Textron Aviation handed over the first Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2, bringing to market what it calls the most extensive upgrade yet for the model. Delivery, to longtime Citation owners Dave Mecartney and Shannon Day, took place this week following FAA approval in October. The handover marks the second market entry for an updated model in as many weeks—Textron Aviation delivered the first Citation Ascend to a customer at the end of last month.

Mecartney, a member of Textron Aviation’s customer advisory board who has nearly two decades of experience flying Citations, helped provide key input into the upgrades for the CJ3 Gen2 experience. Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation senior v-p of sales and marketing, called the aircraft “our most comprehensive Gen2 to date.” Upgrades include the addition of Garmin autothrottles, more pilot legroom, and a customizable cabin environment.

“The Citation CJ3 Gen2 delivers an unmatched experience from day one—thanks to its exceptional range, payload, and efficiency, combined with new productivity and comfort features,” O’Bannion said.

Designed based on customer feedback via a customer advisory board, the CJ3 Gen2 has 4.5 more inches of pilot legroom and the latest Garmin G3000 suite, including touchscreen interface and GDL60 for aircraft connectivity. The customizable interior can seat up to 10 occupants, and the aircraft has an externally serviceable lavatory.

Knowing the right steps and hiring the right people make all the difference when buying or leasing a business jet—the difference between navigating a smooth journey and encountering turbulence en route to closing.

In general, purchase transactions have been harder and longer to negotiate over the past couple of years, as sellers seek favorable sale prices and contract terms from buyers who often push back. Also, buyers are choosing more complex structures for tax and privacy reasons. Gone are the days of the pandemic buying frenzy when buyers would unwisely sacrifice inspections and diligence to acquire a jet quickly.

Nevertheless, some buyers claim that after closing many complex non-aviation deals, they can buy and finance a jet with few, if any, aviation experts involved. Unfortunately, some of them ultimately realize the error of their ways by making avoidable mistakes. A client recently told me that his high-dollar aircraft financing was just a simple loan his inside counsel could handle. Yet, he later admitted that he—and his inside counsel—had overlooked at least five critical issues we discussed, and he asked me to negotiate them for him.

Although a business jet offers undeniable benefits, it is a unique and expensive machine. Unlike other assets, it is essential to understand fully what you are getting into. If you aren’t careful, you could end up with buyer’s remorse.

Daher delivered 76 TBM and Kodiak turboprops last year, the French manufacturer announced today. Total deliveries fell 7% last year from the 82 aircraft delivered in 2024 and included 51 TBM 960s from its Tarbes production line in southwest France and 25 Kodiak 100s and 900s from its Sandpoint, Idaho factory.

Last year saw the 600th delivery of a 900-series TBM, with the first members of the series having entered service in 2014. The product line is now led by the TBM 960, which features a dual-channel engine and propeller electronic control system and Daher’s “e-copilot” features, including ice protection, flight-envelope monitoring, and HomeSafe autoland system.

According to Daher, more than three-quarters of all deliveries went to customers in North and South America during 2025. Last year, the company established a base in São Paulo, Brazil. Europe accounted for 23%, with 12 aircraft delivered there. At the end of December, the company had delivered 1,294 TBMs and 390 Kodiaks overall.

“Our teams remained fully mobilized through the final days of 2025 with one clear priority: delivering for our customers,” said Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert. “Their efforts underscored Daher Aircraft’s capacity to stay focused on execution and customer commitments, especially as conditions evolved during the year.”

Fledgling FBO chain Jackson Jet Center has now increased its holdings to three western U.S. locations with the acquisition of Reeder Jet Center, the lone service provider at Idaho’s Magic Valley Regional Airport (KTWF). This marks the company’s second location in Idaho, joining Jackson Jet in Boise (KBOI), as well as a facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX).

The facility at KTWF includes a 4,500-sq-ft terminal, which its new owner will renovate with the addition of a conference room and the expansion of the pilot lounge. It also has a hangar that can accommodate midsize business jets.

“Reeder Jet Center has been a respected name in Idaho aviation for more than 75 years, and we are honored to continue that legacy of service in Twin Falls,” said Jackson Jet Center president Jeff Jackson. “Expanding into KTWF is a natural fit for our organization and our customers.”

Jackson Jet Center is a full-service aviation provider offering aircraft maintenance and management in addition to FBO services. Jackson added that his company’s goal is to build upon the strong foundation already in place at its new location. “We look forward to supporting the airport, the business community, local aviators, and visitors who depend on Twin Falls as an important regional hub,” he said.

Rolls-Royce has started AE1107F engine testing to support the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. Evaluation will be conducted at its manufacturing campus in Indianapolis, the company's largest facility in the U.S.

FLRAA was initiated in 2019 to develop a successor to the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility program, which has been in service since 1979. In December 2022, the U.S. Army selected the Rolls-Royce-powered Bell Textron V-280 for the FLRAA program, officially designating it the MV-75 (Multi-Mission Vertical Takeoff).

Bell senior v-p and FLRAA program director Ryan Ehinger previously commented that the upcoming aircraft will embody “the only future vertical lift weapons system with the flight-proven agility, speed, range, and endurance for the FLRAA mission.”

Each aircraft will be equipped with two Rolls-Royce AE1107F engines, which the manufacturer describes as featuring “world-class power density, cyber-compliant controls, and survivability technology.” AE1107C engines are currently used by the U.S. Department of Defense to power V-22 Ospreys.

When certified, the powerplant will be the latest addition to Rolls-Royce’s AE family of engines, sharing 80% commonality. Rolls-Royce said the “unique common core design provides significant economic benefits, reduces risk, and increases speed-to-market for new AE engine variants,” as well as helping support supply-chain availability. Bell is expected to deliver its first prototype MV-75 in 2027.

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