Cessna's Citation M2 makes first flight

Cessna’s Citation M2,  a new light business jet, made its first flight Friday, the company said.

The flight lasted more than an hour and included tests on the avionics system, autopilot, engine system, aircraft systems and instrument approaches.

The performance, handling characteristics and avionics were “exceptional, just as we anticipated,” Peter Fisher, Cessna’s engineering test pilot  who flew the plane, said in a statement.

The $4.195 million M2 is a light jet that fills the gap between the company’s Citation Mustang and the Citation CJ family. It will have room for two crew and up to six passengers.

Certification is expected in the first half of 2013, followed by deliveries in the second half of the year.

This story was originally published March 13, 2012 at 6:56 AM with the headline "Cessna's Citation M2 makes first flight."