Cessna Citation II/Bravo/SII: how 257 jets are really flown
The busiest 5% made more than 14 flights a month and the quietest 5% fewer than 3: over five times as many, on the same type.
At the harder end, one Citation II in twenty sees a freeze and a thaw on 41% or more of its nights. At the easier end, most see almost none.
The hardest-worked 5% log 14 flights a month or more; the easiest-used, 3 or less. The middle aircraft sits at 5.
The harder end, one aircraft in twenty, is at 4,177 ft or more; the easier end at 835 ft or less.
Fatigue
What each landing and pressurization cycle costs the structure: landings per hour and short hops.
The middle Citation II flies 1.2 hours for every landing. One in twenty lands every 0.8 hours or sooner, the most cycles for its time.
Middle half 1.0–1.5 : 1Harder end: 5% at 0.8 : 1 or lessEasier end: 5% at 1.9 : 1 or more
Middle half 40–64%Harder end: 5% at 88% or moreEasier end: 5% at 21% or less
Middle half 215–379 nmLowest 5%: 151 nm or lessHighest 5%: 618 nm or more
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Spread of trip lengths
All 257 Citation IIsThe data behind it
Every measure for the 257 North American Citation IIs, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per landing Each aircraft’s average flight hours per landing | 1.2 : 1 | 1.0–1.5 : 1 |
| Short hops Share of legs under 300 nm | 51% | 40–64% |
| Leg length Median leg | 292 nm | 215–379 nm |
Corrosion
What the air around it does overnight: salt, damp and freeze–thaw.
The middle Citation II spends 0% of its nights within 2 km of the coast. One in twenty spends 4% or more of them there.
Middle half 0–0%Harder end: 5% at 4% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 4.6–8.9 hHarder end: 5% at 11.3 h or moreEasier end: 5% at 1.9 h or less
Middle half 1–20%Harder end: 5% at 41% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Salt air across the fleet
131 Citation IIsThe data behind it
Every measure for the 131 of the 257 North American Citation IIs with enough nights at known fields, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (8 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Salt air Nights within 2 km of the coast | 0% | 0–0% |
| Near the coast Nights within 10 km of the coast | 1% | 0–4% |
| Damp air Hours a day at 80% humidity or more, above freezing | 6.3 h | 4.6–8.9 h |
| Freeze–thaw Nights that froze and thawed within the day | 8% | 1–20% |
| Moisture in the air Average absolute humidity overnight | 8.5 g/m³ | 6.6–10.6 g/m³ |
Engines and brakes
What departures ask of engines, brakes and tires: heat and height, and runway length.
The middle Citation II leaves from a short runway on 2% of its departures. One in twenty does on 8% or more.
Middle half 0–4%Harder end: 5% at 8% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 0–10%Harder end: 5% at 41% or moreEasier end: 5% at -0%
Middle half 1,346–2,177 ftHarder end: 5% at 4,177 ft or moreEasier end: 5% at 835 ft or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Runway margin at departure
14,864 departuresThe data behind it
Every measure for the 256 of the 257 North American Citation IIs with enough departures we could assess, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (3 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Short runways Departures where the longest runway was under 1.25× the takeoff distance | 2% | 0–4% |
| Hot, high takeoffs Departures at 5,000 ft density altitude or more | 3% | 0–10% |
| Density altitude Typical density altitude at takeoff | 1,776 ft | 1,346–2,177 ft |
Utilization
How steadily the fleet is used: flights, flying days and estimated hours.
The middle Citation II made 5 flights a month. The busiest 5% made 14 or more, the quietest 3 or fewer.
Middle half 3.5–7.3Harder end: 5% at 14.5 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.6 or less
Middle half 2.6–5.0Harder end: 5% at 8.1 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.0 or less
Middle half 53–110 hHarder end: 5% at ≈208 h or moreEasier end: 5% at ≈35 h or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Month by month
12 monthsMedian flights per aircraft that flew that month · darker bar is the busiest month, March 2026
The data behind it
Every measure for the 257 North American Citation IIs, every active aircraft (no 40% tracking floor here: on this type it would change which aircraft are compared, not just drop undercounted ones), 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Flights a month In the months it flew | 4.7 | 3.5–7.3 |
| Days flown a month Days with at least one flight | 3.4 | 2.6–5.0 |
| Estimated hours a year From time in the air | ≈76 h | 53–110 h |
Buying, selling or financing a Citation II?
See where your Citation II sits in the fleet.
