Unveiled at NBAA in September 2002 and first flown on April 17, 2003, the Model 525B Citation CJ3 is a 2.5-foot cabin stretch of the CJ2, riding on a new natural-laminar-flow wing spanning 53'3" — wider than the CJ2's. FAA certification followed in October 2004, with customer deliveries beginning that December. Cessna built roughly 415 CJ3s through 2014, when the line was upgraded to the CJ3+ (which added FADEC-controlled engines and Garmin G3000 avionics, continuing the same serial-number sequence). The 100th CJ3 was delivered in November 2006.
Power comes from two Williams FJ44-3A turbofans, each rated at 2,820 lbf thrust — the same core engine family as the CJ2+ and CJ1+, but tuned for the CJ3's larger cabin and higher gross weight. Like every CitationJet, the CJ3 is single-pilot certified, flying behind Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics.
| Manufacturer | Cessna (Textron Aviation) |
| Model | 525B Citation CJ3 |
| Production | 2004-2014 (~415 built) |
| Engines | 2x Williams FJ44-3A, 2,820 lbf each |
| Seats | 1-2 crew, up to 7 passengers (6 + belted lav seat) |
| Cabin volume | 286 cu ft |
| Max takeoff weight | 13,870 lb |
| Max landing weight | 12,750 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 4,710 lb |
| Max range (NBAA IFR) | ~2,040 nm |
| Max cruise speed | 417 kts |
| Service ceiling | 45,000 ft |
| Rate of climb | 4,478 fpm |
| Takeoff distance | 3,180 ft |
The CitationJet family splits into two parallel tracks by cabin size. The CJ1 → CJ1+ → M2 → M2 Gen2 line stays compact and four-to-five-passenger. The CJ2 → CJ2+ line stretches that cabin to six-plus passengers. The CJ3 is the next step up again — a longer cabin, a new wing, and more fuel and payload than the CJ2/CJ2+ — and unlike the CJ2, it was never left behind: Cessna kept upgrading it through the CJ3+ (2014) and, most recently, the CJ3 Gen2, which debuted at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July 2026 alongside the refreshed M2 Gen2 and the Beechcraft King Air 360 Crimson Edition.
Textron's current Citation catalog centers on the M2 Gen2, the CJ3 Gen2 (unveiled at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, July 2026), and the CJ4 Gen3, which enters service later in 2026; an M2 Gen3 and CJ3 Gen3 are expected to follow in 2027. As of the most recent factory pricing available, a new CJ3 Gen2 lists at roughly $11 million — a useful reference point for how much value a pre-owned, original-model CJ3 still delivers.
Pre-owned original CJ3s (2004-2014 production, before the CJ3+) trade broadly from about $3.1M for an early 2004 airframe up to roughly $6.2M for a late-production 2014 example, with avionics suite, engine-program enrollment, and total time driving where a given aircraft falls in that range. FLYING Finance structures terms to 20 years with 15%-20% down typical, and can factor an active Williams TAP Blue or similar engine-maintenance program into the underwriting.
| CJ2+ | CJ3 | CJ3+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production | 2006-2014 | 2004-2014 | 2014-present |
| Units built | ~230 | ~415 | 500+ (ongoing) |
| Engines | 2x FJ44-3A-24 (FADEC) | 2x FJ44-3A (mechanical) | 2x FJ44-3A-24 (FADEC) |
| Seats | up to 7 | up to 7 | up to 8 |
| Range | ~1,589 nm | ~2,040 nm | ~2,040 nm |
| Typical asking price | $3.9M-$4.3M | $3.1M-$6.2M | $5.5M-$8.5M+ |
Pre-owned original CJ3s (built 2004-2014) trade from about $3.1M for an early example to roughly $6.2M for a late-production 2014 aircraft, depending on total time, avionics, and engine-program status.
The original CJ3 (2004-2014) uses mechanically-controlled Williams FJ44-3A engines and Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The CJ3+, introduced in 2014, added FADEC engine control, Garmin G3000 touchscreen avionics, and a slightly higher passenger count, while keeping the same airframe and continuing the same serial-number sequence.
Cessna built approximately 415 original CJ3s between 2004 and 2014, before the line transitioned to the CJ3+.
Yes. Like the rest of the CitationJet family, the CJ3 is certified for single-pilot operation, though many owners and charter operators fly it two-pilot.
Yes. FLYING Finance offers terms to 20 years on Citation CJ3s, typically with 15%-20% down, and can structure around an active engine-maintenance program.
Ready to look at financing for a Citation CJ3? See the full Citation Jet financing overview or run the numbers with our aircraft finance calculator.
