The aircraft was originally designed as the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond, an all-new, all-jet development to complement and slot above the Mitsubishi MU-2 and provide Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with their top-of-the-line corporate aircraft model (hence the name "Diamond"). Beechcraft bought the production rights and began manufacturing it as their own model, initially redesignated as the Beechjet 400. The Beechjet 400 was certified by the FAA in May 1985.

Raytheon/Beechcraft steadily developed their own improvements to the model, leading to the 400A in 1990. Improvements in the 400A include longer range, higher take-off weights and improved luxury appointments. An all-glass flight deck was also offered. Beechcraft also developed a version for the USAF known as the T-1A Jayhawk, used as a trainer for large aircraft crews (such as tankers and strategic transports). A total of 180 T-1A trainers were delivered between 1992-1997.

The aircraft was originally designed as the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond, an all-new, all-jet development to complement and slot above the Mitsubishi MU-2 and provide Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with their top-of-the-line corporate aircraft model (hence the name "Diamond"). Beechcraft bought the production rights and began manufacturing it as their own model, initially redesignated as the Beechjet 400. The Beechjet 400 was certified by the FAA in May 1985.

Raytheon/Beechcraft steadily developed their own improvements to the model, leading to the 400A in 1990. Improvements in the 400A include longer range, higher take-off weights and improved luxury appointments. An all-glass flight deck was also offered. Beechcraft also developed a version for the USAF known as the T-1A Jayhawk, used as a trainer for large aircraft crews (such as tankers and strategic transports). A total of 180 T-1A trainers were delivered between 1992-1997.

In 1993 Raytheon purchased the Hawker business jet product line from British Aerospace. The Beechjet 400 was eventually renamed the Hawker 400 to map it into the Hawker product line. The latest model, the Hawker 400XP, incorporates further aerodynamic, mechanical and interior improvements gleaned from the Hawker 800XP.

After a longer-than-expected development flight test program, during which the name Citation 500 was tried, and a number of changes to the design, the finished aircraft was debuted with the new name Citation (Model 500) and received its FAA certification in September, 1971. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 turbofan engines. With fan engines, rather than turbojet engines such as powered the contemporary Learjet 25, and a straight, rather than swept wings, the Citation was over 120 knots slower than the Lear 25 (max speed of 350 kts compared with 473 kts for the LJ25), which led to nicknames such as "Slowtation" and "Nearjet", and raised eyebrows in the aviation media.

In 1976, several product improvements were added to the aircraft in response to market pressures, including a higher max gross weight and thrust reversers, which made shorter landing fields available to customers. With these improvements came the name Citation I

In a CJ1+, you'll be a mover, not a shaker. That's because the CJ1+ flies at cruise speeds of up to 389 knots (448 mph) 150 mph faster, two miles higher, and unquestionably smoother than comparable turboprops. You'll avoid weather and traffic, while traveling in silky-smooth quiet.

Reaching speeds of up to 481 mph, the CJ2+ is 40 percent faster than a comparably priced B200 turboprop. You can also climb to 45,000 feet and cruise above turbulent weather, icing and traffic.

The CJ3 is a remarkable combination of power, speed and flexibility. Fuel-efficient Williams FJ44-3A engines, rated at 2,780 pounds of thrust each, deliver speeds of up to 417 kts (479 mph) and direct climbs to 45,000 feet in just over 27 minutes.

The Citation II, Model 550, was a direct development from the Citation I. The earlier aircraft's success in the market led Cessna to believe there was demand for a larger aircraft that utilized the same design philosophy. The result was the Citation II, which had a maximum seating capacity of 10. In addition to more seats, the plane had more powerful JT15D4 engines, faster speeds and longer range. First flight was on January 31, 1977, and the aircraft was certified for two-pilot operation in March, 1978. A total of 603 aircraft were built before the Citation II was replaced by the Bravo in the production line.

Like the Citation I/SP, the Model 551 Citation II/SP as Cessna's means of competing in the turboprop market, which predominantly are operated single-pilot, so the aircraft was re-certified for single-pilot operations.

In October, 1983, Cessna announced that they would be improving the aircraft, and the upgraded Model S550 Citation S/II first flew February 14, 1984. The aircraft utilized an improved version of the engine, JT15D4B, while the rest of the improvements were aerodynamic in nature. The wing was replaced with one using a supercritical airfoil, which had been developed for the Citation III. The S/II was certified, like the II/SP, with a single-pilot exemption. Once certification was in hand, the S/II replaced the II in the product line in late 1984. However, due to market demands, the II was returned to production the following year, and both were produced side-by-side until replaced by the Bravo.

After stretching the Citation I to make the II, Cessna decided to increase the size of the cabin again, stretching the fuselage by another 20 inches, resulting in the largest member of the straight-wing family, the Model 560 Citation V. The first engineering prototype flew in August, 1987, and certification was granted in December, 1988. The aircraft utilized the T-47A's JT15D5A engines for extra performance. By the time the aircraft was superseded in 1994, 262 had been built.

By 1994, the Citation II and S/II had been in production for 10 years, and it was time to integrate new technology. Cessna thus announced the development of the Citation Bravo. While it was built on the basic S/II airframe, the new aircraft was powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW530A engines. The main landing gear was replaced by the smoother-riding trailing link configuration adopted by other members of the Citation line, and the standard avionics suite was updated to the Honeywell Primus 1000 EFIS glass cockpit. The new aircraft first flew on April 25, 1995, but certification did not come for over a year, finally being granted in August, 1996. Production of the Bravo finally ceased in late 2006 after 337 copies were produced

As the Citation Encore, with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535A engines and an increase in fuel capacity. The Encore was certified in April 2000 with first delivery in late September 2000. The next upgrade was the Citation Encore+, with the addition of FADEC-controlled PW535B engines and Rockwell-Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite. The Encore+ was certified by the FAA in December 2006, with deliveries of production aircraft expected in the first quarter of 2007.

The Falcon 10 is an early corporate jet development by French aircraft manufacturer Dassault. Despite its numbering sequence it was actually developed after the Falcon 20. Production began in 1971 and ceased by the late 1980s but it remains a popular business jet on the used market.

The Learjet 25 is similar to the Model 24 but is 1.27 m (4 ft 2 in) longer, allowing for three additional passengers. In 1970 the Learjet 25B was produced along with the Learjet 25C in the same year.

The aircraft has two General Electric CJ610-6 (or CJ610-8) turbojet engines. The landing gear is of the retractable, tricycle type with a steerable nosewheel. The aircraft usually comes with a refreshment cabinet and under the seat opposite is sometimes a toilet. Baggage is stowed in a compartment at the rear of the cabin.

The Learjet Model 31 is, arguably, the ultimate realization of the original Learjet series (dating back to the model 23 of 1963). Essentially combining the fuselage and engines of the model 35/36 with the Longhorn wing of the 28, 29 and 50 models, results in performance which is equaled by few aircraft. Normal cruise altitudes range from 41,000 to 47,000 feet (12,500-14,900 m) and the aircraft's maximum cruise altitude of 51,000 feet (15,500 m) is a distinction shared by only a handful of civil aircraft. Improvements over earlier models, such as Delta-Fins and a Ski-Locker increased the utility and improved the performance of the model 31. Addition of Delta-Fins at the bottom of the empennage simplified the certification process of the aircraft by eliminating the need for a stick pusher stall avoidance device. Increased directional stability, as a result of the Delta-Fins, was also a welcome benefit.