Summary

  • With production of the Citation Mustang ending, there are plenty available on the second-hand market at varying price points.
  • Annual costs for owning and operating a Mustang can add up to over half a million dollars, including fixed and operating costs.
  • If owning a private jet is out of reach, chartering a Citation Mustang for special occasions is an affordable alternative.

The Cessna 510 Citation Mustang is approaching two decades of service since its introduction in 2006. While production of the popular very light jet (VLJ) may have ended already, a total of 479 planes were built, which means there will always be a chance to find one on the second-hand market. And if you don’t have the bank balance to buy your own one outright, there’s always charter flying.

The jet proved very popular during its run by offering an affordable entry to the private jet game. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW615F engines, the Mustang was a trusty and reliable bird to operate and also featured perks like state-of-the-art landing and braking systems for its day.

How much does a Cessna Citation Mustang cost?

When it was still being sold fresh out of the factory, a Citation Mustang would start at around $3 million base price, with the cost rising depending on options. However, you won’t be able to buy a brand-new Mustang anymore since Cessna concluded production in 2017 – according to FlyRadius, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1.9 million to $2.8 million depending on the aircraft’s condition, mileage, production year and upgrades.

Cessna 510 Citation Mustang light business jet airplane G-RNER on approach to land.

Photo: Ryan Fletcher | Shutterstock

As to be expected, newer models will be a bit pricier, with AvBuyer stating the price of a 2013-to-2017 production Mustang between $2.3 million and $3.2 million. A glance at an aircraft trading website shows a 2008 Citation Mustang with around 2,000 flight hours going for $1.85 million, so they can be bought for even cheaper than the aforementioned $1.9 million lower range.

Similarly, a 2013 airframe with over 2,700 hours is listed on GlobalAir for the same price of $1.85 million. Cessna sold over half of all produced Mustangs to North American customers, so it is in the US and Canada that you can expect to find one for sale more easily.

Operating costs for the Citation Mustang

Owning even the smallest private jet comes with a sizable financial responsibility in both fixed annual costs and operating costs, and this is no different for the Mustang. On top of buying the aircraft, owners will be looking at at least half a million dollars in fixed and operating costs each year to fly it.

lobeAir at Hamburg Airport (EDDH|HAM) with a Cessna 510 Citation Mustang

Photo: Kevin Hackert | Shutterstock

Annual fixed costs

Fixed annual costs are what is needed just to maintain and keep a private jet operational, including factors such as management costs, parking fees, crew salary and insurance. According to ComparePrivatePlanes, the annual cost of owning and maintaining a Cessna Citation Mustang is around $230,000. This is broken down into:

  • Crew Salary: $115,089
  • Crew Training: $13,140
  • Hangar: $19,967
  • Insurance: $23,909
  • Management: $48,000
  • Miscellaneous Fixed: $10,044

Operating costs

Unlike fixed costs, operating costs are determined by how often the aircraft flies. This entails factors such as fuel, maintenance, crew costs, and landing fees. LibertyJet has estimated the operating cost of flying a Mustang at $1,300 per hour based on 200 annual flying hours. This means operators flying their private Mustangs for 200 hours each year would be shelling out around $275,000.

A private Cessna 510 Citation Mustang (OE-FWF) on finals for runway 31

Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock

Of course, the more you fly the jet, the more often you are going to need maintenance work and engine overhauls, which will add to your bill. In total, flying a Cessna Citation Mustang for an average of 200 hours each year will cost owners over $500,000 when fixed and variable costs are taken into account.

Related

5 Reasons Pilots Love Cessna’s Smallest Jet: The Citation Mustang

The aircraft provides a variety of unique benefits for pilots.

How about charter costs?

If you don’t have a spare couple of million dollars in the bank, chartering a Citation Mustang is very reasonable for special occasions. When compared to its VLJ competition, the Citation Mustang stacks up well in terms of cost, with an estimated hourly charter price of $2,900 per Paramount Business Jets. This is slightly more expensive than aircraft like the Cirrus Vision Jet or the Eclipse 550 but more affordable than a HondaJet HA-420.

About the Mustang

The Cessna Citation Mustang has been in service for almost 18 years but has been in development since the turn of the millennia. The twin-engine, very light jet is an attractive option for first-time private jet owners, given its price range and ease of operation – it can also be flown by a single pilot and seats up to five passengers. The flight deck is equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, while Cessna’s renowned reliability and extensive support network make the Mustang convenient to maintain too.

Related

Small Citation Jet: A Guide To The Cessna Citation Mustang’s Range

The small business jet could fly for over 1,250 miles.

Engines

2x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F turbofans

Maximum Cruise Speed

340 knots (630 km/h)

Maximum Range

1,200 nautical miles (2,222 km)

Length

40 ft 7 in (12.37 m)

Wingspan

43 ft 2 in (13.16 m)

Height

13 ft 5 in (4.09 m)

Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)

8,645 lbs (3,922 kg)

Service Ceiling

41,000 ft (12,497 m)

After announcing the aircraft in 2002, Cessna built 479 Citation Mustangs during its production run between 2006 and 2017. It would eventually be replaced by the Cessna Citation M2, which entered service in 2013 – this upgraded jet offers considerable improvements in speed (404 knots) and range (1,500 nautical miles), as well as the more advanced Garmin G3000 avionics suite and an improved cabin. Following the introduction of the M2, Citation Mustang sales declined rapidly, with the company selling only 24 more airframes before its production run ended.

Have you ever flown in a Cessna Citation Mustang? Let us know your stories in the comment section!

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