An Aircraft for Every Budget: Citation 550 (Straight II)

If you’re looking for one of the cheapest “real jets” to own and operate, the Cessna Citation 550 Straight II deserves a serious look. Not a Bravo—just a straightforward, classic light jet that gets the job done for roughly $1.1–1.3 million to buy and about $1,000 an hour to fly.

Acquisition: Around $1.1–1.3 Million for a Good One

To make the case for a strong pedigree aircraft—not a project—you should realistically plan on:

• Approximately $1.1–1.3 million for a clean Citation 550 Straight II

In that band, you’re targeting:

• Solid maintenance history and documentation

• Respectable paint and interior you don’t have to fix immediately

• Avionics that are current enough to be practical and compliant

• No big, ugly surprises hiding in the next inspection

Yes, you can find cheaper 550s on the market, but once you filter out heavy-maintenance cases, sketchy logs, and refurbishment projects, the good Straight IIs live closer to that $1.1–1.3M range.

Operating Cost: Around $1,000 Per Hour

One of the big reasons the 550 earns its place in this series is how inexpensively it flies for a jet. A well-run Citation 550 Straight II typically comes in around:

• ~$1,000 per flight hour

That’s fuel and routine maintenance in a normal private-use profile. In return, you get:

• True light-jet performance

• Twin-engine redundancy and pressurization

• Practical cruise speeds that turn regional and medium-range trips into easy out-and-back days

For owners stepping up from high-performance pistons or turboprops, this is where the numbers finally make sense to justify “owning a jet” instead of just chartering occasionally.

Annual Budget: Under $1 Million All-In

For a typical Part 91 private owner running a Straight II, you can realistically keep:

• All-in annual cost under $1,000,000

That broad number covers:

• Crew (if you’re using two pilots)

• Hangar

• Insurance

• Fuel

• Maintenance and inspections

• Training and recurrent

• Data, charts, and subscriptions

If you’re qualified, structured, and comfortable operating single-pilot where applicable, your total number can be even lower, since crew cost and some associated training and travel overhead drop.

Why the Citation 550 Straight II Works

The Straight II isn’t about flash; it’s about honest, low-friction capability:

• Proven, simple systems

• Straightforward maintenance

• Excellent support and parts availability

• A cockpit and cabin that deliver exactly what’s needed and nothing excessive

For the right mission set—regional business and personal travel, 2–6 passengers on typical legs, or replacing a high-performance piston or turboprop—the Citation 550 Straight II is one of the most rational answers in the market.

Who the Citation 550 Straight II Is For

This airplane makes sense if you:

• Want into a jet for roughly $1.1–1.3M

• Need around $1,000/hour operating costs

• Want to keep all-in annual spend under $1,000,000

• Are either set up to fly single-pilot where appropriate, or want a simple, inexpensive two-crew light jet with predictable numbers

• Value simplicity over flash, proven systems, and a clean, strong-pedigree airplane instead of a discounted project

A real jet you can buy for just over a million, fly for about a thousand bucks an hour, and keep the entire annual budget under a million dollars—without feeling like you’re cutting corners.