Gallery: Textron Aviation's Upgraded CJ3/CJ4 Gen 3s

October 22, 2024
Credit: Brett Schauf

The CJ4 Gen 3 took its first flight in early October, marking a major step forward in the flight-test program and paving the way for future certification and customer deliveries. The aircraft flew for 1 hr. 47 min. 

Credit: Brett Schauf

Henderson Executive Airport at NBAA-BACE. The upgraded CJ3 Gen3, along with Citation M2 Gen3 and CJ4 Gen3, will feature Garmin’s Emergency Autoland technology, Garmin autothrottles and other upgrades.  

Credit: Brett Schauf

CJ4 Gen3 interior mock-up. “Today we unveiled the future of light and the next generation of Cessna Citation light jets,” Textron Aviation President and CEO Ron Draper said at NBAA-BACE.

 

Credit: Brett Schauf

The upgraded Citation CJ4 Gen3 is the first announced aircraft that will include the next-generation Garmin G3000 Prime avionics, with enhanced primary displays, intuitive menu interface, larger secondary displays and other features.

Credit: Brett Schauf

Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation senior vice president of global sales and flight operations, with a model of the new CJ4 Gen 3 in front of its mock-up.   

Credit: Brett Schauf

Lannie O’Bannion (left) demonstrates the Garmin Emergency Autoland feature of the new CJ4 Gen 3 to launch customer Ryan Samples. A pilot and founder of BankOnIt, Samples signed a purchase agreement to take delivery of the first aircraft, expected to enter service in 2026. 

Textron Aviation is showcasing much of its business jet lineup at the 2024 National Business Aviation Association Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas Oct 22-24. Besides aircraft, the display included mockups of the new Citation CJ3 Gen3 and Citation Ascend.

The CJ4 Gen3 will include the next generation of the Garmin G3000 Prime avionics, the first aircraft announced to carry the upgraded equipment. The Citation CJ3 Gen3, Citation M2 Gen3 and Citation CJ4 Gen3 will include the Garmin Emergency Autoland equipment. Textron Aviation made the announcements during NBAA-BACE.