Cessna on Schedule to Deliver First Skyhawk Turbo Diesel by Mid-2008

April 08, 2008
Lakeland, FL - April 8, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, said today at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., that it is closing in on certification of the turbo diesel model of its popular 172 Skyhawk.

Cessna and Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH have accumulated more than 200 hours on a prototype of the single-engine piston aircraft in efforts to achieve European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the supplemental type certificate (STC) that will allow Cessna to offer a factory-installed engine operating on Jet-A fuel. Once EASA certification is secured, Cessna will pursue type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. Deliveries are expected to begin by mid-2008.

“Market interest in the new Skyhawk TD is very high; we plan to increase production in 2009 to meet the demand,” said John Doman, Cessna vice president of worldwide propeller aircraft sales. “Customers see exceptional value and productivity in an airplane combining the reliability of the Skyhawk with Jet-A fuel's wide availability and lower direct operating cost.”

The Skyhawk TD features a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) equipped Thielert Centurion 2.0 liter engine. The DOHC (double overhead camshaft) in-line four-cylinder turbocharged engine develops 155 horsepower, is liquid cooled and drives a composite three-blade constant speed propeller. Benefits include reduced fuel consumption, lower direct operating costs, simplified engine operation and improved hot-and-high aircraft performance.

Cessna has incorporated several aircraft design changes to simplify factory installation and maintenance, as well as to ensure full integration of the new engine with the Skyhawk's systems and Garmin G1000 avionics system.

The Skyhawk TD offers increased range and endurance, making it an ideal solution for special mission applications like forestry patrol, wildlife conservation efforts, pipeline/power line patrol, traffic reporting and airborne law enforcement. The TD option has also seen early orders from large fleet flight training schools both in the United States and abroad, especially where 100LL avgas is either unavailable or much higher priced than Jet-A fuel.

In January 2008, Cessna began delivering its 172S Skyhawk models with the Garmin GFC700 Automatic Flight Control and Flight Director as standard equipment integrated into the aircraft's already standard G1000 avionics. The Skyhawk GA and Skyhawk TD GA remain available without autopilots for customers desiring this configuration at its lower price point.

This year marks the 60th anniversary since Cessna introduced the Cessna 170, the aircraft that was the predecessor to Cessna's current production, high-wing piston aircraft – the 172 Skyhawk, 182 Skylane and 206 Stationair. The 170 series was produced from 1948 until 1956, when the company added tricycle gear to create the Cessna 172. The Skyhawk has become the best-selling, most-flown airplane in the world with more than 43,000 delivered.

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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