Very Light Jet (VLJ) - Legacy Production
Cessna Citation Mustang (Model 510): Complete Specs, Performance, and Buyer's Guide (2026)
Textron Aviation (Cessna)
Cessna Citation Mustang (Model 510): Complete Specs, Performance, and Buyer's Guide (2026)
The Cessna Citation Mustang (Model 510), produced from 2006 to 2017, holds the distinction of being the first Very Light Jet certified by the FAA and the smallest Citation ever built. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F turbofans producing 1,460 lbf each, the Mustang delivers 1,150 nautical miles of range, 340 ktas maximum cruise, and a 41,000 ft service ceiling with single-pilot certification and the proven Garmin G1000 avionics suite. A total of 479 Mustangs were built before production ended in 2017, with virtually the entire fleet still in service today. Pre-owned: $1.5 to $2 million.
For owner-pilots wanting the most-attainable jet on the market, the Citation Mustang remains an outstanding value proposition.
Citation Mustang Specifications at a Glance
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Very Light Jet (VLJ) - Legacy Production |
| Production Status | Discontinued May 2017 |
| Mustang Concept Announced | 2002 NBAA Convention |
| First Flight | April 18, 2005 |
| FAA Type Certification | September 8, 2006 (first VLJ certified) |
| First Delivery | November 2006 |
| Total Units Built | 479 |
| Replaced By | Citation M2 (took over entry-level role May 2017) |
| Crew | 1 pilot (single-pilot certified) |
| Passengers (Standard) | 4 in club configuration |
| Passengers (Max) | 5 |
| Max Range (NBAA IFR) | 1,150 nm |
| Max Cruise Speed | 340 ktas |
| Long-Range Cruise | 320 ktas |
| Max Operating Altitude | 41,000 ft |
| Engines | 2× Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F |
| Thrust per Engine | 1,460 lbf (2,920 lbf total) |
| Avionics | Garmin G1000 |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 8,645 lbs |
| Empty Weight | 5,560 lbs |
| Useful Load | 3,130 lbs |
| Fuel Capacity | 387 US gallons (2,580 lbs) |
| Payload With Full Fuel | 550 lbs |
| Cabin Length | 9 ft 9 in |
| Cabin Width | 4.58 ft (55 in) |
| Cabin Height | 4.50 ft (54 in) |
| Cabin Volume | 163 cubic ft |
| Total Baggage Volume | 63 cubic ft |
| Original Price (peak) | $3,300,000 |
| Pre-Owned Price (2025) | $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 |
History as the First Certified VLJ
The Citation Mustang holds a unique place in business aviation history: it was the first Very Light Jet to receive FAA certification, beating the Eclipse 500 and Phenom 100 to market.
Development timeline:
- 2002 NBAA Convention: Mustang concept unveiled
- April 18, 2005: First flight
- September 8, 2006: FAA type certification (first VLJ certified)
- November 2006: First customer delivery
- May 2017: Production ended after 479 units due to declining demand and the launch of the larger Citation M2
The Mustang's primary mission was to bring jet ownership to high-end piston twin operators and step-up turboprop pilots at an attainable price point.
Exterior Dimensions and Airframe
The Citation Mustang is built with aluminum alloy construction, swept low-wings, a T-tail empennage, and retractable tricycle landing gear. Cessna manufactured the Mustang at the Independence, Kansas production facility.
| Exterior Dimension | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 40 ft 7 in |
| Wingspan | 43 ft 2 in |
| Height | 13 ft 5 in |
Cabin Interior and Passenger Experience
The Mustang's cabin is the smallest in the Citation family but features a clever dropped aisle design that maximizes usable space within the compact fuselage.
Cabin Dimensions
| Cabin Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Cabin Length | 9 ft 9 in |
| Cabin Width | 4.58 ft (55 inches) |
| Cabin Height | 4.50 ft (54 inches) |
| Cabin Volume | 163 cubic ft |
Seating Configurations
The Mustang's standard configuration accommodates 4 passengers in club seating:
- Standard 4-Seat Club: Two facing pairs
- 5-Seat Maximum: With belted lavatory seat
The cabin is genuinely tight with four adults and full luggage; the Mustang is best suited to two-to-three passenger missions for comfort.
