Light Jets
Cessna Citation V
A two-pilot light jet built from 1989 to 1994, typically seating seven, with a 427 knot cruise and a 45,000 foot certified ceiling.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Specifications checked against manufacturer and type certificate data · Last updated 14 September 2026
At a glance
Cessna Citation V specifications
Figures from the EASA type certificate and AOPA Pilot; Cessna no longer publishes a Citation V specification. Range is the published maximum; with every seat filled and full IFR reserves it is closer to 1,220 NM.
Where it fits
A two-pilot light jet with legroom to spare
The Citation V is Cessna's Model 560, built from 1989 to 1994. Cessna no longer publishes a specification for it, so the figures in this guide come from the EASA type certificate, AOPA Pilot and Business Jet Traveler, and we name the source where they disagree.
AOPA Pilot lists a maximum range of 1,920 NM without stating reserves. Business Jet Traveler gives 1,220 NM with every passenger seat filled on NBAA IFR reserves, and that is the figure the desk plans a full cabin around. Cruise is 427 knots by AOPA Pilot's figure.
It is about 20 inches longer than the Citation II, with seven cabin windows a side, and AOPA reported that the extra length went into legroom rather than extra seats. The type certificate requires two pilots. The Citation Ultra followed in 1994, then the Encore and Encore+ on the same certificate.
Anyone who needs to stand, or a full cabin on sectors beyond 1,220 NM, the range Business Jet Traveler gives with every seat filled. The cabin is 4 feet 10 inches tall. For a stand-up cabin on similar routes, the Citation XLS is the better tool.
Missions
What the desk books it for
Dallas to Los Angeles
1,081 NM in one leg, inside even the full-seat range Business Jet Traveler publishes. The desk plans the westbound headwind before it quotes.
Alps to the Aegean
Zurich to Mykonos is 954 NM, one leg for a party of seven with the legroom the Citation V's longer cabin was built for.
Across Arabia
Dubai to Jeddah (917 NM) sits inside its full-seat range, with permits filed alongside the trip.
London to the Costa del Sol
London to Marbella is 891 NM, a single sector with a two-pilot crew and a cabin laid out for legroom rather than extra seats.
Where it flies
Routes the desk flies on the Citation V
Sectors from our route guides that sit inside the Citation V's full-seat range as Business Jet Traveler publishes it. Each opens to the flight time, the airports at both ends and what to know before you fly.
Cabin and baggage
A seated cabin built for legroom
Business Jet Traveler gives the cabin as 17 feet 4 inches long, 4 feet 10 inches wide and 4 feet 10 inches tall, without stating whether the length includes the cockpit. Passengers sit rather than stand. The EASA type certificate allows up to eleven passengers, AOPA Pilot lists eight passenger seats, and seven is typical.
The extra length over the Citation II went into legroom, with seven windows a side, so the seats are spaced rather than packed.
We do not publish a baggage volume or lavatory layout for the Citation V, because neither is confirmed by a primary source. Tell the desk what you are bringing and whether a lavatory matters, and it will confirm both on the specific aircraft before it quotes.
Performance and airports
Runways, altitude and the airports it opens
AOPA Pilot gives a balanced field length of 3,160 feet, presumed at the 15,900 lb maximum takeoff weight, while Business Jet Traveler lists 3,560 feet, so the desk checks runway length for the specific aircraft. The EASA type certificate gives a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet and a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.75.
Those figures suit executive airports on the routes the desk flies, including Teterboro, Dallas Love Field and Farnborough.
High and hot fields change the answer. At Aspen, the runway length available on the day depends on elevation, temperature and weight, and London City requires a type and crew approved for its steep approach. The desk checks both for the specific aircraft before a quote goes out.
Compare the class
Citation V against the other light jets
How the Citation V lines up against the other light aircraft we cover. The Phenom 300 publishes a longer range and a faster cruise, the Hawker 400XP cruises faster, and the Citation XLS has a stand-up cabin; the Citation V's case is a seven-seat cabin with legroom and a two-pilot crew by certification.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range | Cruise | Cabin height | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain | Up to 9 | n/a | 205 kts | n/a | n/a |
| Hawker 400XP | 7 to 9 | 1,464 NM | 450 kts | 4 ft 9 in | 46 cu ft |
| Beechcraft King Air B200 and 350i | 8 to 9 | 1,535 NM | 312 kts | 4 ft 9 in | 71 cu ft |
| Cessna Citation XLS | 8 to 12 | 1,539 NM | 433 kts | 5 ft 8 in | 80 cu ft |
| Cessna Citation VThis aircraft | 7 to 11 | 1,920 NM | 427 kts | 4 ft 10 in | n/a |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 6 to 10 | 2,010 NM | 464 kts | 4 ft 11 in | 84 cu ft |
Chartering with Icarus Jet
How we charter the Citation V
We source Citation Vs from ARGUS-audited and Wyvern-certified operators, and the operator's name and audit status are on the quote. Because the published figures for this type vary by source, the desk checks range, runway and baggage against the specific aircraft, your real routing and your real party before it checks availability.
Quotes are all-in and itemised: aircraft and crew, positioning, landing and handling, fuel and taxes, with nothing added after the flight that was not on the page. The figure depends on where the nearest suitable aircraft is based, the dates and the airports, which is why we price your actual trip rather than publish a rate.
Questions
Citation V questions the desk gets
How far can a Citation V fly nonstop?
Sources differ. AOPA Pilot lists a maximum range of 1,920 NM without stating reserves, while Business Jet Traveler gives 1,220 NM with every passenger seat filled on NBAA IFR reserves with a 200 NM alternate. The desk plans full cabins around the lower figure and checks each leg against winds, temperature and weight.
How many passengers does a Citation V seat?
Seven is typical. AOPA Pilot lists eight passenger seats, and the EASA type certificate allows up to eleven. The desk confirms the layout of the specific aircraft before it quotes.
Can you stand up in the cabin?
No. The cabin is 4 feet 10 inches tall and 4 feet 10 inches wide, so passengers sit for the flight. If standing room matters, the desk will quote a Citation XLS alongside it.
How much luggage fits on a Citation V?
No primary source confirms the Citation V's baggage volume, so we do not publish one. Tell the desk how many bags you have, and whether there are golf bags or skis, and it will confirm the hold on the specific aircraft before it is offered.
Does the Citation V need two pilots?
Yes. The type certificate requires two pilots for all flights. AOPA reported the type was eligible for single-pilot operation under an FAA exemption, but the certificate itself requires two.
What is the difference between the Citation V, Ultra and Encore?
They share the Model 560 type certificate. The Citation V was built from 1989 to 1994 with JT15D-5A engines, the Citation Ultra followed in 1994 with JT15D-5D engines, and the Encore (certified 2000) and Encore+ (certified 2006) moved to Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535 engines.
How fast is the Citation V?
AOPA Pilot gives a maximum cruise of 427 knots, and its 1992 report quotes 425 knots. The maximum operating speed is Mach 0.75, and the type is certified to 45,000 feet.
Related
Around the Citation V
Get your number
Charter the Citation V
Send the route, the dates and the passengers. The desk checks range and baggage against the trip, then comes back with the aircraft that genuinely fit and an itemised quote.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203. The desk is staffed 24/7.
Comparing aircraft? Browse the Aircraft Guides in the Aviation Library, 600+ guides on chartering and operations.