Cessna has announced the successful first flight of the Citation Longitude super-midsize jet. The flight, which took place on 8th October, comes just 11 months after the Longitude was unveiled.

The Longitude took off from the company’s east campus Beech Field Airport, piloted by experimental test pilots Ed Wenninger and Stuart Rogerson. During the 2hr 2min flight, the team tested the aircraft’s flaps, landing gear, pressurization systems, stability and control.

The prototype aircraft will continue to expand the performance envelope, focusing on testing flight controls and aerodynamics, while the first production model, set to fly in the coming weeks, will be primarily used for systems testing.

The Longitude is claimed to offer the lowest ownership costs in its class. It is equipped with the next evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck and is powered by FADEC-equipped Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines. It features a full fuel payload of 1,500 pounds, a maximum cruise speed of 476 knots and a high-speed range of 3,400 nautical miles.