LAS VEGAS—FlyExclusive has been named the launch customer for Textron Aviation’s new Citation CJ3 Gen2 light jet, part of the next phase of the private charter and fractional ownership company’s fleet modernization efforts.
Textron Aviation announced the $10.99 million CJ3 Gen2, an extensive upgrade of the Citation3+, on Oct. 16, the morning before the opening of NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas. It announced the launch customer at an event at its static display at Henderson Executive Airport where a Citation CJ3 Gen2 mockup is on display.
The order is for up to 30 Citation CJ3 Gen2 aircraft, Jim Segrave, founder, chairman and CEO, said during the event. It is part of a larger order for up to 44 Citation jets placed in 2022.
Based in Kinston, North Carolina, FlyExlusive’s current fleet includes 16 CJ3 aircraft and five CJ3+ aircraft. The first Gen2 iteration is expected to be delivered in 2025 following FAA certification. In the meantime, the company will take delivery of additional CJ3+ aircraft.
Deliveries “can’t happen fast enough,” Segrave says.
FlyExclusive’s fleet of about 90 aircraft also includes the Citation X, Citation Sovereign, Citation Excel and XLS, Citation the Citation Encore and Encore+ plus seven Gulfstream GIV-SP large-cabin aircraft.
Segrave said he was attracted by the CJ3’s reliability, speed, price point and the company’s network of service centers available to service the aircraft.
In the cockpit, the CJ3 Gen 2, approved for single-pilot operation, features Garmin G3000 software and hardware with Garmin autothrottles to reduce pilot workloads, an optional enhanced vision system, intuitive touch-screen interface and Garmin GDL60 for aircraft connectivity, including remote transmission of flight plans, automatic database updates and wireless transmission of aircraft diagnostic data.
It also includes an additional 4.5 in. of additional legroom for pilots and new entryway steps leading into the aircraft with enhanced lighting.
The cabin has an option of a fixed side-facing seat, a refreshment center for expanded cabinet storage or a folding side-facing seat for an additional passenger or luggage.
The cabin includes new seats, new accent lights with ambient lighting that can change to eight different colors, USB-C power at every seat, wireless charging in the main cabin, top-loading executive and slimline tables and lighted side pockets for additional storage.
