Aircraft

Australian and New Zealand Cessna distributor Aeromil Pacific has taken delivery of its first Cessna Mustang, with the company having already sold six of the new very light jets in the region.

Aeromil Pacific is the exclusive distributor for Cessna Citations in Australia, New Zealand and near Pacific islands.

In addition to the six Mustangs sold, one of which is to a New Zealand buyer, the Queensland-based company has a further six on order and expects to sell these in the near future following a high level of interest in the region. The Mustang has also opened up interest in the full Citation business jet range, says Aeromil executive chairman Steve Padgett.

The Mustang, which is one of the first to be delivered outside the USA, is being demonstrated throughout the country and will fly to New Zealand for demonstrations from 13 August.

"The Mustang is ideally suited to New Zealand jet travel with its 1,100nm [2,035km] range, ability to land on short runways and low operating costs," says Padgett.

The aircraft received US Federal Aviation Administration certification in September 2006, with deliveries starting last November. Some 40 aircraft are due for delivery this year, with a production ramp-up to 150 Mustangs a year planned by 2009.