Cabin Features
- All-leather reclinable club seating: Standard
- Dropped aisle: Creates additional perceived headroom
- Six oval cabin windows: Generous natural light
- Toilet (basic, not enclosed): Standard
- In-cabin storage: 6 cubic feet additional
Baggage Capacity
The Citation Mustang provides 63 cubic feet of total baggage capacity:
- Nose baggage compartment: Approximately 30 cubic feet
- Tail baggage compartment: Approximately 27 cubic feet
- In-cabin storage: 6 cubic feet (accessible during flight)
Performance Specifications
Speed and Range
| Performance Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Max Cruise Speed | 340 ktas (the slowest VLJ in production) |
| Long-Range Cruise | 320 ktas |
| Range (advertised maximum) | 1,150 nm |
| Realistic Range (4 pax) | 700 to 900 nm (with full cabin) |
| Service Ceiling | 41,000 ft |
The Mustang's range and cruise speed are meaningfully lower than competitors like the Phenom 100 (1,178 nm at 390 ktas) and original Citation M2 (1,550 nm at 404 ktas). For realistic mission planning, plan 700 to 900 nm with four passengers and bags.
Runway Performance
| Field Performance | Value |
|---|---|
| Balanced Field Length | 3,110 ft |
| Landing Distance | 2,380 ft |
Typical Mission Examples
The Mustang is best suited to short regional missions:
- Chicago to St. Louis (218 nm)
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas (200 nm)
- New York to Boston (160 nm)
- London to Paris (185 nm)
- Houston to Dallas (210 nm)
For full 4-passenger missions, plan within 700 nm for comfortable reserves.
Engines and Systems
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F turbofans power the Citation Mustang, each producing 1,460 lbf of thrust (2,920 lbf total). The PW615F is among the smallest turbofan engines in business aviation.
Systems highlights:
- FADEC: Full Authority Digital Engine Control
- Speed brakes: Standard
- Landing gear extendable to 250 KIAS: Useful for high-speed descents
- Anti-skid braking: Standard
- Wing anti-ice: Standard
- Pressurized cabin: Standard
Avionics and Flight Deck
The Citation Mustang features the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, a familiar platform to pilots transitioning from high-performance piston aircraft (Cirrus SR22, Beechcraft Bonanza G36, etc.).
Standard avionics features:
- Three primary G1000 displays: Standard
- Synthetic Vision: Available retrofit
- Weather radar: Standard
- TCAS I: Standard
- WAAS/LPV-capable: Standard
- ADS-B Out: Standard or available retrofit
- Integrated autopilot: Standard
The G1000 is one of the most-flown avionics platforms in general aviation, with a vast pilot pool already familiar with its operation.
Operating Costs and Economics
Direct Operating Cost Breakdown
| Cost Item | Per Hour |
|---|---|
| Fuel (approximately 95 gph) | $570 to $760 |
| Engine Reserve | $200 |
| Airframe Maintenance | $250 |
| Misc Variable | $150 |
| Total Variable Cost | ~$1,170 to $1,360/hr |
Annual Fixed Cost Estimates (200 hours per year, owner-flown)
| Cost Item | Annual |
|---|---|
| Hangar | $25,000 to $35,000 |
| Insurance | $12,000 to $20,000 |
| Recurrent Training | $15,000 |
| Subscriptions, Connectivity | $8,000 |
| Total Annual Fixed | ~$120,000 to $160,000 |
Total annual budget at 200 owner-flown hours: $350,000 to $450,000.
Charter Rates
Citation Mustang charter rates run $3,000 to $3,500 per flight hour.
Pricing: Pre-Owned Market
| Year Range | Price Range |
|---|---|
| 2015 to 2017 Mustang | $1,800,000 to $2,000,000 |
| 2010 to 2014 Mustang | $1,600,000 to $1,900,000 |
| 2006 to 2009 Mustang | $1,400,000 to $1,700,000 |
The Mustang represents one of the lowest entry points into jet ownership at current pre-owned pricing.
Mission Profile: Who Should Buy a Citation Mustang?
