Cessna Plans for 5th Citation Special Olympics Airlift

October 12, 2004

Las Vegas, NV - October 12, 2004 - Today, Cessna Aircraft Company revealed it is planning to launch its fifth massive Citation Special Olympics Airlift. Cessna expects the 2006 Citation Special Olympics Airlift to include 400 Citations that will transport more than 2,500 Special Olympics athletes and coaches across the nation to the 2006 Special Olympics U.S. National Games held at Iowa State University, July 3-8, 2006.

The Citation Special Olympics Airlift is the largest peacetime airlift in the world. It was conceived in 1986 by Cessna's Chairman Russ Meyer. Corporations and individual Citation owners and operators donate their Citation business jet(s), pilots, and fuel to transport athletes to the Games. The jets will depart for Ames, Iowa, on July 1, 2006, from approximately 35 states. A Special Olympics Citation will land or takeoff every 30-60 seconds during a 12-hour period. After the conclusion of the National Games, the Special Olympics Citation fleet will return to Ames, Iowa, on July 9 to pick up the athletes and return them to their homes. Citations will travel approximately one-and-a-half to three hours each way, and each Citation will transport four to seven athletes plus one coach or sponsor.

"We applaud Cessna and their Citation aircraft owners for providing this opportunity to our Special Olympics athletes," said Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. "Thanks to Cessna, more athletes will have the chance to showcase their abilities at the National Games, which means in turn that more attitudes will be changed and more lives will be transformed."

Every Citation Special Olympics Airlift has been planned and organized by Marilyn Richwine, Cessna's Vice President of Corporate Communications, "The Citation Special Olympics Airlift has always been a success because of the collaboration and tremendous support we receive from individuals within Cessna, the FAA, on-site airport officials, local fixed base operators, hundreds of volunteers from the community, the Special Olympics organization, and most importantly, Citation owners and operators. Without each of these groups donating their time and resources, we would never be able to stage this type of event. And, everyone would agree that it is all worthwhile when a Citation door opens and an athlete steps out smiling from ear to ear. They are excited not only because they are about to compete in events they've been practicing for year-round, but for many athletes this is their first airplane ride, especially in a business jet."

The first Citation Special Olympics Airlift was in 1987. It involved more than 130 Citations that carried almost 1,000 athletes to the summer Games in South Bend, Indiana. In 1991, 200 Citations took nearly 1,500 athletes to and from the Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1995, 215 Citations transported 1,600 athletes to Hartford, Connecticut. In 1999, 275 Citations donated by 260 individuals and companies transported over 2,000 Special Olympics athletes and coaches to and from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. In 2006, Cessna officials anticipate transporting approximately 2,500 athletes and coaches with 400 Citations.

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round athletic training and competition in 26 Olympic-type sports for more than 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org. Some of the sports planned for the 2006 Special Olympics U.S. National Games include aquatics, basketball, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball and volleyball.

Additional information and sign-up sheets for volunteering your Citation for the 2006 Citation Special Olympics Airlift may be found at www.citationairlift.com or by calling 1-877-DSM-LIFT (1-877-376-5438). The Citation Special Olympics Airlift is made possible by the generosity of companies and individuals who donate their Citation business jet(s), pilots and fuel in support of Special Olympics.

Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.

For additional information or questions about the general aviation industry, contact the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) at 202-393-1500 or www.GAMA.aero.

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