Providence, RI - March 18, 2008 - Demand for Textron Inc.'s (NYSE: TXT) aircraft products continues apace, as Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft Company experience solid order intake to date for new aircraft this year.
Textron previously announced strong results from the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition Forum in Hong Kong, the Singapore Airshow and Heli-Expo in Houston with 84 purchase orders for helicopters and 22 jet orders.
"Results from these three February shows are indicative of the general strength we continue to see in global aircraft markets," said Lewis B. Campbell, Textron chairman, president and CEO.
Speaking at today's JP Morgan Aviation and Transportation Conference in New York City, Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO remarked, "The order environment for business jets continues to be robust. Based on strong order activity to-date, we are expecting a very strong new order book in the first quarter and remain confident that we will record over 570 business jet orders this year."
Dick Millman, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter recently stated, "Bell continues to see strong world-wide demand across our product line and we believe this demand will create another robust sales year for us."
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
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.