Enter a tail number to place it against these 257 aircraft. TailCheck grades it on Fatigue, Corrosion, Engines and brakes, and Utilization, with every percentile shown.
Where Citation IIs are based and fly
Mahlon Sweet is home to more Citation IIs than any other field, 5 of the 190 with a home base.
Joe Foss–Rapid City is the busiest route: 90 flights by 4 different aircraft.
Where Citation IIs are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Mahlon Sweet | 5 | |
| Waukesha | 5 | |
| Birmingham-Shuttlesworth | 4 | |
| Tri-Cities | 4 | |
| New Braunfels | 3 | |
| Chattanooga Metropolitan | 3 |
Busiest Citation II routes
| Between | Flights |
|---|---|
| Joe Foss ⇄ Rapid City | 90 flights |
| Birmingham-Shuttlesworth ⇄ Lakefront | 75 |
| Snohomish (Paine ) ⇄ Tri-Cities | 64 |
| Winnipeg J. A. Richardson ⇄ Poplar River | 53 |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor ⇄ Tri-Cities | 48 |
| San Bernardino ⇄ John Wayne | 40 |
Longest Citation II flights
| Between | Distance · time |
|---|---|
| Hayward Air Terminal → Kitchener/Waterloo | 1,915 nm · 6 h 48 min |
| John Wayne → Inverness | 1,839 nm · 6 h 52 min |
| Nashville → Mahlon Sweet | 1,729 nm · 5 h 37 min |
| Henderson → Lynchburg | 1,722 nm · 4 h 35 min |
| Lake City Gateway → Choteau | 1,722 nm · 6 h 19 min |
Busiest Citation IIs this year
The busiest Citation II made 26 flights a month, five times the middle aircraft.
Even the tenth on this list made 15.
Ranked by flights a month · updated monthly
| # | Tail | Flights a month | Estimated hours a year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N447SF | 26 | 328 h | Check this tail → |
| 2 | N318GL | 22 | 278 h | Check this tail → |
| 3 | N550VG | 20 | 288 h | Check this tail → |
| 4 | N711KT | 18 | 311 h | Check this tail → |
| 5 | N40MF | 18 | 264 h | Check this tail → |
| 6 | N80PT | 18 | 273 h | Check this tail → |
| 7 | N101JL | 17 | 276 h | Check this tail → |
| 8 | N896CG | 16 | 239 h | Check this tail → |
| 9 | N525PE | 15 | 205 h | Check this tail → |
| 10 | N989AB | 15 | 178 h | Check this tail → |
Citation II vs other aircraft of its size
Medians for each North American fleet, same window and method.
| Type | Tracked | Flights a month | Hours a year | Median leg | Hours per landing | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation II/Bravo/SII | 257 | 4.7 | 76 h | 292 nm | 1.2 : 1 | 51% |
| Embraer Phenom 300 | 581 | 17.1 | 272 h | 344 nm | 1.2 : 1 | 45% |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | 527 | 9.0 | 148 h | 360 nm | 1.4 : 1 | 42% |
| Bombardier Learjet 45 | 360 | 7.4 | 113 h | 431 nm | 1.4 : 1 | 35% |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 325 | 5.6 | 92 h | 366 nm | 1.3 : 1 | 42% |
Do older Citation IIs fly differently?
Age matters: by year built, the median Citation II in each band flew between 69 and 96 estimated hours a year.
Show the tableHide the table
| Serial block | Built | Tracked | Hours a year | Median leg | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 550-0027–550-0862 | 1978–98 | 124 | 69 h | 282 nm | 53% |
| 550-0864–550-1002 | 1999–01 | 53 | 96 h | 332 nm | 47% |
| 550-0997–550-1133 | 2002–06 | 45 | 94 h | 305 nm | 49% |
US-registered aircraft only: the FAA registry gives serial number and year of manufacture for 222 of the 257 aircraft behind the hours figures. Built = year of manufacture. Avionics upgrades are fitted by modification and the registry doesn’t show them, so check an aircraft’s records.
Citation II/Bravo/SII: the variants on paper
One page covers all three variants: the tracking data doesn’t tell them apart.
