Cessna Citation Ascend
60 in. (with flat floor); 68 in. overall Height:
66” WIDTH
66 in. Width:
The Praetor 500, though, has a 10,000-pound heftier empty weight and a 17,000-pound higher max takeoff weight, so its fuel consumption and overall operating costs are proportionately greater. However, Cessna and Textron Aviation brand loyalty favors the Ascend. Current Citation operators looking to upgrade to super-midsize likely will look first at the Citation 680A Latitude. While its cabin is slightly smaller than the Praetor 500, and its range is shorter, the Latitude is the logical next step up in the Citation family. Ascend also will be attractive to Beech King Air owners looking to upgrade to a roomier, and higher and faster flying airplane while still staying in the Textron Aviation camp. Citation 560XL jets have retained some of the highest percentage resale values in business aviation in part because they have been in continuous production since 1998. Healthy order backlogs for new 560XL series aircraft also support used aircraft prices. For now, the Ascend appears to be well positioned to heat up midsize market interest and stimulate new orders. But there’s a fierce battle brewing between Textron Aviation and Embraer Executive Jets in the coming years. And the winner isn’t assured.
Longitude models, offering considerably larger cabins than previous Citation models. The Citation Ascend thus becomes the sole midsize class survivor. It’s clearly bound to be the best 560XL model yet developed. It continues to fill the market niche that was the most hotly contested when Google was first launched, the iMac made its debut, and Bill Clinton was president. But will it remain competitive in the 21st century in light of newer super-midsize jets from Embraer? The $19-million to $20-million Praetor 500 looms as a proximate threat. It lures passengers with a 1.3-foot wider, 1.0-foot taller, and 2-foot longer cabin. It boasts full-tanks, full-seats loading flexibility while the Ascend only can carry four passengers with full fuel. Compared to the Ascend, the Praetor 500’s internal luggage and external baggage compartments have greater volumes. The Embraer jet climbs quicker, cruises faster, and flies 1,400 nm farther. It boasts three-axis, fly-by-wire flight controls, plus high-tech, brake-by-wire and steer-by- wire systems. Of particular value to pilots, it’s one of the few business jets to feature both all-engine and one-engine- inoperative autothrottles. Impressively, it actually registers shorter takeoff field lengths than the Ascend on the same length missions.
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