

Textron Aviation Citation CJ3
The CJ3 stretched the CJ2 fuselage and added a longer wing and Williams FJ44-3A engines, entering service in December 2004 with a Collins Pro Line 21 cockpit. It seats up to nine passengers, is certified for single-pilot operation and was built until 2014, when the Garmin-equipped CJ3+ replaced it.
In short: The Textron Aviation Citation CJ3 is a Light Jet with a range of 1,900 nm, a cruise speed of 416 knots and room for 6 passengers. Pre-owned examples trade around $3M–$6.5M and costs roughly $1,650 an hour to operate (estimate).
Highlights
- Single-pilot certified with up to nine seats
- Williams FJ44-3A engines of 2,820 lbf each
- Delivered from 2004 to 2014
Performance
- Range
- 1,900 nm
- Max cruise
- 416 kts
- Max Mach
- 0.737
- Max altitude
- 45,000 ft
- Takeoff distance
- 3,180 ft
- Landing distance
- 2,770 ft
- MTOW
- 13,870 lb
- Engines
- 2 × Williams FJ44-3A
- Thrust per engine
- 2,820 lbf
- Fuel burn
- 160 gal/hr
- Avionics
- Collins Pro Line 21
Cabin
- Passengers
- 6 / 9
- Cabin length
- 15.7 ft
- Cabin width
- 4.8 ft
- Cabin height
- 4.8 ft
- Cabin volume
- 277 cu ft
- Baggage
- 65 cu ft
- Min. crew
- 1
Economics
- New price
- —
- Variable cost / hr
- $1,650
- Fixed cost / yr
- $520,000
- First delivery
- 2004
- Out of production
- 2014
- Units built
- Not published
- Pre-owned range
- $3M – $6.5M
Estimates. Operating costs and pre-owned prices are modelled from industry benchmarks and updated quarterly. Data reviewed 2026-09-13. Sources & methodology.
Dimensions & weights
- Length
- 51.2 ft
- Wingspan
- 53.3 ft
- Height
- 15.2 ft
- Max fuel
- 4,710 lb
Programme milestones
- 2002-09Announced · CJ3 unveiled at NBAA convention en.wikipedia.org
- 2003-04-17First flight · CJ3 prototype first flight jetcraft.com
- 2004-10Certification · FAA type certification jetcraft.com
- 2004-12First delivery · First deliveries jetcraft.com
- 2005-06-16Milestone · EASA certification businessairnews.com
- 2014Production ended · Production ended, succeeded by CJ3+ jetcraft.com
Sources (5)
Pre-owned range & Residual value curve
Pre-owned range
$3M – $6.5M
Estimates. Operating costs and pre-owned prices are modelled from industry benchmarks and updated quarterly.
Residual value curve
Estimated value retention over 10 years from new, by category depreciation model.
Year 10: 47% ≈ $3.1M
Compare with similar private jets
Compare: Citation CJ3 vs Learjet 35A vs Learjet 45XR vs Phenom 300 →

