Robert “Bob” Fiscella of Williamsburg, Virginia, purchased his first aircraft in 1961. Fiscella is the current owner of a Cessna Citation CJ2+, which he has been flying since it rolled off Cessna’s line in 2006.
“I started flying in 1960 because I hadn’t completed flying during the war years. And I’ve bought 11 airplanes in my span of flying and am a commercial, multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot who’s typed in the Cessna Citation 500 and 525 series,” he began.
In 1989, I went into the jets. That was the first year, I think, they had allowed single-pilot operation of a jet, so I was one of the early ones, and I flew a 501SP.
“I purchased my first plane in 1961 – a Piper Apache. A year later, I purchased an Apache 235, and then several years later, I got a Piper Aztec. In 1972, I switched to Cessna with the purchase of a 340, then got a Conquest 425 in 1982. It was a nice flying plane, but in 1989, I went to the jets and never looked back.”
For fifty years of safe flying, Fiscella was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award by the FAA in 2001. To date, he has logged nearly 10,000 hours in the cockpit, most of which have been in the flight levels.
Fiscella’s first jet was a 501SP, followed by one of the first delivered Citation Jets.
“In 1989, I went into the jets. That was the first year, I think, they had allowed single-pilot operation of a jet, so I was one of the early ones, and I flew a 501SP,” he explained. “In 1993, I bought a new CJ. Cessna had just come out with the CJs, and I was number 25 on the list there. Then, in 1998, I bought a CJ1, and in 2006, I bought a CJ2+, which I own today and currently fly,” Fiscella stated.
“I think the CJ2+ is one of the best airplanes there is. It’s got plenty of power and speed, with a good payload. We’re a thousand pounds less than the CJ3, and it does an excellent job [in comparison].”
Most of Fiscella’s flights are on the East Coast, but he has previously flown the Citation all over the country, throughout most of The Caribbean, and into Europe.
“We are going to Columbia, South Carolina tomorrow, and that’s a 300-mile run. We’ll fly it in the mid-thirties with a good fuel burn, and it’ll take us just over an hour. Interestingly enough, we will pick up another five minutes going eastbound, maybe. From time to time, it’s a really fast airplane,” he said.
I have Tamarack winglets on the plane also, and my airplane was one of the early planes with them. The CJ2 line was certified on my airplane, and I have great confidence in the winglets”
Quick legs aren’t the only thing this aircraft has going for it. It’s a complete package.
“The CJ2+ has plenty of space for passengers. The navigational system, the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21, is sensational, and I’ve really enjoyed flying with it. My pilot is retired from Delta and told me that they didn’t even have this equipment on some of their 747s that are on this aircraft. It’s an ideal aircraft, and I don’t know why Cessna stopped building it.”
The CJ2+ is a natural performer at altitude, but this serial has had some added equipment that Fiscella feels has positively impacted its performance.
“I have Tamarack winglets on the plane also, and my airplane was one of the early planes with them. The CJ2 line was certified on my airplane, and I have great confidence in the winglets,” he said.
“The airplane climbs out beautifully and climbs up to altitude real fast. I would say that we have [seen] an increase in speed and range also. [After installation] Tamarack flew the airplane back to me non-stop, which was about 1,800 nautical miles. I’m satisfied with the purchase I made years ago.”
Relationships have remained constant through Fiscella’s aviation journey. Two are of special note, one being with the manufacturer. He predominately takes his jet to the Greensboro Citation Service Center for maintenance. Another longtime bond is with Cary Friedman of Eagle Aviation in Columbia, South Carolina. These connections, and others, have enabled him to better execute his aviation efforts.
Fiscella’s mission is varied, although the Wichita-built jet isn’t exercised as much as it had been in the past. The nonagenarian currently flies about fifty hours a year and has done so with a copilot for the last few years.
“No, I think I am pretty satisfied,” Fiscella replied when asked whether he would change anything different about his six-decade-long aviation journey. “I am going to be 99 here in a month [in December 2024]. In fact, if I wasn’t as old as I am, I would buy another airplane. Well, I couldn’t think of buying another airplane better than the CJ2+ for the dollar.”
