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Email: office@businessaviation.com
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CESSNA CITATION EXCEL
Cessna Citation Excel: The Square-Jet Revolution
The 1996 Hybrid That Created a Category
In 1996, Cessna did something that shouldn't have worked: they took the Citation X's wing, the Citation V's fuselage, and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545A engines, then mashed them together. The result was the Citation Excel - a "mid-size" jet that was really a stretched light jet with big-jet features.
It shouldn't have worked. It became Cessna's best-selling mid-size jet ever. The prototype first flew on February 29, 1996. FAA certification followed in 1998, and the original Excel went on to 371 deliveries before production ended in 2004 and the XLS took over.
It shouldn't have worked. It became Cessna's best-selling mid-size jet ever. The prototype first flew on February 29, 1996. FAA certification followed in 1998, and the original Excel went on to 371 deliveries before production ended in 2004 and the XLS took over.
Specifications That Defied Categories
• Range: 3,426 km (1,850 nm) - coast - to - coast with one stop
• Speed: 746 km/h (403 knots) - efficient, not fast
• Capacity: 7 - 8 passengers in the squared - oval cabin
• Engines: PW545A (3,804 lbf) - powerful for the weight
• Takeoff: 3,590 ft - shorter than larger competitors
The Excel's "squared oval" cabin design provided more headroom than traditional Citation fuselages. It wasn't pretty, but it worked.
The first thing you notice is the cabin.
You get stand-up headroom, a wide cabin and a dropped aisle. That matters more than a brochure number when you are sitting in the airplane for three hours with six or seven people onboard.
The other thing I like is the straight wing.
It gives the Excel very respectable runway performance for a midsize jet. You do not buy this airplane because it is the fastest jet in its class. You buy it because it gives you a useful combination of cabin, payload, runway access and operating practicality.
That distinction matters.
The Excel has a maximum cruise speed in the low 400-knot range, while published range figures vary with configuration, passenger load, reserves and operating conditions. For a serious buyer, I would always run the actual mission rather than rely on the headline range number.
• Speed: 746 km/h (403 knots) - efficient, not fast
• Capacity: 7 - 8 passengers in the squared - oval cabin
• Engines: PW545A (3,804 lbf) - powerful for the weight
• Takeoff: 3,590 ft - shorter than larger competitors
The Excel's "squared oval" cabin design provided more headroom than traditional Citation fuselages. It wasn't pretty, but it worked.
The first thing you notice is the cabin.
You get stand-up headroom, a wide cabin and a dropped aisle. That matters more than a brochure number when you are sitting in the airplane for three hours with six or seven people onboard.
The other thing I like is the straight wing.
It gives the Excel very respectable runway performance for a midsize jet. You do not buy this airplane because it is the fastest jet in its class. You buy it because it gives you a useful combination of cabin, payload, runway access and operating practicality.
That distinction matters.
The Excel has a maximum cruise speed in the low 400-knot range, while published range figures vary with configuration, passenger load, reserves and operating conditions. For a serious buyer, I would always run the actual mission rather than rely on the headline range number.
Three things about the Citation Excel that are easy to miss
- It was built from proven Citation architecture.
- The market accepted the idea very quickly.
- The 560XL family eventually passed 1,000 deliveries.
Cessna Citation Excel competitors
The original Citation Excel was developed against aircraft such as the Hawker 800XP, Learjet 45 and Learjet 60, which Aviation Week identifies as key competitors of the Excel when the aircraft was developed.
Hawker 800XP: approximately 2,400 nm range, typically 8 to 9 passengers.
Learjet 45: approximately 2,000+ nm class range, typically 8 passengers.
Learjet 60: approximately 2,405 nm range, typically 7 passengers.
The Learjet is faster. The Hawker gives you a different cabin and mission profile.
The Excel sits in an interesting place between them. It gives you the stand-up midsize cabin and respectable short-field capability without chasing maximum cruise speed as its primary objective.
For many owners, that is exactly the point.
Hawker 800XP: approximately 2,400 nm range, typically 8 to 9 passengers.
Learjet 45: approximately 2,000+ nm class range, typically 8 passengers.
Learjet 60: approximately 2,405 nm range, typically 7 passengers.
The Learjet is faster. The Hawker gives you a different cabin and mission profile.
The Excel sits in an interesting place between them. It gives you the stand-up midsize cabin and respectable short-field capability without chasing maximum cruise speed as its primary objective.
For many owners, that is exactly the point.
The Verdict
The Citation Excel is an aircraft I would seriously consider for an owner who wants a proper midsize cabin, useful passenger capacity and access to airports where runway performance matters.
It is not the fastest jet in the segment.
That is fine.
The Excel's appeal is elsewhere: a roomy cabin, proven Citation architecture, respectable performance and a large operating history behind the 560XL family.
Looking for a Cessna Citation Excel for Sale?
Give us the mission first:
It is not the fastest jet in the segment.
That is fine.
The Excel's appeal is elsewhere: a roomy cabin, proven Citation architecture, respectable performance and a large operating history behind the 560XL family.
Looking for a Cessna Citation Excel 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 EXCEL OVERVIEW
CESSNA CITATION EXCEL ROUTE PERFOMANCE