Buying guide
Citation Bravo for sale: what to check before you buy
Published November 13, 2026.
The Citation Bravo is the last version of the Citation II family, with Pratt & Whitney PW530A engines and a 45,000 ft ceiling on most serials. Bravos for sale today were built between 1997 and the mid-2000s, and in the listings we follow the price moves far more with the state of the engines than with the year. Below is what the official EASA data sheet says, what today's listings show, and what to check before an offer.
What the data sheet says
The Bravo is the Model 550 from serial 550-0801 on, on EASA data sheet IM.A.207, which validates FAA type certificate A22CE. The FAA certified it on January 8, 1997.1
| Citation Bravo | Official data sheet |
|---|---|
| Serials | 550-0801 and on |
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW530A, 2,887 lb of takeoff thrust each |
| Max. takeoff / landing weight | 14,800 lb (6,713 kg) / 13,500 lb (6,123 kg) |
| Max. operating altitude | 45,000 ft for 550-0821 and 550-0824 on; 43,000 ft for 550-0801 to 550-0820 and 550-0822 to 550-0823, unless modified by Cessna service bulletin |
| RVSM | 550-0873 and on; 550-0801 to 550-0872 with service bulletin SB550-34-70 |
| Minimum crew | Two pilots, for all flights |
The serials and service bulletins in the table are the ones the data sheet names. The Citation II, the earlier variant of the same model, ends at serial 550-0800 and has JT15D-4 engines.1
What today's listings show
On November 13, 2026, the PlaneFox aggregator, which collects listings from European and American portals and brokers, showed 15 Citation Bravo listings. At least three of them are aircraft we know have already been sold and still appear on broker pages.2
| PlaneFox, 11/13/2026 | Citation Bravo |
|---|---|
| Listings | 15 |
| Already sold, still listed | at least 3 |
| Total hours, where published (9 listings) | 2,971 to 10,550, median 6,172 |
| With price published | 3: US$1,575,000, US$1,795,000 and US$2,300,000 |
In the Bravo listings we have followed since September 2026, the spread is explained by the engines. A 2005 Bravo with both engines past their overhaul limit was offered at US$995,000; a 2000 Bravo with engines 871 hours after overhaul asked US$2.75 million. Asking price is not selling price.
What to check on any Citation Bravo
- The serial number. Listings write it as 550-0xxx, 550B-xxxx or only the last four digits. Check it against the registry and against the table above, because the ceiling and RVSM depend on it.1 The routine for checking serial, registration and owner is in this post.
- Engines first. Ask for the hours and cycles of each PW530A since new and since overhaul, the time left to the next overhaul and whether the engines are on a maintenance programme. On a Bravo, this is where most of the price is.
- A recent borescope. This part is our reading. We have seen a purchase contract fall through when the borescope found corrosion in the engines. Ask for a recent borescope report before signing, especially on an aircraft that has flown little.
- RVSM and ceiling. On serials up to 550-0872, ask for the record of the service bulletin that makes the aircraft RVSM-eligible, and on the early serials, the one that raises the ceiling to 45,000 ft.1
- Two pilots. The data sheet requires a pilot and a co-pilot on every flight.1 In the United States the FAA ended single-pilot flying in this family in 2026, as we explain in this post, so the cost of the second pilot, for example through a SIC type rating course, belongs in the budget.
- Inspections and directives. Ask for the inspection tracking report with the date of each phase inspection, and check the directives for the airframe and engines, and compliance in the records.3
Bravos: the one we sell and the ones we look for
- 2001 Citation Bravo, serial 550-0995: PW530A engines on the Power Advantage+ programme, ProParts. Hours, price and inspection status are on the page.
We also have buyers looking for Bravos under 7,000 hours. If you own one, or know of one that may be for sale, write to us at amelia@gobbocapital.com. For a comparison with the other Citations of the period, see Citation II, Bravo, V or Ultra.
Sources
- EASA, type certificate data sheet IM.A.207, Cessna 500, 550, S550, 560 and 560XL, issue 10, July 6, 2022: easa.europa.eu
- PlaneFox, Citation Bravo listings, accessed Nov. 13, 2026: planefox.com
- EASA, Safety Publications Tool (airworthiness directives): ad.easa.europa.eu