Textron Aviation shows Citation CJ3 Gen2 to the public for the first time at NBAA-BACE 2026
Why It MattersLight-jet OEMs refresh a type in generations, so a Gen2 on the static display while its successor flies in test shows how a mid-cycle product keeps selling during the next one's certification.
What happened
Textron Aviation is displaying the Citation CJ3 Gen2 at NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas. According to Jimmy Beeson, the company's vice president of product development, it is the first time the light jet has been shown to the public outside normal demonstration activity.
Textron unveiled the Gen2 in October 2023, with FlyExclusive as launch customer. The aircraft sits one step behind the upcoming CJ3 Gen3, which is expected to enter service in 2027.
The Gen3 made its first flight on July 29, 2026, which made it the final model of the Gen3 light jet trio, alongside the M2 and CJ4, to enter flight testing.
Industry impact & what to watch
Business-jet makers tend to run a product line in overlapping generations: a current model stays on the market and on show floors while its successor works through flight testing. Putting the Gen2 in front of the NBAA-BACE crowd, with the Gen3 already flying, fits that rhythm and keeps buyers' attention on the CJ3 name through the transition.
For light-jet buyers, the practical question is which generation matches their delivery window, since the Gen3 is not expected in service until 2027. The next concrete milestone is that entry into service.
