Buying guide
Citation II for sale: what to check before you buy
Published November 13, 2026.
The Citation II, the Cessna Model 550, was built from the late 1970s to the early 1990s and remains one of the most common light jets on the used market. Most of the ones for sale are early serials with high hours; the later serials, built from the late 1980s, are rare and heavier on the data sheet. 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 Citation II is the Model 550 up to serial 550-0800, on EASA data sheet IM.A.207, which validates FAA type certificate A22CE. The FAA certified it on March 24, 1978. From serial 550-0801 the same model becomes the Bravo.1
| Citation II | Serials 550-0001 to 550-0626 | Serials 550-0627 to 550-0800 |
|---|---|---|
| Engines | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4, 2,500 lb of takeoff thrust each | 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4, 2,500 lb of takeoff thrust each |
| Max. takeoff weight | 13,300 lb (6,033 kg) | 14,100 lb (6,396 kg) |
| Max. landing weight | 12,700 lb (5,761 kg) | 13,500 lb (6,124 kg) |
| Max. operating altitude | 43,000 ft | 43,000 ft |
| RVSM | With service bulletin SB550-34-79 | With service bulletin SB550-34-79 |
| Minimum crew | Two pilots, for all flights | Two pilots, for all flights |
According to the data sheet, the Citation II serials run from 550-0001 to 550-0505 and from 550-0550 to 550-0800, and up to unit 439 the unit number and the serial number may not coincide, which Cessna's customer service can clarify.1
What today's listings show
On November 13, 2026, the PlaneFox aggregator, which collects listings from European and American portals and brokers, showed 23 Citation II listings, not counting the Citation II/SP and S/II, which are other models.2
| PlaneFox, 11/13/2026 | Before 550-0600 | 550-0600 and on |
|---|---|---|
| Listings | 20 | 3 |
| Model years | 1978 to 1989 | 1991 |
| Total hours, where published | 6,412 to 15,041, median 11,064 | 7,486 to 9,681 |
| Asking price, where published | US$250,000 to 875,000 and €397,000 to 649,000* | none published |
* One 1981 listing asks US$1,950,000, far above the others; a price like that usually means a re-engined or heavily modified aircraft, which is a different purchase. In the later Citation IIs we have followed since September 2026, aircraft above serial 550-0700 asked between US$849,000 and US$1,059,000. Asking price is not selling price.
What to check on any Citation II
- The serial number. It sets the weights and tells you whether the aircraft is a Citation II at all, since the II/SP and the S/II are sold under similar names.1 The routine for checking serial, registration and owner is in this post.
- Engines. Ask for the hours and cycles of each JT15D-4 since overhaul, the time left to the next one and whether there is an engine programme. At this age, an engine without a programme close to its overhaul can cost a large share of the aircraft's price.
- A recent borescope. This part is our reading. Many Citation IIs fly little, and an engine that sits can corrode inside. Ask for a recent borescope report before signing.
- RVSM. On every serial, RVSM eligibility depends on service bulletin SB550-34-79.1 Without it the aircraft is held below reduced vertical separation airspace, which changes the trips it can make.
- 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
We are looking for Citation IIs
We have buyers for Citation IIs from serial 550-0600 with fewer than 9,000 hours, off-market included. 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 Bravo, the V and the Ultra, 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 II listings, accessed Nov. 13, 2026: planefox.com
- EASA, Safety Publications Tool (airworthiness directives): ad.easa.europa.eu