Textron Aviation delivers 8,000th Cessna Citation

Textron Aviation (NYSE: TXT) has delivered its 8,000 Cessna Citation Jet, 50 years after the OEM began manufacturing the model series. The milestone jet was purchased by Scotts Miracle-Gro and presented in a special ceremony.

Scotts Miracle-Gro, an Ohio-based company specializing in lawn and garden products, took ownership of a new Citation Longitude in a special delivery ceremony last week at Textron Aviation headquarters in Wichita, Kansas.

This addition is the fifth Cessna Citation for the company.

“A milestone like this wouldn’t be possible without all the owners and operators who love to fly our aircraft and trust the reliability and versatility of our Citation products,” Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper said at the ceremony. “With more than 41 million flight hours across the globe, our customers continue to make Citation jets their aircraft of choice,” Draper said.

Jim Hagedorn, CEO of Scotts Miracle-Gro and a long-time pilot who also personally owns a Citation CJ4, congratulated Textron during the ceremony.

“The Citation is one of the most functional and reliable brands in the general aviation industry, and I, along with the members of our flight department, congratulate Textron Aviation on the delivery of its 8,000 Citation aircraft,” Hagedorn said.

“Reaching this milestone is a credit to the Cessna brand, which represents quality, design, and attention to the entire flying experience—all things we were looking for as we add to our fleet of business jets.”