Wichita, KS - April 17, 2007 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the Citation Mustang will make its international debut in Germany at the bi-annual AERO Friedrichshafen general aviation trade show beginning April 19.
The Citation Mustang, the first of a new class of entry level jets, to be fully certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is part of the company's line-up of business jets and single-engine propeller aircraft on display at the show.
“We are very excited to have the Citation Mustang debut in Friedrichshafen,” said Roger Whyte, Cessna senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. “Sales of the Mustang in Europe make up a large portion of our total backlog, proving just how well-suited it is for this market.”
The Citation Mustang was fully certified by the FAA in September, and the company gained its FAA production certificate in November. Cessna expects certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) later this year to meet the delivery schedules for European customers. Earlier this month, Cessna's training partner, FlightSafety International, received both FAA and EASA qualifications for its training simulator in Wichita, Kans (KICT). Its European simulator and training facility at Farnborough Airport (EGLF) in the United Kingdom will be operational later this year.
More than 100 Citation Mustangs have been ordered by European customers, including six Mustangs ordered by German customers. The Citation Mustang, along with other members of the Citation business jet family, can be seen at AERO Friedrichshafen at the Atlas Air Service GmbH display, Cessna's authorized Citation sales representative in the region.
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2006, Cessna delivered 1,239 aircraft, including 307 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $4.2 billion and a backlog of $8.5 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 189,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of almost 5,000 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. 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 Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.