Business jets · Cessna (Textron Aviation)
Cessna Citation Excel / XLS C56X
The Cessna Citation Excel is a midsize business jet that pairs a shortened Citation X-style stand-up cabin with a straight wing. Its updated versions, the XLS and XLS+, share the C56X designator and remain among the most numerous midsize jets in the US.
Citation Excels airborne over the US now
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of all airborne aircraftplus — on the ground
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Citation Excels in the air over the last 24 hours
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Specifications
- ICAO code
- C56X
- First flight
- 1996
- Typical cruise
- 430 kt / 495 mph
- Service ceiling
- 45,000 ft
- Range
- 2,100 nm / 2,417 mi
- Capacity
- 7-9 passengers
- Length
- 15.8 m / 52 ft
- Wingspan
- 17.2 m / 56 ft
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545 turbofans. Family: Citation. Figures are typical published values, rounded; real performance depends on variant, weight and conditions.
What it does in US skies
The Excel family is a workhorse of fractional ownership and on-demand charter, flying typical trips of one to three hours between business airports. NetJets and charter fleets keep dozens airborne on a busy weekday, so it is one of the most common business jets you will spot on a national map.
Main US operators: NetJets, Wheels Up, Charter operators, Corporate flight departments.
How to recognize a Citation Excel
- Straight, unswept wing mounted low, unlike the swept wings of most jets its size
- Two engines on the rear fuselage with a T-shaped tail on a swept fin
- Noticeably deep, round cabin cross-section for a midsize jet
- Short nose compared with the longer Citation Latitude
How it looks on a flight tracker
Expect cruise altitudes of FL350 to FL450 and ground speeds around 380 to 460 knots. NetJets flights appear with callsigns starting EJA, while privately operated jets usually show their N-number as the callsign.
History
Cessna announced the Excel in 1994, first flew it in February 1996 and began deliveries in 1998. The XLS followed in 2004 and the XLS+ with digital engine controls in 2008, and well over 900 of the family have been built.
Where Citation Excels are right now
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What is the ICAO code for the Cessna Citation Excel / XLS?
The ICAO aircraft type designator for the Cessna Citation Excel / XLS is C56X. Flight trackers and flight plans use this four-character code.
How fast does the Citation Excel fly?
The Cessna Citation Excel / XLS typically cruises at about 430 knots true airspeed (about 495 mph). Ground speed on a tracker varies with the wind.
How high can the Citation Excel fly?
Its service ceiling is about 45,000 ft.