What is the Cessna Citation Mustang (C 510), and how does it compare with other VLJs?
Cessna Citation Mustang C 510 specifications, toilet, range and single-pilot facts, plus a practical comparison with other very light jets.
The Cessna Citation Mustang, or Model 510, is a pressurised twin-turbofan very light jet certified for single-pilot operation. It has four cabin seats plus two cockpit seats, includes a basic emergency toilet, and favours straightforward systems and small-airport access over the speed, space and payload of newer VLJs.
Is the C 510 the same as the Cessna Citation Mustang?
Yes. C 510, Cessna 510 and Model 510 all refer to the aircraft marketed as the Cessna Citation Mustang; CE-510 also appears in type-rating references. It is not the same aircraft as the larger Model 525 CitationJet family.
The Mustang was certificated and first delivered in 2006, with production ending in 2017. Its aluminium airframe has a low wing, T-tail, retractable tricycle undercarriage and two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F-A turbofans. The flight deck was built around Garmin G1000 avionics, while full-authority digital engine control reduces the pilot's engine-management workload.
In our Aviation & Real-World Flying coverage, we use very light jet as a market category rather than a universal certification class. Our guide to the main Cessna aircraft families places the Mustang alongside the company's piston, turboprop and larger Citation lines.
What are the Citation Mustang's key specifications?
The Mustang combines a 41,000-foot operating ceiling and 340-knot maximum cruise with a maximum take-off weight below 9,000 lb.
| Item | Representative published figure |
|---|---|
| Engines | Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F-A turbofans |
| Maximum take-off weight | 8,645 lb (3,921 kg) |
| Maximum cruise speed | About 340 kt |
| Maximum operating altitude | 41,000 ft |
| Published maximum range | About 1,167 nm (2,161 km) |
| Published take-off field length | About 3,110 ft under baseline conditions |
| Seating layout | Two cockpit seats and four cabin seats |
These are reference figures, not promises for every flight. Range and runway performance change with weight, temperature, elevation, wind, runway condition, obstacles and reserve requirements. The approved aircraft flight manual and trip-specific calculations take precedence.
Does the Cessna Citation Mustang have a toilet?
Yes, the Citation Mustang has a compact emergency toilet, but it is not a fully enclosed business-jet washroom.
The usual arrangement relies on a privacy curtain rather than a rigid lavatory compartment. It is useful when necessary, but space, privacy and amenities are limited. Interior equipment can differ after years of refurbishment, so anyone evaluating a particular aircraft should inspect its actual installation rather than relying on a generic cabin plan.
This distinction matters when comparing VLJs. The Phenom 100 and HondaJet families offer more private and practical lavatory arrangements, making them better suited to passengers who consider an enclosed toilet essential.
How does the Citation Mustang compare with other VLJs?
The Mustang is slower and more confined than several later VLJs, but remains attractive as a compact twin-engine jet with familiar Garmin avionics, a high ceiling and useful runway performance.
The table uses representative variants commonly considered alongside a used Mustang. Cruise figures are approximate maxima, while published ranges were not necessarily calculated with identical payloads, reserves or atmospheric assumptions.
| Aircraft | Engine configuration | Approx. maximum cruise | Published maximum range | Practical distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citation Mustang | Twin, rear-mounted | 340 kt | 1,167 nm | Four-seat cabin and curtain-screened emergency toilet |
| Eclipse 550 | Twin, rear-mounted | 375 kt | 1,125 nm | Exceptionally compact airframe with basic, fit-dependent toilet provision |
| Embraer Phenom 100EV | Twin, rear-mounted | 406 kt | 1,178 nm | Wider cabin, more speed and an enclosed rear lavatory |
| HondaJet Elite II | Twin, over-wing mounted | 422 kt | 1,547 nm | Higher speed, longer published range and a private lavatory |
| Cirrus Vision Jet G2+ | Single, upper-fuselage mounted | 311 kt | 1,275 nm | Single-engine design with a whole-aircraft parachute and 31,000-foot ceiling |
The Citation M2 is often placed on the same shopping list, but it is a larger light jet from the CitationJet line rather than a direct Mustang-class replacement. Our Mustang and Citation M2 comparison explains the differences in cabin size, speed, payload and operating role. For the wider family, see our comparison of Citation range, fuel use and cabin capacity.
