The Citation III was Cessna’s first entry into the medium jet market and was designed to supplement the much smaller Citation I and II. The new design features a swept supercritical wing for high-speed long-range flight, new Honeywell TFE 731 turbofans, a T-tail, and a new fuselage. The 389-cubic-foot cabin provides seating for seven, a galley, and an aft lavatory.
The Citation III’s first flight was on May 30, 1979.