The 500th Cessna Citation Latitude business jet has rolled out of Textron Aviation’s manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas. The company announced the production milestone on September 22, noting that, according to its figures, the Latitude remains the world’s best-selling midsize business jet.

The milestone celebration also recognised the employees involved in building the aircraft. Eric Cardinali, Textron Aviation’s senior vice president of Manufacturing, emphasised that behind every aircraft is a team responsible for delivering the quality customers expect, adding that workforce expertise and customer confidence had made this achievement possible.

“The rollout of the 500th Citation Latitude is a testament to the employees who build this aircraft with dedication and pride every day. Behind every aircraft is a team committed to delivering the quality and craftsmanship our customers expect,” Cardinali said.

The Citation Latitude accommodates up to nine passengers, with a flat-floor cabin offering approximately 1.83 metres of headroom among its key features. This allows most passengers to stand upright, while the manufacturer also highlights the cabin’s spaciousness, natural light and comfort as important selling points.

According to Textron Aviation, the aircraft has a range of 2,700 nautical miles, or approximately 5,000 kilometres, with four passengers at high-speed cruise. Its maximum cruise speed is 446 knots, equivalent to around 826 km/h, while its full-fuel payload is 1,000 pounds, or approximately 454 kilograms.

Take-off performance is another important aspect of the Latitude’s operating capabilities. The manufacturer quotes a take-off field length of 1,091 metres, highlighting access to shorter runways as an advantage when planning flights. This gives operators a wider choice of airports, although actual performance depends on aircraft weight and take-off conditions.

Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, attributed the model’s market success to its combination of comfort, versatility and efficiency. He said customers around the world continue to choose the Latitude for its ability to perform a variety of missions while delivering the comfort and operating efficiency they seek in this category.