Cessna to offer Aircell high-speed internet on Citation private jets

While Aircell's high-speed in-flight internet service and other similar options are quickly becoming commonplace on commercial airlines, folks on private jets have so far had nothing to do but sit in their plush leather seats and drown their sorrows in a selection from the on-board wine cabinet. That dire situation now looks to be changing, however, as Cessna has just announced a partnership with Aircell that'll see the 3G-based in-flight WiFi service available as a factory option on its Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X business jets. As if that wasn't enough, it seems that the upgrade may even be eligible for bonus tax depreciation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, so really, you might as well just get that new plane. It practically pays for itself.

[nDy @ Jun 11th 2009 1:28AM]

Sexting in the sky ... priceless

[d889 @ Jun 11th 2009 1:29AM]

a new meaning the to mile high club incoming

[OneLove @ Jun 11th 2009 1:35AM]

Wow, now I can use this on my weekend shopping trips to paris. :)

[CH3BURASHKA @ Jun 11th 2009 1:44AM]

FINALLY! I was getting tired of my Lear Jet. I'll probably pick this up tomorrow.

[Kelvinyam @ Jun 11th 2009 1:56AM]

Do you notice that the walking aisle is very narrow? I though one could play golf on it. I'm disappointed. I'd just buy the A380 and build a 9-hole golf course on that thing. Cool :)

[Carl @ Jun 11th 2009 8:06AM]

Well your A380 can't do 703mph :)

But its all about priorities.

I thought a king somewhere in the middle east was ordering an A380 and a swept wing G550, just so he can park it in the airbus. Proof we give them WAY WAY too much money.

[MikeWard1701 @ Jun 11th 2009 8:37AM]

I noticed the narrow aisle too. Design feature so you can get personal with the steward?

Why stop t a golf course if you have an A380? Swimming pool, basketball court, Croquet lawn? There's enough space!

[ihonzawa @ Jun 11th 2009 2:02AM]

Well, now I can safely say that I will be going with the Cessna as opposed to that Falcon I was looking at... Or I could fly on Virgin America and use their internet service for a large fraction of the price...

[miko34 @ Jun 11th 2009 3:03AM]

Look at all those corporate types in their corporate seats doing illegal corporate shenanigans.

Ahhhh.... America.

[Hooley @ Jun 11th 2009 1:28PM]

Right, cause there are no corporate types anywhere else in the world. And of course all things corporate types do are questionable, nay, down right illegal.

Awwww, dbags...

[pokerface @ Jun 11th 2009 3:40AM]

I can haz pr0n

[Steve @ Jun 11th 2009 3:46AM]

Yay! Now i can get a monthly phone bill for my airplane too!!! As if my laptop, and phone weren't enough...

[tekd @ Jun 11th 2009 4:52AM]

Dammit I have to go cancel my pre-order for the HondaJet now. Get me Cessna on the phone ASAP!

[Emailacar @ Jun 11th 2009 5:44AM]

Erm, Engadget, I hate to tell you this but 99.9999999% of your readership are penniless geeks. Me included. Way to go isolating your readership.

[MikeWard1701 @ Jun 11th 2009 8:41AM]

We may be penniless but;
we have aspirations!
we have dreams!
we have plans for world domination!

[Inect @ Jun 11th 2009 9:32PM]

You have plans for world domination too. GOD DAMIT

[r3loaded @ Jun 11th 2009 6:40AM]

Cool, but I really was looking at the HondaJet, hope they bring Aircell to that. Still, might consider picking up a Citation this weekend :)

[Rick @ Jun 11th 2009 7:54AM]

Is that the engadget team?

[Carl @ Jun 11th 2009 8:03AM]

Guess that makes my decisions between the Citation X and the G550 alittle easier.

Are they seriously offering some kind of tax break/repayment for this, next they'll be doing cash for used pens, wouldn't want those spilling ink all over the ground. If you have one of these or plan on getting one soon, I think the extra what $5k isn't going to hurt you that much. The interiors usually cost as much as the plane does!

[Spencer @ Jun 11th 2009 8:22AM]

Gulfstream has had this for years.
http://www.gulfstream.com/product_enhancements/bbml/

Gulfstream 1 - Cessna 0

[jrp82681 @ Jun 11th 2009 9:29AM]

And so has Dassault Falcon Jet: http://www.aircell.com/index.php?Itemid=393&id=240&option=com_content&task=view

The business jet is the leader in this stuff, it is the commercial airlines who are finally catching on.

[SkyeDaemon @ Jun 11th 2009 9:48AM]

Get back to work on that RVDT drawing, Co-op!

[Jeremy @ Jun 11th 2009 12:18PM]

High speed SATCOM systems have been around for a little while now, in fact swift64 is an isdn type setup that was launched by Inmarsat I believe in 2002. I work in the IFE (in flight entertainment) field and deal with both narrow and wide band data on private airplanes.

[Pitchy @ Jun 11th 2009 8:53AM]

well let's just hope their internet doesn't crash as frequently as their little personal planes

[Ranger Rick @ Jun 11th 2009 9:42AM]

SNAP.

[Phil @ Jun 11th 2009 10:07AM]

What a diverse photo.

[Topmounter @ Jun 11th 2009 3:40PM]

I thought business jets had been outlawed by the federales...???