Fort Worth, TX - May 3, 2010 – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. are offering customers substantially better hot-and-high performance from the Bell 407 through Supplemental Type Certificate No. SR095531RC-D, a previously announced STC now being offered to current operators and new customers at no cost to them.

“This STC makes the 407 even more effective for our customers by drawing on the helicopter’s design and performance reserves,” said Larry D. Roberts, Bell’s senior vice president, Commercial Business. “All of us at Bell appreciate the business our customers bring to us and the tremendously important work they do with our aircraft. Offering these benefits at no additional cost is one way we can show our appreciation and confirm that purchasing a 407 was the right decision.”

Using the STC, 407 operators can—under specific conditions—boost their useful load by more than 400 pounds or increase their hover ceiling by over 3,000 feet. They must adhere to the rotorcraft flight manual and limit the generator load to less than 50 amps. (Basic 407 performance charts assume a generator load of 180 amps; a typical 407 generator load for day operations is 25-30 amps and 35-40 amps at night.) Operators also must perform regular power-assurance checks per revised procedures to utilize the performance charts contained in the STC.

The resulting performance gains come with no loss of operational safety margin, require no hardware or software changes to the aircraft or its Rolls-Royce M250-C47B engine, and result in no change to time between overhaul (TBO) or warranty costs (because no engine limits are changed). Rolls-Royce supports the STC initiative.

“Rolls-Royce is excited to be working with Bell Helicopter on this STC,” Ken Roberts, president of the Rolls-Royce Helicopter Engines business, said.

The STC is available now as a retrofit through Aeronautical Accessories in Piney Flats, Tenn. Contact Keith Ray, AAI sales manager, 423-391-3607. For new 407s delivered from Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd.’s plant in Mirabel, Quebec, the STC will be included with the aircraft.

Revised performance charts are available under the STC for both the basic 407 inlet configuration and for the BHT-407-FMS-3 Particle Separator Kit.

About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor 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 Aeronautical Accessories
Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., an affiliate of Bell Helicopter, has been the worldwide leader in helicopter accessories and replacement parts since 1979. Aeronautical Accessories designs, manufactures, markets, warehouses, and distributes state-of-the-art FAA/STC-approved products and accessories that enhance the operation, safety and versatility of helicopters.

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, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems.