With the redesigned CJ1 private jet, famous for its low operating costs and high performance, the CJ2 was born, a bigger, faster and better jet. The cabin was enlarged an extra 33 inches, the wingspan stretched an additional 35. The cruise speed passes the CJ by 30 knots with reduced fuel burn. Previous models used a straight wing which delivers a slower speed but lowers the production costs. The transition to a new wing proved to be more challenging than expected.
The Citation Jet upgraded to a natural laminar flow wing which ultimately took Cessna and NASA four years to design. This wing reduces the onset of airflow separation, which improves the lift-to-drag characteristics 10-15 % when compared to the previous straight-wing designs. The CJ2 is fuel-efficient, with an average usage of 140 gallons per hour.
It uses two Williams/Rolls-Royce FJ44-2C turbofan engines each of which delivers 2,400 lbs. of thrust on takeoff. It takes 17 minutes to climb to 37,000 feet. Its high speed cruise is 407 knots.