20/Twenty: The Longitude, Cessna’s Super Mid Flagship

Textron Aviation announced the 100th delivery of a Cessna Citation Longitude in October, a milestone that helps validate its foray into the super midsize category. With minimal transactions involving pre-owned Longitudes since the twinjet entered service in 2019, it appears that operators are pleased with Cessna’s largest, longest-range Citation.

Unveiled at the EBACE conference in May 2012, the Longitude shares the same cross-section as the midsize Citation Latitude, which entered service in 2015, but has a nearly 11-ft. longer fuselage affording 3-ft., 3-in. more in cabin length. Its maximum takeoff weight is 39,500 lb., 8,700 lb. more than the Latitude, with 3,706 lb. more useful load. The Longitude accommodates 12 passengers but typically seats two crew and eight passengers.

The delayed development of Safran’s Silvercrest engine led Cessna in 2015 to switch its engine choice for the Longitude to Honeywell HTF7700L turbofans, each producing 7,665 lb. of thrust. The change reduced the jet’s planned maximum range from 4000 nm to 3,500 nm with four passengers and NBAA reserves. Maximum cruise speed is 483 ktas. The cockpit features the Garmin G5000 avionics suite with synthetic vision system, LinxUs onboard diagnostics system, and fully integrated autothrottles.

Longitudes have a flat floor and stand-up cabin measuring 25 ft., 2-in. long, 6-ft., 5-in. wide, and 6 ft. high. The aft baggage compartment volume is 112 cu ft. with capacity for 1,115 lb. Textron Aviation claims the Longitude has the quietist cabin in its class, with a “feels like” cabin altitude of 5,950 ft. a FL450.

The Longitude offers best-in-class maintenance intervals of 800 hr. or 18 months, up to 60% less scheduled maintenance than the competition, Textron Aviation asserts.

The Aviation Week Fleet Discovery Database counted 100 in-service Longitudes in November, of which 93 were based in the U.S. Fractional provider NetJets gave the program a boost when it placed an order for up to 175 Longitudes in 2018, receiving its first copy in December 2019. The Longitude also figures in NetJets’ blockbuster agreement with Textron Aviation in September to purchase up to 1,500 Citation jets, including new Citation Ascends, expected to start shipping in 2025.

The 2023 factory-new list price of the Citation Longitude was $29.9 million; its 2019 list price was $26.9 million, according to the Aircraft Bluebook.

There have been only three transactions involving pre-owned Longitudes since the twinjet entered service, reports Kandi Spangler, managing director of jetAviva, an International Aircraft Dealers Association accredited dealer. While that is a small sample to evaluate the Longitude’s value retention, the largest Citation is seen as competing for buyers against super-mids including the Bombardier Challenger 350, Dassault Falcon 2000S, and Gulfstream G280.

Spangler provided a comparative analysis of the Longitude with Embraer’s Praetor 600, which also entered service in 2019. The Praetor 600’s factory-new list price this year is $21.5 million, according to the Bluebook.

Longitude Pros And Cons
 

Operators who chose the Longitude over the Praetor did so for some of the following reasons, according to Spangler.

• Some jetAviva clients noted how quiet the Longitude cabin was in flight, especially when closing the sound curtain at the main entry door.
• Clients commented on the comfort of the cabin altitude and how it reduced fatigue and they felt less tired and lethargic.
• Clients “love having access to their baggage in flight if needed. This is a big deal to some clients and is not available on the Praetor 600.”
• For some clients, having electric shades was a big deal and they like the ability to control all the sunshades with a push of a single button.
• Clients love how fast the airplane is.

Features operators disliked about the Longitude included:

• The external baggage door located in front of the left engine is positioned at the 4 o’clock position on the fuselage. Upon landing, this door often can’t be opened (pushed in and up) because bags easily shift during flight and come to a rest on the door. Not until a crewmember goes through the cabin and enters the baggage compartment to rearrange baggage, can the door be opened.
• While the airplane is fast, there’s no pulling to power back to gain extra range.  

“At the end of the day, both airplanes are spectacular options for owners needing a range of up to 3,500 nm who are seeking an efficient, advanced and elegant option in the mid-to-upper $20Ms,” Spangler says.  “In fact, most of our clients have trouble deciding on which airplane to choose even after a thorough analysis and make their choice based on personal preference, negotiated terms and delivery availability.  Ultimately, the best course of action for any buyer considering both airplanes is to book a demo and try both on for size, because you can’t go wrong with either option.”

BCA welcomes comment and insight from aircraft dealers and brokers for its monthly 20/Twenty pre-owned aircraft market feature. The focus aircraft for December 2023 is the Embraer Legacy 450. To participate, contact [email protected].