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The Cessna Model 650 Citation III was designed as a high performance, mid size long range corporate jet to supplement the much smaller Citation I and II. Cessna announced the aircraft at the 1976 NBAA convention and development began in 1978, based on studies the company had conducted on a long range stretch of the Citation I powered by three JT15Ds with a transcontinental range.
As it evolved, the design introduced a swept supercritical wing optimised for high speed long range flight, new Garrett TFE731 turbofans, a T-tail, and a new fuselage.
The Citation III made its first flight on 30 May, 1979 with a second prototype flying on 2 May,1980. Certification was granted on 30 April, 1982 with customer deliveries between 1983 to 1992.
The Citation VI was produced from 1991 to 1995 and the more powerful Citation VII between 1992 and 2000.
The Citation VI was offered as a low cost development of the III with a different avionics package and a standard interior layout. It first flew in 1991 and production was wound up in May 1995.
The Citation VII has more powerful Garrett TFE731-4R-2S turbofans, each giving 4,080 lbf of thrust so improving the payload range and hot and high performance. It first flew in February 1991 and the type was certificated in January 1992. The VII was in production for eight years. Its cabin was re-designed to reduce ambient noise and it was equipped with more powerful engines to fly higher, faster and farther.
After the launch of the Citation Sovereign, the final Citation 650 rolled off the assembly line on 15 September, 2000.
Known as the Citation III, later evolved into the Citation VII and lower cost Citation VI
| World fleet | Charter fleet | Typical pax | Cabin volume | Cruise | Range | Years | |
| Citation III | 161 | 38 | 8 | 517 cu ft | 427 kts | 2,054 nm | 1983 - 1992 |
| Citation VI | 31 | 8 | 9 | 517 cu ft | 427 kts | 1,986 nm | 1991 - 1995 |
| Citation VII | 112 | 35 | 9 | 488 cu ft | 452 kts | 1,693 nm | 1992 - 2000 |
| January 16, 2023 | SEA offers GI 275 as cost-effective Part 25 ESI replacement |
| August 19, 2022 | Citation VII buyers choose Duncan for complex project |
| December 16, 2021 | PWI receives FAA PMA certification for LED ice light |
| October 13, 2021 | FreeFlight radar altimeters are right on target |
| October 13, 2021 | PWI brings LED to a host of business twins |
| October 8, 2021 | UA provides InSight for the past year |
| November 15, 2020 | Mid-Canada Mod Center installs UA kit on Citation VII |
| July 20, 2020 | Luxaviation to meet demand in Europe with fresh additions |
| July 20, 2020 | PWI's LEDs to light up more business aviation cabins |
| July 20, 2020 | FAA releases TSO for Honeywell 3-D radar system |
| May 17, 2020 | EAP defers minimum hour requirement to help operators |
| April 10, 2012 | Icaro has Middle East in mind for Citation VII |
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