Paris, France - June 18, 2007 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, continues to strengthen its business in the European market with the upgraded Citation Encore+. European sales account for 26 percent of the total Encore+ order book. The Citation Encore+ is one of four Cessna business jets on display this week at the Paris Air Show.
“The Encore+ is well suited for European business travel,” said Roger Whyte, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “Its low operating cost and 3,300 kilometer range enable our customers to travel efficiently between all major business centers in Europe.
Cessna has delivered five Encore+ aircraft since deliveries began on April 26, 2007. The seven- to 11-passenger Encore+ succeeds the Encore, offering FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) equipped engines, increased payload capability, a new integrated avionics suite, more standard equipment, and new interior styling features.
An increase in the gross weight resulted in a full-fuel payload of 530 kg (1,170 lbs), 154 kilograms (340 lbs) more than the original Encore. This enhancement in the Encore+ also increases the range with higher passenger loads.
The integrated Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite supplies the Encore+ with many of the same features as the Citation CJ3 and CJ1+ and CJ2+. The heart of the integration resides in the File Server Unit (FSU) serving as a portal to display electronic charting, graphical weather, and enhanced mapping in the cockpit.
Flight data is presented on three 8-inch by 10-inch active matrix color liquid crystal displays – two Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and one enhanced Multi-Function Display (MFD).
Other integrated avionics features include Pro Line 21 Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) radios and Collins FMS-3000 with performance database. The Encore+ is equipped with standard Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II), Mark VIII Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), and Graphical Weather.
Cessna achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification (TC) for the Encore+ on December 21, 2006, meeting its Q4 timeline goal. Takeoff distance was certified as 1,073 m (3,520 ft), time to climb to 13,716 m (45,000 ft) as 27 minutes, range (with NBAA IFR reserves) as 1,780 nm (3,296 km/2,048 statute miles), and maximum airspeed as 792 km per hour (500 mph/428 ktas).
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2006, Cessna delivered 1,239 aircraft, including 307 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $4.2 billion and a backlog of $8.5 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, more than 189,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 5,000 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, 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, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.