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The big question for legacy jet owners considering an upgrade is whether a newer aircraft will deliver enough benefits to justify the costs.?For owners who fly their own plane; the flight deck is where those benefits will be most apparent. Textron's new retrofit package gives original CitationJet owners who are on the fence, a reason to hold. Textron Aviation announced availability of an all-Garmin avionics retrofit package for original CitationJet aircraft, serial numbers 525-0001 through 0359, following FAA supplemental type certification (STC). The upgrade includes Garmin G600 TXi flight displays, the GTN 750Xi navigator and the GFC 600 digital autopilot, along with Stabilized Approach monitoring and aural V-speed alerting on takeoff. Optional upgrades include the GWX 8000 StormOptix weather radar and GDL 60 datalink for the PlaneSync connected aircraft management system. Textron will install the package through its service network. Garmin announced the certification the same day and offers the retrofit through its authorized dealers, so owners have two installation paths. Neither company has disclosed pricing. The original CitationJet 525 remains one of the cheapest turbofan Citations available. GlobalAir.com's current market data shows seven aircraft listed for sale, six located in the United States, with an average asking price around $1.1 million and an average market time of 285 days. The airplane still sells, though. Six sold in the past 12 months, and three have sold or gone under contract in the past six. A flight deck upgrade does not automatically create a higher aircraft value. Avionics upgrades are typically used as a major differentiator. Four of the seven CitationJets currently listed on GlobalAir.com highlight Garmin avionics. Regardless of valuation, this STC gives CitationJet owners a clear path to modernization without moving into an entirely different aircraft category or budget tier. Why it matters The value of the retrofit may have less to do with resale and more to do with utility. Modern avionics can reduce pilot workload, improve situational awareness, and provide capabilities that were not available when the original CitationJet entered service. For owners who are satisfied with the aircraft's performance, range, and operating economics, upgrading the cockpit offers a way to extend the aircraft's usefulness without learning an entirely new platform.