Citation Gen3 Light Jets Pass 1,220 Flight-Test Hours

Textron Aviation’s three Citation Gen3 light-jet programs have accumulated more than 1,220 flight-test hours combined. The CJ4 Gen3 accounts for nearly 1,100 hours across two test aircraft; the CJ3 Gen3 has passed 60 hours, and the M2 Gen3 has passed 75. The CJ3 Gen3 made its first flight in June.

The CJ4 Gen3 has logged nearly 1,100 flight-test hours across two test aircraft.

What has been confirmed

The flight-test totals, aircraft performance figures, equipment plans, and certification timing in the available source material are reported with likely confidence, not as officially confirmed facts. FAA certification for the three Citation models is expected in 2027. Reported maximum figures are 2,165 nautical miles of range and 451 knots true airspeed for the CJ4 Gen3; 2,040 nautical miles and a 2,135-pound maximum payload for the CJ3 Gen3; and 1,550 nautical miles and a 1,510-pound maximum payload for the M2 Gen3. Textron Aviation says Garmin Emergency Autoland will come as standard equipment on the three Citation models and the Beechcraft Denali. The CJ4 Gen3 is expected to be the first light jet available with the system. The Denali is described as on schedule for entry into service in 2027.

Why it matters

The test-hour totals show the scale of flight evaluation underway before the three jets seek FAA certification. For business-aviation operators, the stated ranges and payload figures offer useful points of comparison across the CJ4, CJ3, and M2, while certification remains a future milestone rather than an achieved one.

FlyMarshall context

Flight testing lets manufacturers evaluate aircraft systems and performance across planned test conditions before regulators assess an aircraft for certification. Range and payload are different measures: range describes distance capability under specified conditions, while payload describes the weight available for occupants and cargo. Actual mission capability depends on factors such as loading, weather, and operating conditions.

What happens next

The Citation CJ4 Gen3, CJ3 Gen3, and M2 Gen3 are expected to pursue FAA certification in 2027. The Beechcraft Denali’s entry into service is also expected in 2027. The source material does not provide further program milestones or confirmed certification dates.