What are the Cessna Citation II (C550) specifications?
The Cessna Citation II is a light, twin-engined business jet officially designated Model 550 and commonly identified by the ICAO code C550. Developed as a stretched, higher-capacity successor to the Citation I, it typically carries six to eight passengers, cruises at roughly 350–385 KTAS and uses two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 turbofans.
Introduced in the late 1970s, the Citation II offered a longer cabin, greater fuel capacity and more useful range than the original Citation. Its relatively low approach speeds and short-field capability made it suitable for smaller business airports. Our comparison of Cessna piston, turboprop and Citation families explains where it fits within the wider Cessna range.
What are the main Cessna Citation II specifications?
These are representative figures for the original Model 550 Citation II; individual aircraft differ with serial number, interior, avionics, modifications and operating weight.
| Specification | Original Citation II |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer designation | Cessna Model 550 Citation II |
| Aircraft type | Pressurised light business jet |
| Crew | Normally two pilots |
| Passenger capacity | Typically six to eight, depending on interior |
| Engines | Two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 turbofans |
| Rated thrust | Approximately 2,500 lbf per engine |
| Length | 47 ft 3 in (about 14.4 m) |
| Wingspan | 51 ft 8 in (about 15.75 m) |
| Height | About 15 ft (4.57 m) |
| Cabin dimensions | Approximately 16 ft long, 4.8 ft wide and 4.7 ft high |
| Typical empty weight | About 7,900 lb (3,580 kg), equipment dependent |
| Maximum take-off weight | 13,300 lb (6,033 kg) |
| Normal/high cruise | Approximately 350–385 KTAS |
| Maximum speed | About 400 KTAS under suitable conditions |
| Maximum operating altitude | 45,000 ft (FL450) |
| Maximum quoted range | Approximately 1,998 nautical miles under favourable maximum-range assumptions |
| Practical IFR mission range | Commonly around 1,500–1,700 nautical miles, depending on payload, weather and reserves |
| Initial climb | Roughly 3,000 ft/min at favourable weight and conditions |
| Baseline runway performance | About 3,450 ft for take-off and roughly 2,100 ft for landing under favourable published conditions |
The range and runway figures are not universal guarantees. Temperature, pressure altitude, wind, runway condition, obstacles, payload and required fuel reserves can change them substantially.
Is the Citation II the same as the S/II or Citation Bravo?
The Citation II, Citation S/II and Citation Bravo belong to the same broad family, but their engines, wings, systems and performance data are not interchangeable.
| Variant | Key distinction |
|---|---|
| Citation II | Original Model 550 with JT15D-4 engines; normally operated by two pilots |
| Citation II/SP | Single-pilot derivative, generally identified as Model 551; pilot and operation must meet the applicable approval requirements |
| Citation S/II | Model S550 with a revised supercritical wing and JT15D-4B engines |
| Citation Bravo | Later Model 550 development with PW530A engines, revised landing gear and newer systems |
The C550 label can therefore be misleading in aircraft databases and simulator libraries. We use “Citation II” for the original JT15D-4-powered aircraft rather than treating every C550-labelled model as identical.
What should a flight simmer check in a C550 add-on?
Check the represented variant before using Citation II speeds, checklists or engine procedures in a simulator.
- Read the engine labels: JT15D-4 indicates the original Citation II, JT15D-4B points to the S/II, and PW530A identifies the Bravo.
- Check the cockpit period: original aircraft had analogue instrumentation, but many surviving examples received avionics retrofits. A glass panel can represent an upgraded aircraft rather than a factory-standard one.
- Separate KIAS from KTAS: a quoted cruise speed near 376 knots is true airspeed at altitude, not an indicated-air-speed target.
- Match the flight model to the variant: engine thrust, fuel flow, take-off performance and landing behaviour should not be copied blindly between the II, S/II and Bravo.
For an older-platform example, our FS2002 and FS2004 C-550 Bravo aircraft package depicts the later Bravo rather than the original Citation II. The FSX Citation Bravo flight-dynamics and panel update is an update rather than a complete standalone aircraft, so it must be paired with the base model for which it was designed.
Which Citation II figures should pilots use for planning?
Real-world planning must use the approved aircraft flight manual and performance data for the specific airframe. Serial number, engine condition, modifications, installed equipment and operating rules can all alter the usable figures.
FL450 is a certified maximum operating altitude, not a promise that a fully loaded aircraft can climb directly there. Likewise, the roughly 1,998-nautical-mile range is an idealised maximum-range figure; headwinds, reserves, alternates and passenger payload usually make the practical trip distance shorter.