Cessna’s Russ Meyer to be Inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame

July 02, 2009

Wichita, KS - July 2, 2009 - Russ Meyer, former Cessna Aircraft Company chairman and CEO and a leading proponent of general aviation, will be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) July 18, joining astronauts Eileen Collins, the late Edward White, and movie legend Jimmy Stewart in the class of 2009. Cessna Aircraft Company is a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.

Meyer, who led Cessna from 1975 to 2003, is being recognized in part for his leadership in the passage of the 1994 General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) that limited aircraft liability that had crippled the general aviation (GA) industry. During his tenure, Meyer also presided over the expansion of the Citation line of business jets, the world’s most popular line of light to mid-size jets.

“There is no doubt that Cessna’s global general aviation industry leadership is due in large measure to Russ,” said current Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton. “His greatest contribution was in his role as the force that re-energized America’s general aviation industry in the mid-1990s, solidifying our nation’s global leadership position. That leadership translates directly today into many thousands of direct jobs across the country, and millions more that benefit from business and general aviation.”

In the mid-1980s, Cessna was compelled to cease production of its ubiquitous piston-powered general aviation aircraft due to liability issues that held a manufacturer liable over the life of an aircraft. Litigation costs and awards had crippled not only Cessna, but the entire general aviation industry. Meyer was the force behind the adoption of GARA which provides liability limits and reinvigorated the industry, allowing Cessna to re-enter the GA market. Today, Cessna’s 172 single-engine piston aircraft has become the most-produced aircraft model in history with more than 40,000 produced – and counting.

Meyer was also instrumental in the development of the “Be A Pilot” program that has resulted in tens of thousands of new pilots and contributed more than $200 million to the nation’s economy through general aviation operations.

Meyer has been involved with a number of local and national civic efforts and was the originator of the Citation Special Olympics Airlift, where hundreds of Citation owners have transported athletes from around the country to the National Special Olympics games.

Over his long Cessna career, Meyer has been recognized with a number of industry awards including two Collier Trophies, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy and the Meritorious Service Award from the National Business Aviation Association, among others. He was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1996. Meyer has also served on a number of national panels and committees including three Presidential Commissions.

Meyer holds a bachelor of arts degree from Yale University and a law degree from Harvard University. A commercial, instrument-rated pilot with more than 15,000 hours, he is type rated in a number of Cessna aircraft. Meyer remains active in national aviation issues as chairman emeritus of Cessna.

The NAHF will also induct Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot a space shuttle (STS-63) and the first woman to fly as shuttle commander (STS-93); Ed White, Gemini and Apollo astronaut who was killed in 1967 in the flash fire aboard Apollo I; and actor Jimmy Stewart, a World War II bomber pilot, retired Air Force Reserve brigadier general and American airpower advocate.

The NAHF will also present the Milton Caniff “Spirit of Flight” Award to the U.S. Project Apollo astronaut crews “for their role in enabling man to walk on the lunar surface and return safely to Earth.” The induction ceremony comes nearly 40 years to the day after the first manned mission to the moon on Apollo 11.

The NAHF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Dayton in 1962 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1964. Its mission is to honor America’s outstanding air and space pioneers, which it does through a 17,000 square-foot public Learning Center featuring interactive exhibits, a youth education program, its annual enshrinement ceremony, and other public outreach programs.

For more information on the ceremony or for tickets, contact the NAHF at www.nationalaviation.org or +1 937 256 0944, Ext. 10.

About Cessna Aircraft Company
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2008, Cessna delivered 1,301 aircraft, including 467 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5.662 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 5,700 Citations, making it 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 multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.

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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