The Cessna Citation Sovereign Plus (or Citation Sovereign+) is the latest version of the spacious, long-range Citation Sovereign, which it replaced in 2013. The Sovereign Plus, which Business Jet Traveller calls “more refined inside for passengers and pilots” than its predecessor, brings several new improvements to the table—including upgraded engines, extended range, redesigned winglets, class-leading takeoff field length, interior improvements, and a brand-new avionics suite. This business jet redefines what a mid-size private jet can do, with its coast-to-coast range, impressive speed, and large double-club cabin.
Citation Sovereign Plus Features
Interior
The Sovereign Plus features a spacious cabin that comfortably accommodates eight, offering passengers a relaxing and seamless flight experience. The cabin measures 5.7 feet in height, 5.5 feet in width, and 25.25 feet in length, for a total cabin volume of 585 cubic feet. Passengers have in-flight access to 35 cubic feet of internal storage, while the Sovereign Plus’s heated external baggage compartment can hold 1,000 lbs. and 100 cubic feet of baggage. A rear lavatory is separated from the cabin by a pair of sliding doors, and a refreshment center/galley opposite the entry door has ample space for storing beverages and snacks.
Seating is arranged in a double club-four fashion, and the redesigned seats can swivel and recline, providing the utmost relaxation. Four executive fold-out work tables, reimagined to be sturdier and more robust than those on the Sovereign, provide generous workspace so passengers can stay productive in the air. The state-of-the-art cabin management system can be controlled from mobile devices and provides passengers with digital media, interactive live maps, and satellite radio. New LED lights keep the cabin bright, and fourteen large windows enable natural light to illuminate the interior and give those aboard a better look at the beautiful view below. Additionally, Cessna claims the reworked air conditioning system is 37 percent better at cooling.
Performance
With its outstanding range, updated engines, and impeccable runway performance, the Citation Sovereign Plus stands out above other mid-size jet class. Textron Aviation swapped out the Sovereign’s engines with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306D engines, each capable of producing 5,907 lbs. Of thrust upon takeoff. These engines burn fuel at an efficient rate of 316 gallons per hour, and power the jet to an impressive maximum cruise speed of 614 mph, with a maximum range of 3,200 nautical miles with four passengers—meaning this jet can handle transcontinental trips without stopping. The Sovereign Plus increases the Sovereign’s maximum takeoff weight by 445 lbs., lengthens the wingspan by nine feet, and carries even more fuel.
Another area the Citation Sovereign Plus has improved upon its predecessor is in takeoff and landing field length capability. The jet can take off in just 3,530 feet and land in just 2,114 feet, placing a broader range of destinations at your fingertips. With a maximum ceiling of 47,000 feet, the jet fly comfortably above and avoid most other air traffic.
Avionics
Compared to the original Citation Sovereign, the Citation Sovereign Plus has a more advanced flight deck—its user-friendly, all-glass cockpit comes equipped with the newer Garmin G5000 avionics system, with information spread across three 14-inch flat-panel displays. This avionics suite boasts a variety of features to boost situational awareness, including Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology, detailed moving map imagery, touch-screen control panels, a fully-integrated hands-free autothrottle, transponders with ADS-B Out capability, electronic charts, and air traffic surveillance.
