Textron Aviation launched its new flagship model, the 12-passenger Citation Hemisphere at the NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) Convention, held in Las Vegas from November 17 to 19. The Hemisphere will compete with large-cabin long-range aircraft and the prototype is scheduled to fly in 2019. It will have a range of 4,500nm (8,334km), a cruise speed of Mach 0.9 and a cabin width of 8ft 6in (2.6m). The Hemisphere takes the place of Cessna's cancelled Columbus project, which had less range and speed and a smaller cabin. Textron displayed a fully-fitted ground-test example of the super-midsize Citation Longitude at the NBAA, which fits between the Citation Latitude and the Hemisphere. With a range of 3,400nm, it is due to make its first flight in 2016 and be in service in 2017 Textron had intended it to be powered by Snecma Silvercrest engines, but it will now have two Honeywell HTF7700L turbofans.
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