Cessna Citation 500 Series

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Cessna Model: 500/etc Nickname: Citation I, II, Bravo, etc
> 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: 25
> Number of Times Flown: 14
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: 500, 550, 551, 552, 560, T-47, Bravo, Ultra, Encore (and–a mistake made while compiling my logbook–the Citation V)

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 127
> Date First Flown: 7/22/2002
> Location First Flown: Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (KICT)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Cessna Production, Lionel Diamon

Recollections: The Citation (which encompasses a whole series of airplanes with various avionics, various lengths and various engines), not to be confused with the Citation Jet (CJ), even though it’s a jet, is–in my view–the father (or maybe grandfather) of the Cessna business jet line.  This line makes Cessna–in my view–one of the premier developers of Transport Category jet aircraft.  In some ways, it all starts with the Citation I, Cessna model 500.  Not only is it a wide variety of aircraft, many are on the same “type rating”.  On my airman’s certificate (Pilot’s license) I have a type rating which reads “CE-500”.  This type rating counts for (if I remember correctly) the Citation I (model 500), the 501 (single-piloted aircraft, requires additional training), 550 (Called a “Citation II”), 551 (aka Citation II/SP for “single pilot”…maybe the last single-piloted Part 25 jet?), 552 (US Navy T-47A, used to train Naval Flight Officers for many years), and Citation Bravo (which had different landing gear, engines and avionics).  That’s why my first training course after being hired by the FAA was a CE-500 type rating.  

During my type rating training (all in a simulator, of course and my very first type-rating training coming into the civilian aviation world), while I was confused enough by all the airplane models involved (and I guess I’m STILL confused, having double-entered this model, see also the Citation V post), I was REALLY confused by this new thing called “the FMS”, along with the avionics in a Civilian business jet. I also was new to the expected crew duties associated with civilian flying.  My “stick buddy” was an active Part 135 pilot.  My logbook shows little detail of this experience, probably because I was overwhelmed by all that was new to me (“I fly the T-38 and the F-18, and I’ve got 3000 hours of P-3, multi-crew time, what can they throw at me?”…I probably thought.  Answer: a LOT!) but I have a distinct memory of my stick buddy’s absolute disbelief at how clueless I was.  Maybe that’s why I didn’t write down his name in my logbook…shame.  Anyway, I eventually figured it out and–in the end–my type rating in the Citation launched my FAA flight test career.  

Oh, the airplane..sure…well behaved and–as I was to learn later…a Citation’s a Citation.  Lots of other models followed but, like Boeing, Cessna does a wonderful job keeping their line of airplanes similar enough that, even as you move into a more modern design, it still feels like home.