INDEPENDENCE, Kan., Aug 23, 2013 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, celebrated as the first production unit of its newest business jet, the Citation M2, took its maiden flight out of the company’s Independence, Kan., facility. The M2 was announced in September of 2011 with a design driven by customer and pilot feedback. It is the latest in a succession of new Cessna aircraft to make its initial production flight, and type certification is expected this fall.
“The aircraft performed exceptionally well today,” said Cessna production flight test pilot Terry Martindale. “We departed Independence and proceeded to an altitude of 17,500 feet. Through the almost two hour flight, we completed a large portion of the production test flight procedures. This is the first aircraft equipped with the Garmin G3000 avionics, and the system goes beyond what people might be expecting in terms of familiarity, versatility, situational awareness and ease of use. You can sense that pilots designed the cockpit. Everything is where you need it to be.” The co-pilot on the mission was Cessna engineering test pilot Corey Eckhart.
“When we announced the M2 less than two years ago, we knew a need existed for a jet of this size, capability and value,” said Brad Thress, Cessna senior vice president of business jets. “You will see operator feedback and owner insight practically everywhere you look in the M2. The Garmin G3000 avionics are familiar to pilots while at the same time bring advances they want with features they need. The M2 is the leader in the next generation of aircraft, and a great step ahead for any light jet operator who needs a new, more advanced business aircraft.”
The Citation M2 is the ideal aircraft to economically fly up to six passengers in comfort on a 1,300 nautical mile flight. The Cessna Intrinzic™ flight deck has Garmin G3000 avionics featuring high-resolution multifunction displays and split-screen capability. Touch screen interactivity comparable to a Smartphone provides pilots with precise performance information they need in a logical, familiar user interface.
“The flight of the M2 today is the latest demonstration of our deeply-held commitment to product development,” said Thress. “The Citation X took its first production flight this month, and the Citation Sovereign took its first production flight in April. Cessna has put over 3,300 flight hours into the M2, the Sovereign and the Citation X programs. We are dedicated to bringing these jets to our customers, and dedicated to delivering what our customers want.
The Citation M2 features two powerful Williams FJ44 engines and a cruising speed of up to 400 ktas (460 mph). The M2 has the range to fly passengers nonstop from Houston, Texas to New York, N.Y., Calgary, Alberta to Chicago, Ill., or San Diego, Calif., to Mexico City, Mexico. The M2 can climb to a flight level of 41,000 feet in 24 minutes, is single pilot certified and has a useful load of 3,809 lbs. For more information on the Citation M2, visit Cessna.com or call 1-800-4-CESSNA.
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About Cessna
Cessna is the world's leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered nearly 200,000 airplanes around the globe. This includes 6,500 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 2012, Cessna delivered 571 aircraft, including 181 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $3.111 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.
About Textron
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 textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; performance issues with key suppliers or subcontractors; difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact our customers' ability to fund or finance purchases of our products; and continued demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.
Contact:
Contact: Andy Woodward
+1 316 517 1927
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Hannah Summers
+1 316 517 5555
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