Wilmington, MA - September 13, 2004 - Textron Systems announced today that Ian Walsh has been named as vice president and general manager of Lycoming Engines, reporting to Richard (Dick) Millman, president, Textron Systems. Lycoming Engines, located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is an operating unit of Textron Systems. In this role, Walsh will develop business strategies to drive long-term growth and profitability while ensuring operational excellence to support its extensive client base.

"Ian's background and expertise will be of tremendous value in driving Lycoming's continuing focus on operational excellence and customer satisfaction," said Dick Millman, president, Textron Systems. "Ian will play a central role in enabling Lycoming to deliver on its promise of quality, reliability and performance."

Ian Walsh stated, "Lycoming is one of the most powerful and recognized brands in the general aviation industry. We need to remain focused on our customer's needs and desires through product improvements, innovation, and continued unmatched service and support."

Walsh's previous role was as director of pricing strategies for all Textron businesses as part of Textron's Customer Leadership organization. Prior to this assignment, Walsh worked for Bell Helicopter and held several management and executive roles in marketing and business development. He is a certified Textron Six Sigma Black Belt and was selected as one of the company's first Top Gun Black Belts. Walsh served as an officer and Cobra attack helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1989 to 1996. He remains an active pilot with more than 1,500 hours of flight time and is commercially rated in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Walsh holds a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College, a master of public administration from the Kennedy School of Government, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Mike Wolf, former president of Lycoming, will continue to support Lycoming in the area of Strategic Development. In addition, Mike will apply his many years of experience in the general aviation industry to support some of Textron Systems' other business initiatives in this area. "I would like to thank Mike for all his efforts during the past years as Lycoming has taken significant steps towards working more closely with its customers, network of distributors and suppliers," said Dick Millman.

Lycoming is an operating division of Textron's Avco Corporation subsidiary, specializing in manufacture and support of piston aircraft engines. Lycoming piston engines power more than half of the world's general aviation fleet - both rotary-wing and fixed-wing. More information is available at www.lycoming.textron.com.

Textron Systems Corporation, an operating division of Textron subsidiary Avco Corporation, provides innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of the global aerospace and defense industries. The company supports military precision engagement and dominant maneuver with strike weapons, mobility and surveillance systems. The Textron name is well known in the areas of advanced weapons, surveillance systems, aircraft control components, specialty marine craft and armored vehicles. More information is available at www.systems.textron.com.

Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products, industrial components and finance. 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.