Prototipo Cessna Citation Latitude hace con éxito su primer vuelo

WICHITA , Kansas - ( BUSINESS WIRE) - Cessna Aircraft Company, ( NYSE : TXT ) Textron Inc. Co., está celebrando el éxito del primer vuelo del prototipo de su muy esperado avión de negocios Citation Latitude.

El primer vuelo dell Citation Latitude probó los flaps, tren de aterrizaje, sistemas de presurización, capacidades anti-hielo, la estabilidad y el control. El vuelo de prueba alcanzó una altitud de 28.000 pies y velocidades alcanzadas de 230 mph (Mach 0,6 ). Ingenieros de vuelo Cessna comentaron que todos los sistemas están funcionando como se esperaba.

Aaron Tobias, piloto principal de pruebas de vuelo de Cessna, dijo: "Me siento afortunado de ser capaz de volar para ganarme la vida, y es un privilegio ser parte de la tripulación de pilotaje del Cessna Citation Latitude en su primer vuelo. El Citation Latitude estuvo muy bien hoy, lo que quiere decir que se comportó tal y como estaba previsto. La aviónica Garmin G5000 es un enorme salto adelante en la gestión de vuelo. Cuando se combina con la cabina más amplia de Citation y el suelo de la cabina plana, el sistema de refrigeración mejorado, la puerta de accionamiento eléctrico y la altitud de la cabina inferior, tienes en el Latitude un avión increíble que creemos conjunta muy altos puntos de referencia para el rendimiento, la capacidad y la comodidad. El Latitude será difícil de batir".

Brad Thress, Vicepresidente senior de Business Jets, dijo: "El primer vuelo con éxito del nuevo Cessna Citation Latitude es un testimonio de los hombres y mujeres en Cessna que continúan liderando la industria con el ejemplo. Cessna ha certificado 18 aviones diferentes durante la última década, y nuestra experiencia no tiene rival cuando se trata de la entrega de nuevos aviones en el mercado. El equipo Latitude ha diseñado un jet de tamaño medio que cambia el juego de una manera muy eficiente y acelerada, usando tecnologías probadas de Cessna y sistemas ya maduros. El resultado es una aeronave con eficiencias operativas increíbles a un precio sin igual en esta categoría de jet de negocios".

Los estudiantes que asisten a la Universidad Estatal de Wichita, con una beca de ingeniería financiada por Cessna, fueron invitados a observar el vuelo inaugural de hoy en la estación de monitoreo de telemetría de Cessna en la sede de la empresa. La estación recibe una transmisión en vivo desde el avión prototipo, permitiendo a los ingenieros monitorear el progreso del vuelo y recibir actualizaciones de sistemas en tiempo real. Siete estudiantes de ingeniería aeronáutica asistieron a la sesión.

Dr. Royce Bowden, Decano de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad Estatal de Wichita, dijo: "Cessna es un fantástico apoyo para la excelencia en ingeniería, y está claramente dedicada al desarrollo y fomento de la creación de ingenieros para la industria de la aviación. La oportunidad de hoy ofrece a los estudiantes una visión de los resultados del mundo real de la ingeniería, y la posibilidad de ver el vuelo de prueba a desarrollar de primera mano es una experiencia única."

El Cessna Citation Latitude tendrá el fuselaje más ancho entre los aviones Citation, diseñado con un piso de la cabina plana y 6 pies (1.83 m) de altura de la cabina y un 2500 nm (4.630 kms) de Rango . El "two-pilots"  del Latitude tiene capacidad para nueve pasajeros, y puede alcanzar un nivel de vuelo de 43.000 pies (13.106 m) en sólo 23 minutos. El Citation Latitude está diseñado con un sistema nuevo y de potente enfriamiento de la cabina, aviónica Garmin G5000 y capacidades de auto-acelerador, una puerta de la cabina operado electrónicamente, y altitudes de cabina más bajos para un vuelo más cómodo. El avión fue anunciado en la Convención de la Asociación Nacional de Aviación de Negocios y Exposiciones (NBAA) en octubre de 2011 . La certificación de tipo para el Citation Latitude se espera que en el segundo trimestre de 2015.

