Cessna launched a new long-range business jet, the Citation Longitude, at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition yesterday. 

With a 4,000-nautical-mile range and a maximum speed of Mach .86, the Citation Longitude will be able to fly non-stop from New York to Paris, London to Dubai or Beijing to Moscow. Priced at $26 million, the Longitude should be competitive in the 4,000-nautical-mile super mid-size business jet market. Cessna expects it to enter service in 2017.

The Longitude is powered by two Silvercrest engines, with 11,000 pounds of thrust, made by Snecma (Safran group). Cessna said the engines were chosen for their fuel efficiency, weight and maintainability.

"We are thrilled to bring the Silvercrest engine to Cessna customers,” said Scott Ernest, president and CEO of Cessna. "This engine is expected to take the Citation Longitude to a new level and give our customers the range, efficiency and noise-reduction they need to be successful in today's competitive environment."

The Longitude's cockpit is fitted with Garmin G5000 avionics with touch-screen controls and all of the capabilities required to comply with emerging operating requirements for intercontinental aircraft, including FANS/CPDLC, ADSB and RNP.

The Longitude has the largest Citation cabin: six feet high with a 31-foot flat floor, creating space for a crew of two plus up to eight passengers and one optional additional crew member seat. Cessna said the ClairityTM, the intelligent cabin technology developed specifically for the Citation line, will be standard on the Longitude.

Cabin seat configuration options include a dual-club eight-seat arrangement and a four-place forward club with a three-place couch and entertainment credenza. Cabin-length indirect LED lighting is provided overhead in the passenger service units with variable adjustment for direct reading lights and more. For long-distance travel comfort, the cabin is equipped with a dual-zone temperature control, a fully operational galley with an oven and cold storage along with a pressurized water system. The aircraft features a large lavatory equipped with a vacuum-assist toilet. The cabin also features in-flight access to a spacious baggage storage area. 

As the longest-range business jet in Cessna's product line, the Citation Longitude is designed to offer an estimated full fuel payload of 1,950 pounds (884.5 kilograms), a maximum cruise speed of 490 knots true airspeed (907.4 kilometers per hour) and a maximum range of 4,000 nautical miles (7408 kilometers). The aircraft will have a maximum overall width of 86 feet (26.2 meters) and maximum overall length of 87 feet (26.5 meters) with a gently swept wing and advanced winglets for greater range, with improved hot/high performance, climb and fuel burn. 

The launch of the Longitude follows on the heels of Cessna's announcement, just over six months ago, of the new Citation M2 and Citation Latitude