years, establishing it as a significant product line for Textron Aviation.

The Citation Ascend was launched by Textron in May 2023 during EBACE held in Geneva, Switzerland.

About the Author

Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

Articles by the author »