As of early last month, the Citation Mustang prototype and two production examples (S/Ns 0001 and 0002) had logged more than 850 flight hours. Cessna chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton told AIN that the Mustang is “on pace” to obtain FAA certification this fall, though he hinted the approval could even come a little earlier.

The Wichita company noted that all major static airframe tests are complete for the VLJ, and certification flights are currently focusing on the Garmin G1000 avionics and autopilot; systems; and stability and control. Meanwhile, fatigue testing is reported to be 80 percent complete.

According to Cessna, all Mustang assembly tooling has been transferred to the company’s Independence, Kan. facility, where the VLJ will be assembled alongside the piston single line. S/Ns 0003 through 0009 have started down the line at Independence, with S/N 0004 the first Mustang to be fully assembled at the facility. The third production aircraft (S/N 0003)–the first customer aircraft–is scheduled to be rolled out this summer. Deliveries are slated to begin in the fourth quarter.

A spokeswoman said Cessna has orders for more than 230 Mustangs (price tag $2.395 million), with the next available delivery slot in 2009.