Cessna and Winglet Technology Begin Flight Testing of Citation X Winglets
Atlanta, September 24, 2007 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)
company, and Winglet Technology LLC announced today at the opening of the National
Business Aviation Association annual meeting the beginning of flight testing of Winglet
Technology’s patented Elliptical Winglet design on the Citation X.
The flight testing is in support of Winglet Technology’s effort to obtain FAA and EASA
supplemental type certificates (STC's) for its Elliptical Winglet design. Cessna and Winglet
Technology engineers expect higher weight/altitude/temperature limits allowing more flexibility
when operating from hot/high airports, improved climb performance that allows higher initial
cruise altitudes for some takeoff weights, higher maximum cruise speeds at high altitudes, and
longer range for a given payload throughout the operating envelope. Since it is still early in the
program, no specific performance details are available. The STC for the Citation X is targeted
for the second quarter of 2008.
NBAA show attendees can see the Winglet Technology winglets installed on a Citation X
at the show’s static aircraft park, and on a model at the Cessna exhibit.
Cessna announced in March it had joined with Wichita-based Winglet Technology to
evaluate Citation applications for the Elliptical Winglet. Winglet Technology designs and
markets its patented Elliptical Winglets for business jets and transport category aircraft.
View the Press release as a PDF
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