Cessna aircraft types

Cessna 208 Caravan

Caravan

A single turboprop in a long nose, wing on top with a strut, fixed landing gear and often a cargo pod under the belly: the Cessna 208 Caravan is freighter, feeder, jump plane and floatplane in one. Here is how to recognize it and its variants.

Cessna Citation CJ3/CJ3+

Model 525B

Straight wing, T-tail, two Williams engines on the rear fuselage: since 2004 the Citation CJ3 has been one of the standard light jets on every business aviation apron. Here is how to recognize it and tell it apart from the CJ2, CJ4 and Phenom 300.

Cessna Citation CJ4

Model 525C

Slightly swept wing, T-tail, two powerful Williams engines on the rear fuselage: the Citation CJ4 is the largest member of the CitationJet family. Here is how to recognize it and reliably tell it apart from the CJ3, Phenom 300 and others.

Cessna Citation Excel/XLS

Cessna 560XL

Straight wing, cruciform tail, standing height in the cabin: the Citation Excel and its XLS successors are among the most-built midsize jets ever. In Europe you often meet them with a Portuguese registration at NetJets Europe.

Cessna Citation Latitude

Model 680A

Round, tall fuselage, the Sovereign’s swept wing and a cabin floor with no dropped aisle: since 2015 the Citation Latitude has been one of the midsize jets you see most often at business aviation airports. Here is how to recognize it and tell it apart from the Sovereign, Longitude and XLS.

Cessna Citation Longitude

Model 700

Latitude fuselage, but stretched, plus a T-tail and a strongly swept wing: the Citation Longitude is Cessna’s super-midsize jet. Here is how to recognize it and reliably tell it apart from the Latitude, Challenger 350, G280 and Praetor 600.

Cessna Citation Mustang

Cessna 510

The smallest jet ever to wear the Citation logo: in 2006 the Mustang brought Cessna into the very light jet class. It is no longer built, but it is a regular guest on business aviation aprons in Europe.

Cessna Citation Sovereign/Sovereign+

Model 680

Swept wing, cruciform tail, long slim fuselage: from 2004 to 2021 the Citation Sovereign was Cessna’s midsize jet between the Excel and the Citation X. Here is how to recognize it and tell it apart from the XLS and Latitude.

Cessna Citation X

Cessna 750

Strongly swept wing, T-tail, huge engine nacelles on the rear fuselage: for years the Citation X was the fastest civilian production aircraft after Concorde. It is no longer built, but the 300-plus jets keep flying – and are a rewarding catch at business aviation airports.

Cessna 150

Reims-Cessna F150

Small, two seats, wing on top with a strut: the Cessna 150 has trained generations of pilots. Here is how to recognize it, its model years and the Reims F150s built in France.

Cessna 152

C152

Two seats, wing on top, strut, fixed nose wheel: the Cessna 152 is one of the best-known trainers in the world. Here is how to recognize it, tell it from the 150 and find it at the airfield.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk

Skyhawk

High-wing, one strut per wing, fixed landing gear and a two-blade propeller: the Cessna 172 is the most-built aircraft in the world. Here is how to recognize it and its variants with confidence.

Cessna 182 Skylane

Skylane

Looks like a Cessna 172, but is bigger, heavier and considerably more powerful: the Cessna 182 Skylane is a touring aircraft, a jump plane for skydivers and a workhorse at small airfields. Here is how to recognize it with confidence.