N85WT

This article covers airframe N85WT, a factory-built Cessna 650 Citation III completed in 1988 with manufacturer serial number 650-0162. The airframe is registered in the United States and is owned by EXCALIBUR INTERNATIONAL AVIATION INC (a corporation based in Spring, Texas), which appears as the operator/home base for the aircraft. The federal registry entry lists a 12-seat configuration and the airframe carries a reported market valuation of $1,000,000; the listing and avionics breakdown note legacy avionics and an older autopilot installation that factor into condition and valuation assessments. Registry records showing a 12-place certification versus a typical executive 8–11-place layout are recorded in the operator documentation.

The cabin for N85WT is described as a typical executive arrangement, with forward and aft club seating and a mid-cabin refreshment/galley, accommodating an 8–11 passenger executive fit commonly used in this model family while the registry lists 12 seats. Avionics equipment fitted to this specific airframe is a legacy Collins Pro Line–style suite with a Sperry SPZ-650 autopilot and associated Collins radios, as noted in the listing/avionics breakdown; this configuration supports standard IFR executive missions but reflects older avionics technology compared with current glass upgrades. Typical missions for this airframe profile include medium‑range executive transport and charter flights from its base in Spring, Texas, to transcontinental U.S. and Gulf/Caribbean destinations within its 2,348 nm range. Maintenance considerations for this individual airframe include lifecycle status of the TFE731 engines and potential avionics modernization to maintain charter or high-utilization operator standards.

The Cessna 650 Citation III occupies the high‑speed, medium‑long‑range end of the light/medium business jet segment with transcontinental capability and a 51,000 ft service ceiling, suited to corporate and charter operators seeking higher cruise speed. Competing models in its era and resale market include early generation variants of other super‑mid light jets; demand often centers on buyers willing to accept older avionics and airframe age in exchange for lower acquisition price — here reflected by the $1,000,000 valuation. Maintenance and resale considerations for this airframe specifically include TFE731 engine overhauls, potential avionics refurbishments from its legacy Collins/Sperry fit, and certification seat configuration versus in‑cabin layout differences noted in registry entries.