Textron Aviation has officially moved its Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen3 into the flight testing phase. The prototype aircraft successfully completed its first flight, departing from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to begin a series of evaluations required for FAA certification.
During the nearly two-hour initial sortie, test pilots Steve Helmer and Dave Welbrock put the aircraft through its paces, reaching an altitude of 41,000 feet. A primary focus of this early testing involved validating the aircraft’s cockpit software systems. According to the manufacturer, the maiden flight confirmed the expected handling characteristics and overall system performance.
The CJ3 Gen3 is equipped with the Garmin G3000 avionics suite, which now includes integrated autothrottles and Garmin Emergency Autoland. These additions represent a shift for the light jet platform, aligning it with current safety technology standards.
With this flight, all three aircraft in the Textron Gen3 light-jet family—the M2, CJ4, and CJ3—are now actively engaged in testing. Textron Aviation expects the CJ3 Gen3 to reach the market in 2027 as it continues its path toward type certification.