Los pasajeros en el Citation Latitude serán capaces de volar sin escalas entre ciudades tales como Los Ángeles y Nueva York, Houston y Bogotá, Colombia, Roma a Dubai y Singapur a Beijing. Visita Cessna.com para aprender más sobre el Citation Latitude.

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(Inglés)

Cessna Citation Latitude Prototype Makes Successful First Flight

02/18/2014
WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is celebrating the successful first prototype flight of its highly-anticipated Citation Latitude midsize business jet.

Cessna's Citation Latitude completes successful first flight. (Photo: Business Wire)
Cessna's Citation Latitude completes successful first flight. (Photo: Business Wire)

The first flight of the Citation Latitude tested flaps, landing gear, pressurization systems, anti-ice capabilities, stability and control. The test flight reached an altitude of 28,000 feet and attained speeds of 230 mph (Mach 0.6). Cessna flight engineers said all systems are performing as expected.

Aaron Tobias, Cessna senior flight test pilot, says: “I feel fortunate to be able to fly for a living, and it is a privilege to be part of the crew piloting the Cessna Citation Latitude on its maiden flight. The Citation Latitude was great today, which is to say it behaved just as anticipated. The Garmin G5000 avionics are an enormous leap forward in flight management. When combined with the widest Citation cabin and the flat cabin floor, the improved cooling system, the electrically operated door and the lower cabin altitude, you have in the Latitude an amazing aircraft that we believe sets very high benchmarks for performance, capability, and comfort. The Latitude will be tough to beat.”

Brad Thress, Cessna senior vice president of Business Jets, says: “The successful maiden flight of the new Cessna Citation Latitude is a testament to the men and women at Cessna who continue to lead the industry by example. Cessna has certified 18 different aircraft during the past decade, and our expertise is unrivalled when it comes to delivering new aircraft to the marketplace. The Latitude team engineered a game-changing mid-sized jet in a very efficient and accelerated manner, using proven Cessna technologies and mature systems. The result is an aircraft with incredible operating efficiencies at an unmatched price point in this category of business jet.”

Students attending Wichita State University on a Cessna-funded engineering scholarship were invited to watch today’s maiden flight at the Cessna’s telemetry monitoring station at the company’s headquarters. The station receives a live feed from the prototype aircraft, allowing engineers to monitor the flight’s progress and receive real-time systems updates. Seven aeronautical engineering students attended the session.

Dr. Royce Bowden, Dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State University, said: “Cessna is a fantastic supporter of engineering excellence, and is clearly dedicated to developing and nurturing the pipeline of engineers for the aviation industry. Today’s opportunity provides students with a glimpse into the real-world results of engineering, and being able to watch the test flight develop first-hand is a unique experience.”

Cessna’s Citation Latitude will have the widest fuselage of any Citation jet, designed with a flat cabin floor and 6 ft (1.83m) of cabin height and a 2,500 nm (4,630 km) range. The two-pilot Latitude accommodates up to nine passengers, and can attain a flight level of 43,000 ft (13,106m) in just 23 minutes. The Citation Latitude is designed with a powerful new cabin cooling system, Garmin G5000 avionics and auto-throttle capabilities, an electronically-operated cabin door, and lower cabin altitudes for a more comfortable flight. The aircraft was announced at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA) in October 2011. Type certification for the Citation Latitude is expected in the second quarter of 2015.

Passengers on the Citation Latitude will be able to fly non-stop between such cities as Los Angeles and New York, Houston and Bogotá, Colombia, Rome to Dubai, and Singapore to Beijing. Visit Cessna.com to learn more about the Citation Latitude.

About Cessna

Unmatched experience in aircraft design and manufacturing has established Cessna Aircraft Company as the world’s general aviation authority. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered nearly 200,000 airplanes around the globe. This includes more than 6,600 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops and single-engine utility and high performance piston aircraft. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2013, Cessna delivered 467 aircraft, including 139 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $2.784 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at textron.com.

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