The Cessna Citation Longitude takes flight with Safran Nacelles thrust reversers

October 17, 2016

The newest U.S.-built business jet has gone airborne with equipment from Safran Nacelles, as the Cessna Aircraft Company’s Citation Longitude begins flight testing with PERT® thrust reversers on this super-midsize business jet's two turbofan engines.

Taking off from Beech Field Airport in Wichita, Kansas earlier in October, the prototype Longitude performed a two-hour mission that evaluated the aircraft's systems, stability and control.

The Citation Longitude joins a growing number of business jets and airliners that rely on nacelle systems and components from Safran Nacelles. The thrust reversers are flight critical equipment which help aircraft decelerate during landing.

Effectiveness and optimized weight in a thrust reverser

Safran Nacelles' patented PERT (Planar Exit Rear Target) thrust reverser incorporated on the Longitude’s Honeywell HTF7700L powerplants features two blocker doors that serve as the engine's exhaust exit during flight, and which are deployed on landing for the reverse thrust function. With this concept, the PERT design combines thrust reverser effectiveness with an optimized weight.  

Safran Nacelles produces the PERT thrust reverser for numerous aircraft applications, with more than 1,200 delivered to date.

According to Cessna, the flight testing of its prototype Longitude will continue to expand the aircraft’s performance envelope, while the company's first production model – scheduled to fly in the coming weeks – will be used primarily for systems testing.

Designed to offer operators the lowest ownership costs in the super-midsize business jet category, the Longitude has a maximum cruise speed of 476 knots, a high-speed range of 3,400 nautical miles and a full-fuel payload of 1,500 pounds.

The Longitude is built at the “East Campus” facility in Wichita, operated by Cessna’s parent company, Textron Aviation Inc.