Posted on June 21st, 2023
The Cessna Aircraft Company, a renowned business jet market player since 1911, is now part of Textron Aviation and is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. The company’s expertise lies in producing private jets, commercial and military helicopters, and turboprops while catering to customer needs through innovative designs. Cessna has a strong reputation for manufacturing cost-effective and comfortable aircraft. In addition to their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. Since 1992, Cessna has been a subsidiary of Textron, and Textron Aerospace produces planes in Wichita and Independence, Kansas; Columbus, Georgia; and Chihuahua, Mexico.
The Cessna Aircraft Company, a former general aviation aircraft manufacturer in the United States, was known for its production of small piston-powered planes, business jets, turboprops, and various types of helicopters. Their extensive range of aircraft models catered to different travel needs, including the well-known Cessna 172 flight training aircraft, as well as single and twin-engine aircraft. The Cessna 172 and 185 were among the most famous and well-liked airplanes by both pilots and passengers.
For much of the mid-to-late 20th century, Cessna was one of the world’s highest-volume and most diverse producers of general aviation aircraft. It was founded in 1927 and purchased by General Dynamics in 1985, later resold to Textron, Inc. in 1992. In a 2014 acquisition, Textron purchased Beechcraft and Hawker Aircraft corporations. Cessna ceased operations as a subsidiary company and joined the three distinct brands now produced by Textron Aviation.
Before becoming part of the Textron Aviation Group, Cessna was a pioneer in the American business aviation industry. Citation is the most popular light-jet line globally, with twenty-five total models. Owners and operators of Cessnas are particularly fond of the aircraft. A recent model of the Citation family, the XLS Gen2, can carry up to 12 passengers. Other improvements to this model include wireless management and improved cabin acoustics.
The Citation M22 is the company’s entry-level jet designed for private, corporate, and charters. It has touch-controlled avionics and in-cabin technology. The aircraft can cruise at 404 knots—the interior features category-leading craftsmanship and space for seven passengers with LED in-cabin lighting. The company has also added more models to its current business jet lineup. The Citation XLS features a smaller, more efficient engine than the Citation II and seats seven passengers.
The company has two subsidiaries that produce commercial aircraft. Bell Helicopter Textron is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, while the Cessna Aircraft Company is in Wichita, Kansas. The latter is best known for its Citation business jets, including the Citation X, which can fly at nearly the speed of sound. Textron has not announced plans to restart Hawker production or use the Hawker name for new business jets. But it could use Hawker technologies for its current production jets. Cessna business jets are just part of what this company offers – alongside leasing, financing and maintenance services.