Cessna 500/Citation I

2 × Turbofan Pressurized Low Wing • Retractable

Range Map

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+ cargo

Payload vs. Range

Occupants:

Fuel on board

Cargo

Range

Cargo is additional payload after occupants and baggage.

Adjust payload

full tanks

Available Range / nm

Mission capable. This load flies with full fuel.

Fuel reduced by . left aboard for nm range.

Over max payload by . At this load it cannot lift a single occupant.

Trip Preview

Mission Profile

Used market

357

KTAS

Cruise Speed

1,325

Max Range

41,000

Service Ceiling

Occupants

818

lbs

Wet Payload

Endorsements & ratings:

High-Altitude
Pressurization
Multi-Engine
Instrument

Cessna 500 Citation I (G-BEIZ) at Coventry, May 1980. Photo: Rob Hodgkins, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Estimated Ownership Costs

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About the Cessna 500/Citation I

Type certificated 1971

Overview

The Cessna Citation I (Model 500) is the foundational light jet that brought turbofan-powered business flying within reach of operators stepping up from cabin-class twins and pressurised turboprops. Affectionately (and mockingly) called the Slowtation for its straight-wing design and modest cruise speeds, the Citation I rewards owners with forgiving handling, short-field access, and an airframe with no published life limit. Three principal variants share the type: the original 500 (1971 to 1976, JT15D-1), the upgraded Citation I (1976+, JT15D-1A), and the 501 Citation I/SP (1977+), a single-pilot-certified variant that opened jet ownership to owner-operators who could not justify a two-pilot crew.

For the GA buyer, the Citation I is an accessible turbofan path into cabin-class jet ownership. The Pratt & Whitney JT15D family is parts-supported and well understood, and the airframe’s docile manners make it a viable first-jet transition for pilots stepping up from high-performance turboprops, at a direct operating cost near 1,625 USD per hour. The economic trap is engine overhaul: JT15D hot-section and full-overhaul events are a major capital cost, so a clean engine status at pre-buy carries outsized weight in the value calculus.

Key Features for GA Buyers

Short field capability. The straight-wing design allows access to regional airports with runways under 3,500 ft, often unreachable by faster swept-wing jets.
Docile handling. Approach speeds in the 90 to 100 KIAS band and straightforward flight characteristics make for an approachable first-jet transition for pilots stepping up from high-performance turboprops.
No airframe life limit. Unlike many modern jets, the Citation I carries no structural life limit. A well-maintained airframe can remain in service indefinitely.
Single-pilot certification on the I/SP. The 501 Citation I/SP variant is type-certificated for single-pilot operations, opening owner-flown turbojet operations to pilots without a second crew member.

Trade-offs

Speed. A max cruise near 357 KTAS at FL350 is meaningfully slower than swept-wing contemporaries; the Slowtation nickname is earned.
Engine overhaul economics. The JT15D-1A turbofans are reliable and parts-supported, but a hot-section or full-overhaul event is a significant capital cost that dominates the ownership budget.
Payload and range. Range is limited to roughly 1,300 nm with reserves, and a full cabin significantly restricts fuel and trip range.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weights

Height: 14 ft
Length: 44 ft
Parking area (ft²²): 2,769 ft²

Max Takeoff Weight: 11,850 lbs
Max Landing Weight: 11,350 lbs
Useful Load: 4,597 lbs
Fuel Capacity: Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 564 gal

Performance

Cruise Speed: 357 KTAS
Never-Exceed (V_NE): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 260 KIAS
Max Structural Cruise (V_NO): Source: FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet 260 KIAS
Approach Speed: 91 KIAS
Stall, Clean (V_S₁): 85 KIAS
Range: 1325 NM
Service Ceiling: 41,000 ft
Rate of Climb: 800 - 2719 fpm
Takeoff over 50 ft obstacle: 2,930 ft
Landing over 50 ft obstacle: 2,300 ft

Engines

Sources

Where the figures on this page come from. Cessna 500/Citation I specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.

EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.207 (Issue 10, 06 Jul 2022), Section 1 Model 500/Citation I www.easa.europa.eu

2 × Jet Low Wing Used market

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