Best fit profiles:
- Owner-Pilots Transitioning From Cirrus or High-Performance Piston: Garmin G1000 familiarity, manageable handling
- Short-Haul Regional Operators: 200 to 800 nm typical missions
- Value-Focused First-Time Jet Buyers: Lowest entry into jet ownership
- Operators With Existing G1000 Pilot Pool: No new avionics training required
Less suited if:
- You need long-range missions (1,000+ nm with bags)
- You routinely fly with 4 adult passengers plus bags (tight)
- You want modern Garmin G3000 touchscreen avionics
- You require fast cruise speeds (Mustang is the slowest VLJ)
Citation Mustang vs. Original Citation M2
| Feature | Mustang (2006-2017) | Citation M2 (Original, 2013-2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | PW615F (1,460 lbf) | Williams FJ44-1AP-21 (1,965 lbf) |
| Range | 1,150 nm advertised | 1,550 nm NBAA IFR |
| Max Cruise | 340 ktas | 404 ktas |
| Passengers | 4 standard | 6 standard |
| Avionics | Garmin G1000 | Garmin G3000 (touchscreen) |
| Cabin Volume | 163 cu ft | 240 cu ft |
| Pre-Owned Price | $1.5M to $2M | $3.5M to $4.5M |
The Mustang and M2 are both Cessna 525 series single-pilot jets, but the M2 is essentially a different aircraft with substantially more range, speed, cabin, and passenger capacity. The Mustang's value proposition is acquisition price; the M2's is mission capability.
Pros and Cons
What the Citation Mustang Does Well
- First VLJ certified by FAA (proven platform)
- Lowest entry price into modern jet ownership
- Garmin G1000 familiarity for piston-twin step-up pilots
- 479 in-service fleet for strong support and parts availability
- Single-pilot certified with forgiving handling
- 41,000 ft service ceiling for weather avoidance
- Strong dispatch reliability
Tradeoffs to Understand
- Smallest cabin in the VLJ class
- Slowest cruise speed (340 ktas vs. 400+ for competitors)
- Realistic range with 4 pax is well under advertised 1,150 nm
- Discontinued in 2017 (no new aircraft available)
- Tight cabin for 4 adults with bags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Citation Mustang still in production?
No. Production of the Citation Mustang ended in May 2017 after 479 units. Cessna replaced it with the larger Citation M2. All acquisitions are pre-owned, but Textron Aviation continues to provide parts and service support.
How far can a Citation Mustang fly?
The Citation Mustang has a maximum advertised range of 1,150 nautical miles. Realistic mission planning with four passengers should account for 700 to 900 nm to maintain safe NBAA IFR reserves.
How many passengers does the Mustang carry?
The Mustang standard configuration seats four passengers. Maximum certified capacity is five occupants with a belted lavatory seat.
Is the Citation Mustang single-pilot certified?
Yes. The Citation Mustang is certified for single-pilot operation, making it popular among owner-operators stepping up from piston aircraft.
What is the first VLJ ever certified?
The Citation Mustang was the first Very Light Jet certified by the FAA, receiving full type certification on September 8, 2006. It beat the Eclipse 500 and Embraer Phenom 100 to market.
What does it cost to charter a Citation Mustang?
Charter rates for the Citation Mustang typically run $3,000 to $3,500 per flight hour.
How much does a Mustang cost to operate per year?
A typical owner flying 200 hours per year should budget $350,000 to $450,000 annually.
What engines power the Citation Mustang?
The Citation Mustang is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F turbofan engines, each producing 1,460 lbf of thrust.
The Bottom Line
The Cessna Citation Mustang holds a special place in business aviation as the first certified Very Light Jet and the most-attainable Citation ever built. At current pre-owned pricing under $2 million, the Mustang remains the lowest-priced entry into modern jet ownership. The tradeoffs are real: smallest cabin in the VLJ class, slowest cruise, and tight payload-range performance. But for owner-pilots making the jump from piston twins to jets on a budget, the Mustang has been the gateway aircraft for nearly two decades.
Quantum Jets supports the platform across private jet charter, private jet rental, private jet card programs, aircraft purchase, jet purchase, jet sales, aircraft sales, aircraft management, jet management, private jet management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft refurbishment, fractional jet access, aircraft lease, and aircraft leasing structures.
Talk to a Quantum Jets broker for current Citation Mustang market intelligence, pre-buy diligence with attention to engine program enrollment and G1000 currency, or for advisory on whether the Mustang or the larger Citation M2 better fits your mission profile.
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Related Aircraft Guides:
- Cessna Citation M2 (Original): Larger Step-Up
- Cessna Citation M2 Gen2: Current-Production Successor
- Embraer Phenom 100 (Original): Direct VLJ Competitor
- Eclipse 500: Direct VLJ Competitor (Legacy)
Specifications and pricing accurate as of 2026. Production of the Citation Mustang ended in May 2017; all acquisitions are pre-owned. All performance figures based on standard atmospheric conditions and NBAA IFR fuel reserves unless otherwise noted.