One of a new breed of VLJ (Very Light Jets), the new Cessna Mustang is aptly named. Whether it brings to mind an image of the classic 1965 Ford auto or the wild horse of Montana, this plane is as free-spirited an individualist as the innovators who created it.
Already well-respected for their line of Citation business jets, Cessna is about to increase its reputation for fine flying machines. The Mustang is a four-passenger VLJ with a cruising speed of 340 knots (almost 400 mph – 643 kph) and a ceiling of 41,000 feet (12.5 km). Both are achieved with the help of a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW615F engines, just like its major competitor the Eclipse 500.
The Mustang is targeted to sell for about $2.6 million, almost double the price of the Eclipse 500. Takeoff distance is also greater at 3,120 feet (951m) compared to the Eclipse’s just over 2,000 feet (622 m). But Cessna isn’t being wasteful. That difference is visible in the styling and comfort built around the passengers and crew.
Already FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certified, with orders pouring in, Cessna is ready to take off. Production will be slower than the Eclipse, who expects to produce over 500 planes a year thanks to a new, robot-powered welding system. That also cuts the Eclipse manufacturing costs to 1/3 the industry average for basic assembly.
But despite some of the advantages of the Eclipse, Cessna has several things going for it. The company is an experienced airplane manufacturer and it has a reputation for producing excellent jets at reasonable cost. They plan to produce 50 jets in 2008 ramping up to 100 by 2009.
(more…)