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Email: info@businessaviation.com
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CESSNA CITATION II & II/SP
Cessna Citation II & II/SP For Sale: The Stretch That Sold 700+
A Proven Classic In Light Business Aviation
The Cessna Citation II and its Citation II/SP variant remain one of the most successful light business jets ever built. A simple, proven platform that still holds its place in private and corporate aviation thanks to its balance of range, reliability, and operational ease.
A unified Citation II family concept
The Citation II was designed as a direct evolution of earlier Citation models, focused on expanding real-world mission capability. It brought more range, more seats, higher cruise performance, and a noticeably improved cabin environment.
A stretched fuselage, refined aerodynamics, and stronger engines turned it into one of the most well-balanced jets in its class - not the fastest, not the most luxurious, but consistently dependable where it matters.
Citation II/SP - same aircraft, smarter operation
The SP (Single Pilot) version is not a new aircraft type, but a certified operational variant of the Citation II.
It introduces:
A unified Citation II family concept
The Citation II was designed as a direct evolution of earlier Citation models, focused on expanding real-world mission capability. It brought more range, more seats, higher cruise performance, and a noticeably improved cabin environment.
A stretched fuselage, refined aerodynamics, and stronger engines turned it into one of the most well-balanced jets in its class - not the fastest, not the most luxurious, but consistently dependable where it matters.
Citation II/SP - same aircraft, smarter operation
The SP (Single Pilot) version is not a new aircraft type, but a certified operational variant of the Citation II.
It introduces:
- single - pilot certification (with proper equipment and training)
- updated avionics and systems
- simplified cockpit workload
- in some configurations, increased MTOW depending on modification
Specifications That Built a Fleet
Citation II:
The standard Citation II was designed around eight passenger seats, with the cabin stretched compared with earlier Citation models. AOPA reports a 51.7-foot wingspan, a 13,300 lb maximum takeoff weight and a 375-knot cruise speed for the standard Model 550.
For many owners, the attraction is simple.
You can move a small group of people by jet without stepping into a much larger aircraft category.
And the airplane has a reputation for being relatively straightforward to fly. AOPA describes the design goal of the straight-wing Citation family as making the aircraft easy to fly and easy to land while still providing useful speed and range.
That is something pilots notice.
A good business aircraft should not make you work hard just to get the basic job done.
- Crew 2 pilots;
- Certification standard;
- Avionics baseline;
- Operation traditional business aviation.
- 1 or 2 pilots;
- Certification Single Pilot (SP);
- Avionics upgraded / modernized;
- Operation more flexible model.
- cabin for 6 - 8 passengers;
- cruise speed around 400+ knots;
- range of approximately 1,500+ nautical miles;
- access to smaller regional airports;
- strong reliability and straightforward maintenance.
The standard Citation II was designed around eight passenger seats, with the cabin stretched compared with earlier Citation models. AOPA reports a 51.7-foot wingspan, a 13,300 lb maximum takeoff weight and a 375-knot cruise speed for the standard Model 550.
For many owners, the attraction is simple.
You can move a small group of people by jet without stepping into a much larger aircraft category.
And the airplane has a reputation for being relatively straightforward to fly. AOPA describes the design goal of the straight-wing Citation family as making the aircraft easy to fly and easy to land while still providing useful speed and range.
That is something pilots notice.
A good business aircraft should not make you work hard just to get the basic job done.
Three Facts About the Citation II
- First flight: The Citation II Model 550 first flew on January 31, 1977. It entered production in 1978.
- 608 Citation IIs sold: AOPA records 608 standard Citation II aircraft sold during the model's production run.
- The SP was built for single-pilot operation: The Citation II/SP, Model 551, was developed specifically for the single-pilot market and has a 12,500 lb maximum takeoff weight compared with 13,300 lb for the Model 550.
This was not a boutique aircraft built in tiny numbers for a handful of owners. It became a serious part of the Citation family and stayed in service for decades.
Why It Still Matters
Even today, the Citation II/SP remains relevant because it is predictable, widely supported, and operationally simple. It delivers exactly what operators expect — without unnecessary complexity.
The Verdict
The Citation II for sale and Citation II/SP for sale are not two separate stories. They are one aircraft family, shaped into two operational realities — classic two-pilot structure or a more flexible single-pilot concept — depending on how the mission is flown.
