Cessna Introduces New 350 and 400 Aircraft to World Wide Sales Force

March 17, 2008
Wichita, KS - March 17, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, this month introduced the new Cessna 350 and 400 aircraft to its Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representatives (CSTAR) at a conference in Bend, Ore. where the 350 and 400 are produced.

The conference included briefings from Cessna executives, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Aircraft engineers and sales representatives from the Bend Municipal Airport facility and the Cessna Advanced Aircraft Club. A tour of the production facility was also provided to the CSTARs.

Since Cessna acquired the assets of the Bend plant in December 2007, the production facility has received a full face lift including new signage, new lighting and a new customer center. The transition plan, which includes implementation of Textron Six Sigma, has reached 40 percent completion. Cessna expects to deliver 150 350/400 aircraft this year and plans to increase production rates in 2009 to meet customer demands.

Cessna's 350 and 400 aircraft are low wing, composite aircraft designed for speed and efficiency. At a maximum cruise speed of 235 knots true air speed (ktas), the Cessna 400 is the fastest fixed gear single-engine piston aircraft on the market. Designed with safety in mind, both aircraft have dual carbon fiber reinforced wing spars, dual horizontal stabilizer attach-points and multiple hinge points for all control surfaces. The airframes are constructed entirely of fiberglass and carbon fiber. All control surfaces are carbon fiber, and only the stabilizer attach-spars, landing gear legs and engine mount are primary structures made of steel. Certification for the aircraft is under Part 23, Amendment 46 in the utility category. The Cessna 350 is spin resistant and the 400 is spin recoverable.

Equipped with a 310-horsepower Teledyne Continental TCM IO-550N, the Cessna 350 has a certified ceiling of 18,000 ft and a maximum cruise speed of 190 ktas. The twin turbo charger equipped, intercooled TCM TSIO-550C can allow the Cessna 400 to cruise as high as FL250. A 4-place, built-in oxygen system is included with the 400.

Like all current Cessna single-engine products and the Citation Mustang, the 350 and 400 are equipped with the integrated Garmin G1000 avionics system. The aircraft complement Cessna's current product line well, filling the niche between the Cessna 206 Stationair and the Citation Mustang. Jet-like features of the 350/400 include speed brakes, bleed air heat and many fully redundant systems including dual alternators, dual primary electric power busses and dual batteries. The aircraft also incorporate a G1000 flight management data-entry pad similar to the Citation Mustang. Other unique features include 2 and 3 axis trim, side-stick controls, digital climate control, and remote keyless entry with step lights.

After learning more about the 350/400 and the aircrafts' market potential, the CSTARs promptly placed orders for the remaining 2008 production in anticipation of strong demand from their customers.

About Cessna Aircraft Company
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $12.6 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 190,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 5,100 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 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.

Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: [a] changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; [b] the interruption of production at our facilities or at our suppliers' facilities; [c] the timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products; [d] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which our products are sold or supplied; [e] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; [f] the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; [g] changes in national or international government policies on the export and import of commercial products; and [h] bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers that could cause disruptions in our supply chain.

Connect with Textron IR

David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288
Kyle Williams, Manager, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288

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