Cessna Citation Ii/Bravo

Twin Jet· 565 globally registered

The Cessna Citation II, introduced in 1978, became one of the most successful light business jets ever built and established the Citation family as the dominant force in corporate aviation. Stretching the original Citation fuselage by nearly four feet and adding more powerful Pratt & Whitney JT15D-4 engines, Cessna created an aircraft that could carry eight passengers up to 1,500 nautical miles at 400 knots, performance that hit the sweet spot for corporate flight departments and charter operators. Over 1,000 Citation IIs were delivered before production ended in 2006, making it one of the longest-running business jet programs in history. The type earned a reputation for exceptional reliability, straightforward systems, and operating economics that allowed even smaller companies to justify owning a jet. Its straight wing and docile handling made it popular with owner-pilots transitioning from piston twins, while its ability to operate from shorter runways opened up thousands of airports inaccessible to larger jets. The Citation II's success spawned the Bravo variant with upgraded avionics and FADEC engines, extending the design's relevance into the 21st century. Hundreds remain in active service worldwide, valued for their low acquisition costs and proven dispatch reliability. SkyMeter has tracked 817 flights across 233 airframes and 207 operators, with MIDWEST JET LLC the largest observed operator.