N555DS

This article describes a specific airframe, the twin‑engine business jet registered as N555DS, a factory‑built Cessna 550 Citation II completed in 1981 with serial number 550-0275. The airframe is owned by Weather Modification LLC, a corporate entity based in Fargo, ND, US. Registered and operated in the United States under a corporate owner, the airframe has remained in civil fixed‑wing multi‑engine service since delivery. The airframe is noted in current records with an estimated market valuation of $900,000, reflecting age, configuration and typical maintenance status for late‑model Citation IIs.

The aircraft is typically configured in an executive layout seating 2 crew + 8 passenger typical executive layout, providing a compact executive cabin suitable for regional corporate missions. Given its performance figures — a cruise of 375 kts and a practical range of 1,200 nm — typical operations would include medium‑range business trips, charter sectors within the continental United States, and point‑to‑point flights from the owner’s base in Fargo, ND, US. Avionics, specific interior amenities and maintenance history are not published here; operational considerations for this airframe emphasize routine jet maintenance for early‑1980s airframes and adherence to Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D‑4 engine service intervals. Cabin comfort is consistent with eight‑passenger executive layouts of the type, optimized for short to medium sectors.

The Cessna 550 Citation II occupies the light business jet niche, offering improved performance and capacity over earlier Citation models while remaining economical for corporate operators. Comparable competitors include other light swept‑wing business jets of the era, where buyers balance acquisition cost against operating economics and supportability. Resale and maintenance considerations for this specific airframe center on age‑related component life limits, availability of JT15D‑4 support, and the aircraft’s market valuation at approximately $900,000, which influences buyer and charter demand for owners operating older Citation IIs.