N56LW

N56LW is a 1981 Cessna 501 Citation I/SP (MSN 501-0314) registered to Gulf Atlantic Airways, Inc. and commonly operated from Gainesville, FL. The airframe is a single-pilot-certificated Citation I variant (501) built with Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D turbofan engines and an executive-light-jet mission profile. The airframe has been photographed and spotted multiple times in the U.S., most recently in public spotting records in 2020 and 2019. Registration and airworthiness records indicate the aircraft holds a U.S. standard/normal airworthiness class and a Mode S transponder hex of A725A0.

N56LW has been used in on-demand and charter operations under a Part 135 operator affiliation and is listed with an 8-seat configuration in official registration summaries. The aircraft is typically configured for short-to-medium business missions (approximately coast-to-coast capability with reserves) and is suitable for 3–4 hour sectors with light passenger loads. Power comes from 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1A engines (approx. 2,200 lbf thrust each) giving typical Citation I/SP performance: long-range cruise capability, single-pilot operation, and access to shorter regional fields that larger business jets cannot serve.

The Cessna Citation I/ I-SP family is an early-generation light business jet known for docile handling, low approach speeds and efficient short-field performance compared with later light jets. The 501 I/SP variant was produced in small numbers in the late 1970s–1980s and remains in service with private owners, charter operators and niche regional users who value operating economy and simple systems. Typical model specifications include roughly 1,200–1,330 nm maximum range, cruise speeds in the mid-300 kts range, and a service ceiling around 41,000 ft; avionics and cabin fit vary widely by retrofit and owner modifications. N56LW’s public presence (spotting and charter listings) aligns with common model use-cases: local charter, owner-operator flights, and ad-hoc positioning missions.