Latin American Military - Argentina - Policía Federal Argentina (PFA) - Cessna 500 Citation I

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Revised: June 20, 2010
Copyright © 1997-2010 by Jean Charles Barroux - jbarroux@LAMilitary.org

One Cessna 500 Citation I was bought in January 25, 1979 to perform VIP transport duties from the second hand market in the U.S.A. where it used to have the N3173M serial. It was flown to Argentina on November 17, 1979 bearing the temporary serial LV-PAX and reserialed LQ-MRM on arrival. In order to optimise its short term landing characteristics it was sent back to Wichita to receive reverse trusters from November 21 to December 26, 1980.

During the Falklands/Malvinas conflict months of April, May and July 1982 this aircraft was flown by Argentinean Air Force crews as part of the "Fenix" and "Orión" squadrons, composed of mobilized business jets from various government organizations, public enterprises and private industries. The mission of these squadrons was to perform decoy flights in order to confuse enemy radar operators given that their flight characteristics and radar returns were quite similar to the fighters in use with the Argentinean Air Force. They also performed miscellaneous transport and logistic missions. In particular, on May 11, 1982, this particular Cessna 500 Citation I flew a reconnaissance mission using the callsign "Casero III". It departed from the Base Aeronaval Comandante Espora at 07:04 Hrs and returned at the same base at 13:15 Hrs being piloted by the Oficial Inspector Oscar Díaz.

Initially this aircraft was painted with the "argentinean blue police" colour, but it was latter changed to a while livery with lateral blue cheatlines.

Cessna 500 Citation I

Cessna 500 Citation I VIP & utility light corporate jet

Designation: Cessna 500 Citation I
Manufacturer: Cessna, U.S.A.
Crew: 2+1
Passengers: 5
Construction: All metal.
Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1A
Engine Type: Turbofan
Engine Thrust: 9.79 kN (--- kgf)
Length: 13.26 m
Height: 4.37 m
Wing Span: 14.35 m
Wing Area: 25.9 m2
Empty Weight: 3,008 kg
Max. Weight: 5,440 kg
Max. Speed: 797 km/h
Stall Speed: --- km/h
Max. Speed at Sea Level: --- km/h
Max. Cruising Speed: 664 km/h
Normal Cruising Speed: 633 km/h
Initial Rate of Climb: 2,720 ft./min
Ceiling: --- ft. (11900 m)
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Range on Internal Fuel: 2,440 km
Range with Max. Fuel: 2,440 km and 710 kg paylod
Range with Max. Payload: 1,100 km
Endurance: --- Hrs
Useful Load: 2,339 kg
Take-off Distance: --- m
Landing Distance: --- m
Radar: ---
EW: ---
Avionics: ---
Weapons: ---
Format: 1.0
Notes: 

S/N       C/N        Unit          Built       Bought      Disposition         Notes
LQ-MRM    500-0386   CFA           --/---/---- 25/Jan/1979 --                  Ex-N3173M, ex-LV-PAX, l/n 2/Oct/2009

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