The Cessna CitationJet family was the most popular private aircraft in the US for 2023. See all the varying models that make it so desirable.

Taylor RainsFeb 29, 2024, 16:54 IST

The Cessna CitationJet series of aircraft was the most-flown in the US in 2023.Textron Aviation

The Cessna CitationJet was the most popular private plane in the US in 2023, according to JetSpy.
The series of jets, including the Citation M2, CJ2, CJ3, and CJ4, collectively flew 273,522 flights.

The world's elite had a busy year of jet-setting in 2023, spending thousands of dollars to fly private to events like Burning Man, the Super Bowl, and Sun Valley, Idaho's annual "summer camp for billionaires."

These ultra-rich people regularly splurge for the convenience of private aviation because they can skip the hassles of security and crowded passenger terminals.

And there's a lot of choice when it comes to business planes, with everything from the smaller HondaJet to the massive Bombardier Global 7500 on the market. The latter typically comes complete with a bedroom and entertainment room.

However, Textron Aviation's family of Cessna CitationJet aircraft proved to be the most popular in the US last year, performing a collective 273,522 flights in 2023, according to data from the aircraft-tracking website JetSpy.

Here's a closer look at the CitationJet series, which all offer varying ranges, speeds, and cabins to suit the needs of rich flyers.

Textron Aviation builds a series of light business aircraft known as the CitationJet, which falls under the larger Citation family of private planes.

The Cessna Citation M2.Textron Aviation

There are four distinct models — the Citation M2, the CJ2, the CJ3, and the CJ4 — which were developed after the company's Citation 1 failed.

The cabin of a CJ3.Textron Aviation

The original Citation 1 was discontinued due to its expensive engines. Still, Cessna saw a market need for a light, lower-cost private jet.

Dutch Minister Van der Stoel boards a Citation 1 Jet at Schipol Amsterdam Airport for a trip to China and Japan in 1975.Nationaal Archief

When designing the CJ, Cessna settled on a new design that combined a lighter airframe with inexpensive but effective Williams FJ44 engines.

The CJ4 model.Textron Aviation

Cessna eventually developed the original CJ into the four different CitationJet models through a series of operational and performance upgrades.

A CJ4 cockpit.Textron Aviation

The smallest is the M2, which can fly about 1,784 miles nonstop and has a list price of $4.7 million.

The Citation M2 version.Textron Aviation

According to Textron, the M2 has a cabin height and width of five feet and a width of 11 feet.

The interior of the M2, which typically fits six people in the main cabin.Textron Aviation

The typical M2 configuration includes space for six people and features amenities like power, cupholders, and tables.

The CitationJet family of aircraft all feature the regular amenities of private jets, like cupholders and ample legroom.Textron Aviation

Although not built anymore, Cessna developed a stretched version of the CJ1 and called it the CJ2.

A Centerline Cessna Citation CJ2 business jet taxiing at Manchester International Airport.Juha Remes/iStock

The CJ2+ "Alpine Edition" is similar to the M2 in its cabin and Garmin cockpit, but it had low demand and went out of production in 2016.

The Cessna CJ2+ went out of production, leaving only the latest M2, CJ3+, and CJ4+ models for sale new.Textron Aviation

Although the CJ2+ model proved less popular, the third rendition of the jet — the $7.2 million CJ3 variant — is a success.

The Citation CJ3+ is the third development from the original CJ1.Maikel de Vaan/iStock

The cabin height and width are that of the M2, but with a nearly 16-foot length that can comfortably fit eight seats.

The CJ3+ has space for a third set of seats in the cabin.Textron Aviation

Similar to the M2 — and all CJ models for that matter — the CJ3+ is certified for single-pilot operations.

The cockpit of the CJ3+.Textron Aviation

Introduced in 2006, the largest of the CJ variants is the CJ4, which stretches about two feet longer than the CJ3+.

The Cessna CJ4 has evolved into the CJ4 Gen2.Textron Aviation

It is not only the largest jet in the Cessna CitationJet series but also the fastest and the highest-ranged in production.

A view of the lavatory in the CJ4.Textron Aviation

The CJ4 can carry up to 10 people thanks to the optional couch that can be fit onboard.

A galley can be installed on the CJ4.Textron Aviation

The CJ4 also offers several interior color scheme options, with designs like "jet black" and "glacier."

The optional couch can be seen behind the right-side lounger.Textron Aviation

While the Cessna CJ family is the most flown with more than 273,500 flight hours, several of Cessna's midsize aircraft were close behind.

A Citation Sovereign.VanderWolf-Images/iStock

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