Wichita, KS – July 13, 2010 – For the next two Saturdays in Lincoln, Nebraska, a Cessna Citation business jet will land or take off every two minutes for 10 hours as part of the Special Olympics USA National Games, transporting some 800 athletes from around the country to compete. The airlift, the sixth such quadrennial effort, is sponsored and managed by Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company.
"For these world-class athletes, the airlift is their only means of transportation and the only way for them to have the opportunity to compete as world-class athletes," said Charles Cooper, president and CEO of the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games. "Arriving and departing on Cessna Citations is one of the most exciting experiences these athletes will have during the week of the games."
More than a year of planning has been done by hundreds of individuals at Cessna, the Federal Aviation Administration, Lincoln Municipal Airport officials, Lincoln fixed-base operators, volunteers from the Lincoln business community and the Special Olympics organization, said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton.
"None of this would be possible without the time, resources and philanthropic spirit of these individuals as well as the Citation owners and operators who donated their airplanes, pilots and fuel to transport athletes and coaches to the USA National Games," Pelton said.
"Because of the generous contributions from our Citation customers, more athletes can participate and they arrive rested and ready to compete in their events," Pelton said. "From all of us involved with the airlift, we wish these athletes the best of luck in their competition."
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.