Looking for a Citation II or Citation II/SP for Sale?
Give us the mission first:
Looking for a Citation II or Citation II/SP for Sale?
Give us the mission first:
- How many passengers?
- Which routes?
- How much range do you need?
- What year or configuration do you prefer?
- What are your requirements for engines, maintenance and avionics?
- Where will the aircraft be registered and operated?
CESSNA CITATION II & II/SP OVERVIEW
CESSNA CITATION II & II/SP ROUTE PERFOMANCE
CESSNA CITATION II & II/SP VS COMPETITORS
Who really wins?
Note: Seats (max) indicates maximum seating capacity; actual seating may vary by aircraft configuration. Range is indicative and may vary depending on configuration, payload, weather, operating conditions and other factors. Price ranges reflect current market asking prices and are provided for reference only. Actual prices may vary depending on the specific aircraft, condition, configuration, maintenance status and market conditions.
FAQ | CESSNA CITATION II & II/SP
To buy, or not to buy?
Time is money. Control is power.
Lost time costs more than the jet.
Time is money. Control is power.
Lost time costs more than the jet.
Q:
Why Citation II / II-SP?
Support:
Because some aircraft don't need an introduction.
Proven. Capable. Straightforward.
A serious jet without the serious price tag.
Proven. Capable. Straightforward.
A serious jet without the serious price tag.
Q:
Why buy an older Citation?
Support:
Because value doesn't always come with a new serial number.
A carefully selected Citation II can deliver something newer aircraft struggle to offer:
More aircraft. Less capital.
A carefully selected Citation II can deliver something newer aircraft struggle to offer:
More aircraft. Less capital.
Q:
Citation II or Citation V / Ultra?
Support:
More isn't always better.
The real question is simple:
How much jet do you actually need?
Citation II or Hawker 400XP?
Both can look attractive on paper.
But smart buyers don't buy the brochure.
They buy the aircraft.
The real question is simple:
How much jet do you actually need?
Citation II or Hawker 400XP?
Both can look attractive on paper.
But smart buyers don't buy the brochure.
They buy the aircraft.
Q:
Citation II or Hawker 400XP
Support:
Both can look attractive on paper.
But smart buyers don't buy the brochure.
They buy the aircraft.
But smart buyers don't buy the brochure.
They buy the aircraft.
Q:
What's the real risk?
Support:
Buying the wrong one.
Age is visible.
What you can't see is what matters.
Maintenance. Records. Engines. History.
Age is visible.
What you can't see is what matters.
Maintenance. Records. Engines. History.
Q:
Is the cheapest Citation II the opportunity?
Support:
Not necessarily.
A cheap jet can become a very expensive jet.
The right aircraft is worth paying for.
A cheap jet can become a very expensive jet.
The right aircraft is worth paying for.
Q:
Are the best Citation IIs publicly listed?
Support:
Not always.
Some aircraft move quietly, directly between owners and serious buyers.
The best opportunity may never appear online.
Some aircraft move quietly, directly between owners and serious buyers.
The best opportunity may never appear online.
Q:
Do you actually understand ownership?
Support:
We do.
We own aircraft.
We fly them.
We operate them.
We maintain them.
Since 1995.
We own aircraft.
We fly them.
We operate them.
We maintain them.
Since 1995.
Q:
Why buy through BUSINESSAVIATION.com?
Support:
Sometimes.
Because we know what happens after the purchase.
We own aircraft.
We fly them.
We operate them.
We maintain them.
Since 1995.
Before we recommend a Citation II, we ask:
Would we fly it ourselves?
If yes, we'll tell you why.
If no, we'll tell you that too.
Your next aircraft?
Don't buy the newest aircraft.
Buy the right one.
The right Citation II may cost less than you think.
Finding the right one is the hard part.
Because we know what happens after the purchase.
We own aircraft.
We fly them.
We operate them.
We maintain them.
Since 1995.
Before we recommend a Citation II, we ask:
Would we fly it ourselves?
If yes, we'll tell you why.
If no, we'll tell you that too.
Your next aircraft?
Don't buy the newest aircraft.
Buy the right one.
The right Citation II may cost less than you think.
Finding the right one is the hard part.