The Textron Aviation Citation CJ4 Gen3 is closing in on FAA certification. The next-generation light jet should hit the market later this year as Textron capitalizes on strong demand for the world’s most popular single-pilot business jet.
The Gen3 prototype—designated P0—completed its maiden flight in early October 2024 from Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas. Senior test pilots Corey Eckhart and Ed Wenninger took the aircraft aloft for 1 hour and 47 minutes. The twin Williams International FJ44-4A turbofan engines powered the test, which evaluated avionics, propulsion, environmental control, and flight control systems.
A second test aircraft, P1, flew in May 2025. Test pilots James Bearman and Corey Eckhart piloted the 3-hour, 29-minute sortie that pushed the jet to 45,000 feet and 305 knots, focusing on avionics and systems validation. Additional flights will assess interior configurations and human factors integration.
Garmin G3000 PRIME — The Game-Changer
The big story: the all-new Garmin G3000 PRIME flight deck. The CJ4 Gen3 is the first Citation to get this next-generation avionics suite. Pilots get enhanced primary displays with interactive multitouch technology, 40% larger secondary display units, and a streamlined menu interface built to cut workload in single-pilot operations.
There’s more. The CJ4 Gen3 becomes the first light jet in the Citation family to feature Garmin Emergency Autoland—a system that takes control if a pilot becomes incapacitated. A cabin button activates it. The system finds the optimal runway, manages descent and landing, brings the aircraft to a stop, shuts down the engines, and updates passengers on flight status.
“The Gen3 offers the same great performance pilots appreciate in a CJ4 with a modern yet familiar avionics system,” said Jimmy Beeson, Textron Aviation Director of Product Development. “It’s a fully immersive experience for our pilots that creates a smoother flight deck flow and ultimately reduces pilot workload, making this aircraft just even easier to fly.”
The aircraft also incorporates Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology and the GWX8000 StormOptix weather radar.
Performance and Capability
The CJ4 Gen3 keeps the performance that made the original a success. Maximum range sits at 2,165 nautical miles with a 45,000-foot service ceiling and 451-knot cruise speed—enough for transcontinental trips with NBAA IFR reserves. Takeoff distance runs 3,410 feet at maximum takeoff weight; landing distance is 2,940 feet.
The cabin holds up to 11 occupants across 17 feet 4 inches long and 4 feet 10 inches wide. Maximum payload reaches 2,200 pounds, dropping to 1,102 pounds with full fuel. Baggage capacity is 1,040 pounds.
The Gen3 adds factory-installed winglets with enhanced lighting for better ramp presence, lithium-ion batteries for improved cold-weather starts, and enhanced cabin acoustics. Textron’s LinxUs platform enables real-time data sharing for predictive maintenance.
Market Timing
The Gen3 approaches certification just as Textron rolled out its 500th CJ4 series aircraft in June 2026—a Gen2 model exiting the line as the new generation enters service. Since certification in 2010, the CJ4 family had delivered 400 aircraft by April 2023, dominating the light-jet category.
“There’s no doubt that pilots around the world consider the Citation CJ4 as the premier single-pilot business jet,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing at Textron Aviation. “The CJ4 Gen3 brings a new level of confidence and an elevated experience for owners and operators based on customer feedback.”
The Gen3’s arrival will likely pressure values on existing Gen2 aircraft—though not immediately. Buyers now weigh a familiar choice: purchase a Gen2 at current pricing or wait for Gen3 availability and potential Gen2 depreciation.
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