Oshkosh, WI - July 27, 2006 - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University today announced an order for 29 new Garmin G1000-equipped 172 Skyhawks from Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.

"Cessnas are the most reliable platforms for teaching young people to fly because they are forgiving during flight training, easy to maintain and economical to operate," said Chancellor of Embry-Riddle Thomas Connolly. "Now, since the technology exists to have Skyhawks with the Garmin G1000 avionics, training has become even more advanced. The Skyhawks with glass cockpits give our future airline and military pilots the experience they need to easily transition to flying jets with glass cockpits."

At any given time, about 1,700 students are learning to fly in Embry-Riddle's Skyhawks at the Daytona, Fla., campus and Prescott, Ariz., campus. With the additional 29 Skyhawks on order, the all-Cessna fleet will now include 69 Skyhawks.

The university has been operating Cessna aircraft for 40 years, and Embry-Riddle was the first major customer to make a commitment when it was announced Cessna would re-enter single engine piston production in 1994.

Since production of Cessna 172 Skyhawks began again in 1994, Embry-Riddle has owned more than 100 Cessna aircraft. "We refresh our fleet every five to seven years," Connolly said. "We choose Cessna because of the service and support we receive. They genuinely care about our flight school and jump when we are in a time of need."

Cessna is the world's largest producer of single engine piston aircraft and business jets.