Cessna Citation Columbus

Citation Columbus
Role	Business jet
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Cessna
Status	Development canceled 10 July 2009
Unit cost	$27 million (2008)

The Cessna Citation Columbus (Model 850) was a 4000 nmi range business Jet programme launched by Cessna in February 2008 and cancelled in July 2009. It would have been the largest model of the Cessna Citation family at the time.

Cessna began research on the largest Citation in 2002 with market studies, surveys, concept testing, focus groups and customer advisory boards. A mockup of the large cabin concept was unveiled on Oct. 17, 2006 at the National Business Aviation Association convention

Cessna formally announced the aircraft on February 6, 2008 ; FAA certification was planned by the end of 2013, with deliveries beginning in 2014. The Columbus had a target range of 4,000 nmi (7,408 km) with 8 passengers. The cockpit would have featured a synthetic vision system, autothrottles, optional head-up display and Collins' MultiScan weather radar with optional windshear prediction.

Cessna was going to invest $780 million into the development including a new plant, major suppliers were Pratt & Whitney Canada for the engines; Rockwell Collins for the avionics; Vought Aircraft Industries for the wing; Spirit AeroSystems for the fuselage and Spirit AeroSystems Europe Ltd. for the empennage; Parker Hannifin for the powered flight control system; Goodrich Corporation for the landing gear.

On 29 April 2009 Cessna announced that it was suspending the Citation Columbus program, but indicated at that time that the program might be restarted once economic conditions improved. The company also indicated that it would lay off 1,600 workers, including up to 700 workers from the Columbus program.