The story
Early Citations were famously gentle and famously slow — rivals called them Slowtations. The Citation III was Cessna's answer: a clean-sheet swept wing, a stand-up cabin, and real speed at 51,000 feet. It reset what the Citation name meant and paved the way for the Citation X.
The Citation III flies at up to 51,000 feet — above almost all airline traffic and most weather.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Citation III/VI/VII?
Mid-size bizjet with a long pointed nose and a sharply swept wing — the instant tell versus the straight-winged small Citations. T-tail, long low fuselage.
What does a Citation III/VI/VII sound like?
Garrett TFE731s — a smooth, slightly raspy business-jet whine.
How fast is the Citation III/VI/VII?
Top speed is 472 kts.
How many passengers does the Citation III/VI/VII carry?
Up to 9. A typical layout is 7-9 (executive).
How far can the Citation III/VI/VII fly?
Range is about 2,350 nmi.
How big is the Citation III/VI/VII?
It is 55 ft 6 in long and 53 ft 6 in across the wings.
When did the Citation III/VI/VII first fly?
Its first flight was in 1979.
How many Citation III/VI/VIIs have been built?
360 (III/VI/VII) built.
How rare is a Citation III/VI/VII in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Citation III/VI/VII catch is worth 25 points.
