Page 32 - Volume 18 Number 9

More is more when it comes There are some new interior Performance:to airplanes, and this iscertainly the case with the CJ4, Cessna’s latest evolution of the CitationJet line. This new airplane incorporates more automation, simpler and more redundant systems, and improved ergonomics for pilots and passengers alike. I recently evaluated the CJ4 for a possible CJ3 replacement.General:The CJ4 is about one foot longer, with headroom equivalent to the CJ3. In the airplane I flew, this allowed for a two-person side-facing couch, along with the CJ3’s conventional four-club and two-aft chair configuration. When flying single-pilot frees up the co-pilot seat, combined with the belted potty in the back, the airplane can carry up to 10 passengers.The CJ4’s storage and beverage center provides a similar layout, but with more room on the left compared to its predecessor. Overall storage, however, is similar to a CJ3 without the optional single-person side- facing seat. The seats behind club have their own wall-mounted tables, an excellent improvement.Pilot and passenger seats are very comfortable. Seat support is more robust compared to the CJ3, and positioning the seats (especially on the flight deck) seemed easier with a greater range of positions. The cockpit also seems roomier, perhaps due to the modified layout of the system instrumentation/switches, a smaller center console, and elimination of some manual controls like the elevator, aileron, and rudder trim. According to Cessna, pilot seats in the CJ4 have two more inches of travel compared to the CJ3, good news for taller pilots.30 • TWIN & TURBINEfeatures, including BluerayTM HD and several other brands of TV solutions (standard for the club seats), and automatically-operated window shades, including full block- out shades. HD video is optionally available for the rear seats.Although I didn’t ride in the back, my companions reported noise levels to be lower than the CJ3. The remainder of the cabin is very similar to the CJ3, although new LED variable intensity interior lighting is a welcome improvement. One negative is that the new self-deploying stairs greatly protrude into the cabin space. This is most likely a problem for taller passengers in the side-facing seats because significant legroom is consumed. Cessna says they have improved the step design for newer models to eliminate any noticeable extension into the cabin.The CJ4 is the first in the line to give passengers some control over their environment. Aft-cabin temperature is typically managed from the VIP seat via a multi-function I/O display, but control can also be delegated to other passengers. Overall, aircraft temperature is set in the cockpit; the left-seat pilot controls the cockpit temperature and the right-seat pilot controls the rest of the airplane.The airplane is about 3,000 lbs heavier (MGTOW) than the CJ3, 17,110 lbs vs. 13,870 lbs. Approximately 1,100 lbs of the difference is represented by more fuel capacity (5,828 lbs vs. 4,710 lbs). With full fuel, CJ4 payload (assuming two pilots) is significantly greater, at approximately 1,000 lbs, compared to about 600 lbs for the CJ3. Therefore, with full fuel it is possible to carry five passengers (six, if flying the airplane SP) and their luggage.The CJ4 has two FADEC-operated FJ44-4A engines, each of which delivers 3,621 lbs of static thrust, about 800 lbs more than the CJ3, very apparent when doing a static run-up max-performance take-off. MGTOW time from sea level to FL450 is about 28 minutes, much like the CJ3.The CJ4’s fuel burn is significantly greater than the CJ3’s. While the book indicates it goes about 36 knots faster at FL450, we only saw about 430 knots true, about 20 knots faster, during our test flight, burning around 230 lbs/hr more fuel (1,000 lbs/hr vs. 770 lbs/ hr). In fairness, the CJ4 is bigger, with a larger useful load. Also, theSEPTEMBER 2014Best In Brby Adam L. Alperte