On paper they differ in weights and fuel. Certified figures come from the type certificate data sheet. We don’t have a manufacturer source for the Cessna Citation II/Bravo/SII yet, so its manufacturer rows show a dash.
| Measure | Citation II | Citation Bravo | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight (certified) | 13,300–14,100 lb | 14,800 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00087 Issue 2, p.18 — Citation II: 13,300 lb (S/N 550-0001 through 550-0626) · 14,100 lb (S/N 550-0627 through 550-0800) |
| Maximum ramp weight (certified) | 13,500–14,300 lb | 15,000 lb | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00087 Issue 2, p.18 — Citation II: 13,500 lb (S/N 550-0001 through 550-0626) · 14,300 lb (S/N 550-0627 through 550-0800) |
| Fuel capacity, US gallons (certified) | 742 US gal | 720 US gal | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00087 Issue 2, p.16 — total of the tanks listed on the certificate: two wing tanks, usable 371 US gal each (Citation II), 360 (Bravo, p.16) and 431.5 (S/II, p.26) |
| Passengers | Up to 11 certified | Up to 11 certified | UK CAA TCDS UK.TC.A.00087 Issue 2, p.19 |
| Range (manufacturer) | — | — | No manufacturer source yet |
| Takeoff distance (manufacturer) | — | — | No manufacturer source yet |
| High-speed cruise (manufacturer) | — | — | No manufacturer source yet |
| Length (manufacturer) | — | — | No manufacturer source yet |
| Wingspan (manufacturer) | — | — | No manufacturer source yet |
| Height (manufacturer) | — | — | No manufacturer source yet |
Chartering a Citation II
80 of the 257 North American Citation IIs we track are on our charter list (31%).
Charter aircraft flew a median 105 estimated hours a year on 8 flights a month; the rest flew 65 hours on 4.
Where charter Citation IIs are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Foss | 3 | |
| Miami-Opa Locka | 3 | |
| Waukesha | 3 | |
| Albuquerque | 2 | |
| Chattanooga Metropolitan | 2 | |
| Fort Worth Meacham | 2 |
Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. No charter rates: prices depend on the operator and the trip. Check a specific aircraft’s record with its tail number before you book.
Citation II questions
How many hours a year does a Citation II/Bravo/SII fly?
The median North American Citation II/Bravo/SII flies about 76 estimated hours a year; the middle half sits between 53 and 110. About 1 in 20 flies more than 208.
How often does a Citation II/Bravo/SII fly?
5 flights a month on 3 flying days at the median. About 1 in 20 makes more than 14 flights a month.
How long is a typical Citation II/Bravo/SII flight?
The median leg is 292 nm. About 1 in 20 aircraft average more than 618 nm a leg.
How often do Citation II/Bravo/SII aircraft use short runways?
At the median, 2% of departures are from fields whose longest runway is under 1.25 times the type’s takeoff distance. About 1 in 20 keep it to -0% or less.
Is a high-hours Citation II/Bravo/SII a bad buy?
Not by itself. High hours on long legs are gentler on the structure than the same hours on short hops. Look at hours per landing and short-hop share alongside hours.
Where are most Citation II/Bravo/SII aircraft based?
In North America, Mahlon Sweet is home to the most, followed by Waukesha and Birmingham-Shuttlesworth. A base is the field an aircraft touches on most of its flying days, month after month.
Cite this data
The Aircraft Ledger. “Cessna Citation II/Bravo/SII fleet statistics.” Data to 31 July 2026. theaircraftledger.com/aircraft/cessna/citation-ii-bravo-sii
Embed a chart
<iframe src="https://theaircraftledger.com/embed/fleet/cessna-citation-ii-bravo-sii/fatigue" title="Fatigue" width="100%" height="1180" style="border:0;max-width:960px" loading="lazy"></iframe>Method: Cessna Citation II/Bravo/SII aircraft with most departures in North America and at least 20 tracked flights in the latest twelve full months. Flight measures, bases, routes and rankings use ADS-B tracking 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026; corrosion and engines-and-brakes exposure use the same twelve months, or an aircraft’s record since 1 Jan 2025 when it had too few nights or departures in them. Estimated hours from time in the air. Tracking misses some flights, so counts and hours are minimums. ADS-B coverage grew over the window, so we don’t compare one year with the last. Tracking can’t tell one variant from another; the variant split, the busiest table’s variants and the age table use the FAA registry, so they cover US-registered aircraft only. We assume the longest runway at each field, so short-runway figures are conservative. Short-runway figures use the manufacturer’s published takeoff distance where our sources hold one for every variant (the longest, where tracking can’t tell variants apart), and a reference figure otherwise. Corrosion measures cover the aircraft we can place on enough nights, some over the longer window when the twelve months had too few. Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft; aircraft flown by a fractional program (NetJets, Flexjet and the like) are counted as fractional, not charter. About our data