Citation III Ownership Overview
Buyers don’t have a hard time finding a Citation III for sale as from 1983-2000, roughly 200 were produced. Those looking for a jet situated firmly in the middle of all aspects, such as price and range, will take a liking to what the first jet in the Citation model 650 family has to offer.
Citation III Cabin Experience
The Citation III is capable of transporting 7 passengers and 2 crew members. The aircraft has a cabin that’s nearly 20ft long and a fuselage that’s 55ft in length. The entry door to the jet is 5ft tall and 2ft wide.
Total cabin space is around 420 cubic feet, allowing for a width of more than 5ft and a height of just under 6ft. Typically each passenger is given more than 35 cubic feet of space, while baggage is allocated 61 cubic feet all in an external compartment.
Citation III Mission Profile
Customers who buy a Citation III are looking for the best of all worlds. The Citation III is situated firmly between that of its family members and that of the class it’s competing in. It’s for those looking for a respectable range and a decent amount of space, all for a reasonable price.
A highlight to this jet is that it’s fast. The Citation III was designed to get travelers to their destinations quickly, while providing them with a high level of comfort in-flight. While the cabin has less space than its competition, it was designed so that passengers can’t tell the difference. It offers the luxury that the Citation family is known so well for.
Buy or Sell a Citation III with evoJets
Are you interested in Citation III ownership? evoJets can help. Don't waste hours on public listing engines with outdated photos, vague information, and placeholders for prices.
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Citation III Cost to Own
Acquisition cost for the Citation III typically ranges from $800,000-$1.1 million. Competition such as the Lear 55 falls on the cheaper end of that range while other competition such as the Hawker 800 is on the higher end. When factoring in market depreciation to total annual cost, it falls once again in the middle of the range set by competition of $1.7-$2.0 million at around $1.8 million.
Citation III Operating Cost
Citation III direct operating cost is around $2,900 per flight hour. This rate includes fuel burn and various maintenance, crew, and operating fees. The Lear 55 and Hawker 800 have the same hourly rates.
Annual fixed cost for the Citation III is between that of its two rivals at around $515,000-$520,000.
Citation III Performance Overview
The Citation III is a top-selling midsize business jet for a reason. It offers ample cabin space, respectable range, and quality operational performance all for relatively cheap prices. Flyers looking into aircraft for sale will find this jet to be an ideal combination of all aspects.
Citation III Engines
The Citation III is equipped with two Honeywell TFE 731-3B powerplants with standard thrust reversers and 3,650lbs of thrust. The Citation III has a max cruise speed of 465kts, faster than the Hawker 800 by roughly 20kts and slower than the Lear 55 by 25kts.
The aircraft can land and takeoff in the following field lengths:
- FAR-91: 2,525ft
- FAR-135: 3,156ft
- FAR-121: 4,208ft
Citation III Payload
Max payload for the Citation III is 1,600lbs, and it can transport that capacity nearly 1,750nm. The Lear 55 and Hawker 800 both are able to carry more weight for longer distances.
Citation III Range
At long-range cruise, the Citation III has a range of 1,940nm, roughly 20nm less than that of the Lear and 450nm less than that of the Hawker.
Citation III Specifications
| Citation III General Info | |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Class | Midsize Jet |
| Aircraft Manufacturer | Cessna |
| Aircraft Year of Manufacture | 1982 - 1991 |
| Citation III Financial Data | |
| Acquisition Cost | $1,594,835 - $1,949,243 |
| Variable Cost | $2,606 - $3,185/hr |
| Annual Cost | $1,536,695 - $1,878,183 |
| Fixed Cost | $51,778 - $466,000 |
| Market Depreciation | $60,000 |
| Retail Charter Rate | $2,700/hr |
| Average Charter Net | $55/hr |
| Citation III Performance Data | |
| Fuel Burn | 280 gal/hr |
| Max Cruise | 470 kts |
| 135 Landing | 3,156 ft |
| 135 Takeoff | 3,156 ft |
| 91 Landing | 2,525 ft |
| 91 Takeoff | 2,525 ft |
| 121 Landing | 4,208 ft |
| 121 Takeoff | 4,208 ft |
| Max Payload | 1,600 lbs |
| Basic Operating Weight | 13,800 lbs |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 22,000 lbs |
| Citation III Cabin Details | |
| Cabin Dimensions | 18'4" x 5'7" x 5'8" |
| Cabin Volume | 580 |
| Seat Count | 6-8 |