Cessna's reluctance to call the Mustang a VLJ is based partly on its close association with the legacy Citation market and a tacit
acknowledgement that the projected direct operating costs of the aircraft will suit traditional owner-operators rather than air-taxi
companies.
Up to 29 April, Cessna had put 11.5h on the clock over six flights, but progress was slowed by unseasonably heavy rain and low ceiling. "We have
not lost flights due to any failures," says Carr. "This prototype we believe to be the best and most complete we've ever made, and the length of
the first flight gave us an idea of that."
The third conforming Eclipse 500 (N504EA) made its maiden flight on 21 April, one week after the second aircraft (N502EA) joined the test
programme. Up until then, the effort had rested on the first conforming aircraft (N503EA), which flew for the first time on 31 December
2004.
