Lakeland, FL – March 31, 2011 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla., the University of North Dakota has ordered five new 172 Skyhawks to add to its training fleet. The Skyhawks are scheduled for delivery in July and August.
The order is part of a multi-year agreement between Cessna UND's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences (UND Aerospace) to modernize its fleet of single-engine piston aircraft and will bring the training fleet to 63 Skyhawks, the largest single fleet of G1000-equipped Skyhawks in the U.S.
With more than 2,000 students, UND Aerospace will fly over 125,000 hours of flight training this year. UND Aerospace has one of the nation's largest training fleets with more than 130 aircraft, nine unmanned aerial vehicles and 22 flight training devices. UND began its acquisition of new Skyhawks in July 2008. For more information, visit www.aero.und.edu
High resolution images:
Image 1 – Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton (right) chats with UND Director of Extension Programs Don Dubuque (center) and Michael Gomm (left), manager of fleet propeller sales for Cessna, about UND's training fleet, soon to be at 63 Skyhawks with the addition of five to be delivered later this year.
Image 2 – The teams from Cessna and UND pose for a group shot in front of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk during the Sun'n Fun Fly-In & Expo in Florida. UND ordered five Skyhawks at the show for delivery later this year, bringing their training fleet total to 63 172s.
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered more than 192,500 airplanes around the globe. This includes more than 6,100 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2010, Cessna delivered 535 aircraft, including 179 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $2.6 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at 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.