Cessna Citation Encore

Overview

The Cessna Citation Encore and Encore+ (Model 560) are the final, most refined members of the straight-wing Citation V family, in production from 2000 through 2010. They share the Model 560 airframe with the earlier Citation V (1989 to 1994) and Citation Ultra (1994 to 1999), but move to Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535 turbofans, a trailing-link main gear, and a 45,000 ft ceiling. The Encore (2000 to 2006) introduced the 3,400 lbf PW535A and a redesigned interior; the Encore+ (2007 to 2010) added the FADEC-controlled PW535B, Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, and digital pressurization, and uniquely among the family is approved for single-pilot operation. The figures on this page reflect the Encore specification; for the earlier variants, see the dedicated Citation V and Citation Ultra records linked below.

For the GA buyer, the Encore generation is where the straight-wing Citation formula reaches its most owner-friendly form. It pairs short-field access and an honest 45,000 ft ceiling with cabin volume and operating economics that bracket the modern Citation CJ3 and Embraer Phenom 300. The PW535 engines, with their 5,000-hour TBO, resolve the hot-section cost exposure that shadows the older JT15D-5-powered V and Ultra, which is the single most important reason a buyer steps up from the Ultra to the Encore.

Key Features for GA Buyers

• 45,000 ft service ceiling. Direct climb to the mid-FL400s is operationally routine, putting the Encore above most weather and traffic on cross-country legs.
• Short field at this performance class. A 3,490 ft takeoff distance over a 50 ft obstacle at MTOW opens thousands of regional fields that bracket-competitive jets cannot use without a payload penalty.
• PW535 engines with 5,000-hour TBO. The Encore’s PW535A and the Encore+’s FADEC PW535B deliver 3,400 lbf and materially better overhaul economics than the JT15D-5 series on the V and Ultra.
• Modern flight deck on the Encore+. The Encore+ moved to Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 with dual side PFDs and a center MFD, FADEC engine control, and digital pressurization, narrowing the gap to current-production light jets. It is also the only Model 560 variant certificated for single-pilot operation.

Trade-offs

• Variant span is wide. A 1989 Citation V and a 2010 Encore+ share this catalogue family but differ substantially in engines, panel, and operating economics. Pre-buy and ownership planning must be variant-specific, and the figures here are Encore-specific.
• Two-pilot operation on the Encore. The Encore (2000 to 2006) is not single-pilot certificated; only the Encore+ carries the single-pilot approval. Owner-operator economics on an Encore must include a second pilot.
• Acquisition premium over the Ultra. The Encore and Encore+ command a meaningful step-up over a comparable Ultra. The cabin, ceiling, and engine economics justify it on the right mission, but the value depends on annual utilization.
• Banded speed envelope. Maximum operating speed is 262 KIAS below 8,000 ft, rising to a 292 KIAS redline above it; the lower-altitude restriction is a normal handling consideration on descent and in the terminal area.

See Also

• Cessna Citation V – the original 1989 to 1994 Model 560 with JT15D-5A turbofans and captain-side EFIS; the base airframe of this family. Compare
• Cessna Citation Ultra – the 1994 to 1999 volume variant with JT15D-5D engines and the full Honeywell Primus 1000 glass cockpit; the value choice on the resale market. Compare
• Cessna Citation II / Bravo – the direct down-step in the same straight-wing Citation family. Compare
• Cessna Citation Excel / XLS – the stand-up-cabin mid-light Citation that succeeded the V series at the upper end of this bracket. Compare
• Cessna Citation I – the foundational straight-wing Citation, two cabin steps down. Compare
• Beech Super King Air 350 – the turboprop alternative for owners prioritising operating cost over speed in the same cabin class. Compare