Atlanta, GA – October 18, 2010 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Caravan at the 63rd NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention. A Grand Caravan with a special 25th anniversary paint scheme is on static display at the Cessna exhibit at Dekalb Peachtree Airport (KPDK) during the event.
“The Caravan has been a tremendous success for Cessna. Its order book has remained resilient for 25 years including during this most recent economic downturn,” said Roger Whyte, Cessna’s senior vice president of Sales and Marketing.
The Caravan is known around the world for its versatility. Whether providing airline service, transporting cargo or outfitted in the OASIS™ interior for business travel, it fits multiple and unique missions making it a main-stay in the industry.
“The Caravan has also provided much needed humanitarian relief efforts throughout the world, including Indonesia, Africa and most recently Haiti. The Caravan’s capability to bring supplies to stricken regions via unimproved or makeshift runways has made it the perfect aircraft for this type of mission,” Whyte said.
Cessna delivered its 2,000th Caravan, a Grand Caravan, in September, this one going to Air St. Kitts-Nevis to be used as part of the carrier’s DHL courier operation. The carrier, which operates out of multiple bases in the Caribbean, will also take delivery of another new Caravan this year. The sale was made through Tropical Aviation Distributors, Cessna’s authorized sales representative for the Caribbean.
The single-engine turboprop Caravan is certified in 100 countries and the fleet has amassed more than 13 million flight hours. It received FAA type certification in 1984 and marked its first customer delivery in 1985.
Photo of 25th Anniversary Caravan
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company, based on unit sales, with five major lines of business: Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine turboprops, Cessna single-engine piston aircraft, aftermarket services and lift solutions by CitationAir. In 2009, Cessna delivered 754 aircraft, including 289 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $3.3 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 192,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered around the world, including more than 6,000 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