The first owner of a Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 has been revealed, as Textron’s newest private jet has entered service following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification in October 2025.
On January 8, 2026, Cessna’s owner Textron Aviation announced that longtime Citation owners Dave Mecartney and Shannon Day had taken ownership of their brand-new aircraft earlier in the week.
Mecartney, who is a member of Textron Aviation’s Customer Advisory Board, has flown Citation light jets for almost two decades and helped shape some of the enhancements of the CJ3 Gen2.
“After extensive consideration of the competition, there was no equal for handling, service and support, training and reliability in the entry level jet category than the CJ3 Gen2,” said Day. “When we decided to upgrade our mission capabilities, staying in the Citation family was an easy decision. The CJ3 Gen2 is a great next step in my aviation journey and I’m looking forward to the advances in this aircraft.”
According to Textron, key upgrades to the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 include Garmin autothrottle technology, an extra 4.5 inches of legroom for the pilot and a fully customizable cabin environment.
The aircraft also includes seating for up to 10 occupants and, for added convenience, an externally serviceable lavatory.
“The Citation CJ3 Gen2 delivers an unmatched experience from day one—thanks to its exceptional range, payload and efficiency, combined with new productivity and comfort features,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing.
Textron highlighted that the new Citation jet design was heavily based on feedback from owners, pilots and mechanics, with their input helping to shape the aircraft “from cockpit to cabin”.
The integrated Garmin G3000 software and hardware includes autothrottle tech to reduce pilot workload and provide flight-envelope protection and an intuitive touchscreen interface, via Garmin Touchscreen Controllers.
The aircraft has a maximum range of 2,040 nautical miles (3,778 kilometers) and a payload of up to 2,135 lbs.
Now that you’ve arrived, it’s time to set your sights on new horizons.
✈️: Citation CJ3 Gen2#FlyCessna #cessna #aviation #bizjet pic.twitter.com/yWz1i8THFq
— Cessna (@Cessna) November 7, 2023
“As a Cessna Citation owner since 2007, the brand has consistently earned my trust with a proven heritage, superior reliability and one of the strongest service and support networks in the industry,” Mecartney added. “The aftermarket support has always been responsive, efficient and predictable—which is invaluable as an owner-pilot. Choosing the CJ3 Gen2 felt like a natural continuation of a relationship and an aircraft lineage that I’ve relied on for nearly two decades.”
The introduction of the Citation CJ3 Gen2 follows the entry into service of Textron’s Cessna Citation Ascend in December 2025.
