Print edition: 
Cessna Aircraft has developed a new use for its Citation Mustang business jet — medical transportation.
The announcement was made Monday, the opening day of the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual week-long air show in Oshkosh, Wis., AirVenture 2010.
Hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts are expected. Last year's show attracted 578,000 attendees, 750 exhibitors and 10,000 airplanes. The show runs through Sunday.
The version of the plane will have a new folding front seat and a railing system to load a patient into the airplane.
Spectrum Aeromed in Fargo, N.D., developed the medical interior and patient loading system.
The first delivery will be made to Jet Budget, a Caribbean charter operator.
"The operating economics of the Mustang, its range and performance, combined with the Spectrum Aeromed interior will make this a popular addition to the medical transport community," Scott Sarver, Cessna manager of special mission sales, said in a statement.
Besides converting the Mustang for medical transport missions, the company also announced a new luxury edition of the Mustang, called the High Sierra Edition.
It features a special paint scheme, a Garmin G1000 avionics with synthetic vision technology, electronic charts, locking fuel caps and special service and parts programs.
The company also introduced a "Mustang Ease into the Saddle" program to help customers transition from single-engine or turboprop aircraft to a business jet.
In the program, Cessna corporate pilots will act as a "coach" to familiarize customers with normal operations and procedures before they receive training at FlightSafety.
Cessna has delivered more than 300 Mustangs, which list more than $3 million.
Cessna also announced that it is working with Bye Energy to develop an electric-powered proof-of-concept 172 Skyhawk.
As the company looks at alternative fuels for general aviation aircraft, the electric power plant offers significant benefits, but there are also challenges, Cessna CEO Jack Pelton said in a statement.
"We believe Bye Energy has gotten off to a good start in understanding those challenges," he said.
First flight of an electric-powered plane is expected by the end of the year, the company said.
Hawker Beechcraft also is exhibiting at the show with a variety of products.
It's highlighting its 50th anniversary Baron G58, Bonanza G36, three King Air products and the Premier IA.
Garmin announced a Garmin G1000 avionics upgrade for the King Air 2000 and other software enhancements.
Belite Aviation and Belite Electronics in Wichita said they plan to announce new models of the ultralight aircraft and new editions to its line of avionics.
