Duncan Aviation recently put its aircraft customization skills to the test on one of its own company jets. The Cessna Citation 560XLS, recently unveiled in a private ceremony, carries an elaborate paint scheme from artist Nancy Friedemann Sánchez, who like Duncan itself, is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was commissioned by Robert Duncan, the family-run company’s chairman emeritus, and his wife Karen, art aficionados who had admired Sánchez’s work at an art show.

The design process took an entire year, as Sánchez began with small sketches of various elements, which were eventually added over the Citation’s medium blue base color by stencil or hand drawing. The aircraft exterior was divided into 14 sections, and a team of six workers masked and unmasked areas as needed, explained paint master specialist Stacy Finch. “Since everything is covered, it was a challenge to remember where each color went,” Finch explained. “It’s like working on a big puzzle.”

Altogether, the flying canvas required 23 specific aviation paint colors, 101 rolls of painter’s tape, 75 paint mixing cups, and 288 touch-up brushes.

The cabin interior received a refresh as well, with new headliner, window panels, lower sidewalls, seats, and carpeting.

Cockpit upgrades featured the Garmin G5000 avionics suite, with a dual multi-sensor flight management system, and a trio of high-resolution, 14-inch flight displays alongside dual touchscreen controllers. It represents the first installation of the system completed by Duncan.

“It’s a flying, traveling billboard that catches people’s attention and shows them that Duncan Aviation is different,” said Robert Duncan, who earned his type rating in the aircraft, adding people are either going to love it or hate it. “It’s a great way to share our innovation and creativity as a company, the talent of our team members, and the quality of our workmanship.”