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Email: office@businessaviation.com
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CESSNA CITATION CJ1 / CJ1+
Cessna CitationJet CJ1 / CJ1+: The Original Jet for Everyone
The 1993 Revolution in Affordability
In 1993, Cessna did something audacious: they designed a jet from scratch to be affordable. The CitationJet (Model 525) — later CJ1 — wasn't a derivative of the Citation I or II. It was new: new wing, new T-tail, new Williams FJ44 engines, new everything. The goal? $2.4 million base price.
The CJ1 hit the market in 2000 (after certification delays) and immediately redefined entry-level jets. It was slower than competitors but far cheaper to operate — the aircraft that made jet ownership possible for flight schools, small corporations, and individual entrepreneurs.
The CJ1 hit the market in 2000 (after certification delays) and immediately redefined entry-level jets. It was slower than competitors but far cheaper to operate — the aircraft that made jet ownership possible for flight schools, small corporations, and individual entrepreneurs.
Specifications That Created a Category
• Range: 2,408 km (1,300 nm) — practical for regional operations
• Speed: 720 km/h (389 knots) — efficient, not fast
• Capacity: 5 – 7 passengers in the compact cabin
• Engines: Williams FJ44-1AP (1,900 lbf) — efficient, simple, reliable
• Operating cost: ~$1,000/hour — half of competitors
The CJ1+ (2005) added FADEC engines and minor improvements, but the formula remained: minimum cost, maximum reliability.
• Speed: 720 km/h (389 knots) — efficient, not fast
• Capacity: 5 – 7 passengers in the compact cabin
• Engines: Williams FJ44-1AP (1,900 lbf) — efficient, simple, reliable
• Operating cost: ~$1,000/hour — half of competitors
The CJ1+ (2005) added FADEC engines and minor improvements, but the formula remained: minimum cost, maximum reliability.
The Market Today
Pre-owned CJ1 aircraft trades between $1.0M and $1.5M. CJ1+ models command $1.3M – $1.8M for their FADEC engines. Operating costs remain the lowest in class — $900 – 1,100 per hour.
The Verdict
The Cessna CitationJet CJ1 is the aircraft that proved "cheap" doesn't mean "bad." It created the entry-level jet category and still defines it.
For the buyer seeking a CJ1, you're acquiring the original people's jet — the platform that made business aviation accessible to the masses.
For the buyer seeking a CJ1, you're acquiring the original people's jet — the platform that made business aviation accessible to the masses.
CESSNA CITATION CJ1 / CJ1+ OVERVIEW
CESSNA CITATION CJ1 / CJ1+ ROUTE PERFOMANCE