Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Cessna Model: 680 Nickname: Sovereign
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Business Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet
Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 84
> Number of Times Flown: 35
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: none
First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 134
> Date First Flown: 3/25/2003
> Location First Flown: Wichita Mid-continent airport (KICT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Cessna Flight Test, Bob Rice
Recollections: The 680 was one of the first civilian flight test programs where I got extensive Part 25 testing experience. My logbook from 2003 and 2004 shows that I did stall testing, inlet distortion, fuel system testing, systems testing at negative g, engine start testing, control system malfunction tests (Cessna does many of those in the airplane!), autopilot testing, and extensive testing to certify the airplane for flight in icing, including natural icing and “ice shapes” testing (see photos).
Cessna builds a solid airplane and the amazing thing is, from the smallest bizject (like the CJ) to the biggest (like high-mach Citation X) they are fly very similarly. The Sovereign was no exception.
One unusual aspect of my time in the Sovereign was it’s the only civilian airplane where I got a type rating in the airplane itself…..and I did it with an FAA guy (FSDO inspector Dan Buerki) in the other seat (and the PIC, a Cessna pilot, riding in the back!). Dan was a great pilot and instructor, one of the many ASI’s who make FAA Flight Standards look good!
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