#n125rh

This parting look at the Cessna Citation III shows its supercritical airfoil nicely, note the trailing edge cusp on the wing’s underside traced out by the flap actuator fairings. While it can be argued that the Citation III/VI/VII line didn’t live up to its promises, the aircraft did cement Cessna’s place in American aviation as a force in the business jet market. Just before the delivery of the first Citation III, Cessna reached for the first time $1 billion in sales, but the collapse of piston engined aircraft manufacturing in the America in the 1980s due to product liability laws hit Cessna hard and the number of employees went from 18,000 in 1980 to only 3,000 in a few short years. Cessna was on the ropes financially, supported only by the Citation division. In 1985, defense giant General Dynamics bought Cessna which allowed continued funding of crucial R&D work in the Citation division. In 1986, the Citation product line won the coveted Collier Trophy with the delivery of the 100th Citation III and by 1988, Cessna delivered its 1500th Citation jet aircraft. In 1990, Cessna had captured 50% of the worldwide market of light to mid-sized business jets. With crucial cutting edge experience from developing the Citation III/VI/VII line under their belts and the coming of the General Aviation Revitalization Act (signed in 1994), Russ Meyer, who succeeded Dwayne Wallace as the CEO of Cessna and only its third CEO in the company’s history, felt the time was right to push the envelope even further that what had been done with the Citation III line. That came in 1990 with the launch of the Citation X…... #avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #KADS #ADS #Addison #airport #planespotting #instaplane #instagramaviation #Avgeekery #Cessna #Citation #CitationIII #N125RH #splendid_transport #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge #AvGeek_SchoolofKnowledge (at Addison Airport)

Cessna had planned for the Citation III to be the fastest mid-sized transcontinental business jet. But external events were yet another factor that kept the Citation III design from realizing its potential- five days before the first flight, a DC-10 operating as American Flight 191 went down at Chicago O’Hare and as a result of the investigation into the cause of the crash, the FAA changed the certification requirements for aircraft certified under FAR 25 and insisted that the Citation III comply with the new rules. New aircraft designs were now required to have stringent protections and redundancy in the fuel system as well as the control and hydraulic lines. Having to comply delayed the Citation III’s certification by 18 months as parts of the rear fuselage near the engines had to be redesigned. The aft fuselage fuel tank had to be reduced in size which cost the Citation III approximately 900 lbs in fuel, a loss of 11% of its planned total fuel load. The redesign also added weight to the aircraft and this all left the Citation III short of being able to fly transcontinental as planned. The Citation III’s high cruise speed meant that even with a fuel stop, it could still fly transcon in less time than its competitors, but it was still short of the design specifications. By the time the Citation III was ready for deliveries in 1982, a recession had set in which also slowed sales. Regardless, it was an important step for Cessna that laid the foundation for the landmark Citation X. The first Citation III went to Arnold Palmer, who was positively effusive about his new “III Iron”. #avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #KADS #ADS #Addison #airport #planespotting #instaplane #instagramaviation #Avgeekery #Cessna #Citation #CitationIII #N125RH #splendid_transport #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #flight #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge #AvGeek_SchoolofKnowledge (at Addison Airport)