Which very light jet best fits the mission?
Choose the Mustang when a compact used twin jet for one to four cabin passengers matters more than maximum cruise speed or lavatory privacy.
- Choose the Mustang for shorter business or personal trips where its conventional twin-engine layout, G1000 flight deck and smaller-airport access suit the mission.
- Consider the Eclipse when minimum airframe size and efficiency are priorities, after checking the exact aircraft's configuration, maintenance history and support path.
- Choose a Phenom 100 or HondaJet when passenger space, speed and an enclosed lavatory justify moving to a larger and generally costlier aircraft.
- Consider the Vision Jet when its single-engine design, flexible cabin and parachute system fit the mission. It is not a like-for-like substitute for a twin-engine Mustang.
- Step up to the Citation M2 when the Mustang repeatedly runs short of payload, cabin space or range margin. The M2 is not simply an upgraded Mustang.
How far can a Citation Mustang really fly?
A practical dispatch range is normally lower than the 1,167 nm headline figure once payload, wind, reserves and an alternate are included.
- Full fuel does not guarantee four adults and their bags. The required weight-and-balance calculation may call for less fuel, fewer occupants or a fuel stop.
- Headwinds and reserves consume range quickly. A theoretical still-air maximum is unsuitable for deciding whether a real trip can be flown non-stop.
- Baggage volume is not the only limit. Bags that physically fit can still exceed compartment limits or push the aircraft beyond take-off, landing or centre-of-gravity restrictions.
- The published take-off distance is not a universal runway minimum. Hot weather, airport elevation, a wet or contaminated surface, slope, obstacles and regulatory margins can increase the required distance substantially.
Can one pilot fly a Cessna Citation Mustang?
Yes, the Mustang supports single-pilot operation when the pilot holds the appropriate type rating and single-pilot privileges required by the relevant aviation authority.
Single-pilot certification does not mean that an ordinary private pilot licence alone is sufficient. Type training, proficiency checks, medical and operational requirements still apply, and an operator or insurer may impose stricter conditions or require two pilots.
Descriptions such as “six-seat Mustang” count the two cockpit seats and four cabin seats. With one pilot, use of the right cockpit seat by another occupant still depends on the approved seating arrangement, weight and balance, operating rules and operator policy.
What should be checked on a used Citation Mustang?
Maintenance history and installed equipment matter more than the model's average specification because every Mustang is now a used airframe.
- Engines: confirm hours, cycles, inspection status, maintenance-programme position and any approaching high-cost work.
- Airframe records: examine logbook continuity, corrosion findings, repairs, damage history, deferred defects and life-limited items.
- Avionics: do not assume that an advert mentioning G1000 means the aircraft has later G1000 NXi functions. Verify the exact displays, software, approved upgrades and database arrangements.
- Actual useful load: use the aircraft's current equipment list and empty weight. Interior changes and added equipment can reduce payload compared with brochure figures.
How should the Citation Mustang feel in a flight simulator?
A convincing Mustang simulation should behave like a light, compact business jet rather than a miniature airliner or a reskinned CitationJet.
Look for weight-sensitive V-speeds, brisk acceleration at lighter weights, FADEC-managed engines, pressurisation, anti-ice systems and a credible G1000 workflow. The real aircraft does not gain an airliner-style autothrottle merely because FADEC controls the engines, and speeds or checklists from an M2 or Model 525 should not be substituted for Mustang data.
Add-on compatibility also matters. An FSX aircraft cannot be made native to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024 simply by copying its aircraft folder, while older FSX panels may depend on separately installed gauges. If the screens or instruments are blank, follow our checks for missing Citation Mustang gauges in FSX before changing flight-model or avionics settings.