In 2006, two aircrafts were racing to become the first delivered Very Light Jet. The Eclipse 500 had the hype, the investors, the revolutionary promise. The Cessna Citation Mustang had something quieter but more durable: Cessna's 80 years of building aircraft that work.

On November 22, 2006, the FAA certified the Mustang for flight in known icing conditions. Cessna delivered the first production jet that same day / beating Eclipse by five weeks and becoming the first manufacturer to actually put a VLJ in customer hands.

Eclipse would be bankrupt within two years. The Mustang would fly on for nearly a decade, with over 470 delivered before production ended in 2017.

The Anti-Drama Jet
The Citation Mustang was never the most exciting aircraft in the hangar. It was simply the most reliable. While Eclipse promised disruption, Cessna promised dispatch. The Mustang delivered.

• The Mustang was one of the aircraft that established the modern VLJ market.

The FAA certified the Mustang in 2006, and it became one of the first production aircraft in the new entry-level jet category. NASA's analysis of the period listed the Mustang alongside the Eclipse 500, with both aircraft already in production certification and customer delivery.

• 479 aircraft were built.

Production ended in 2017, but the fleet did not disappear. For a buyer looking at a Citation Mustang for sale, that installed base is important. It means there is a substantial operating history behind the model rather than a handful of aircraft with limited real-world experience.

• The Mustang reaches FL410.

For a very light jet of this size, a 41,000 ft service ceiling gives the pilot useful options when planning around weather, traffic and routing. The aircraft was built around the same basic principle as the larger Citation family: climb high, stay efficient, and keep the mission practical.

If you're comparing aircraft for sale, these are the names I would put on the same shortlist:

Eclipse 500 for sale / Range: approximately 1,125 to 1,280 nm / Passengers: 4 to 5.

Embraer Phenom 100 for sale / Range: approximately 1,160 to 1,180 nm / Passengers: 4 to 5.

HondaJet for sale / Range: approximately 1,400+ nm, depending on variant / Passengers: up to 5.

The Phenom 100 offers more speed and cabin volume, while the HondaJet moves into a different performance bracket. The Eclipse is smaller and lighter. Published figures vary by variant and mission profile, so I always recommend comparing aircraft using the same payload, reserves and operating assumptions.

The Mustang was never designed to be the fastest VLJ.
It was designed to be a usable Citation.
After nearly two decades of operation, that distinction is worth remembering.

If your mission is four passengers, regional travel and the ability to use smaller airports, the Citation Mustang deserves a serious look. It gives you a genuine twin-engine jet, a proven airframe and a large enough fleet to make the pre-owned market interesting.

For the right mission, that's a pretty convincing combination.

Looking for a Citation Mustang 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?

We will search the open market and our off-market network and come back with aircraft that fit the requirement.