Wichita, KS - July 8, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today a program that offers free fuel for up to 18 months and a free Garmin synthetic vision upgrade for new buyers of Cessna 182 Skylanes or Turbo Skylanes through September 30, 2008.
Under the program, Cessna will pay for fuel for the new Skylane up to $15,000 between now and the end of 2009, based on average usage and power settings.1 Cessna will also upgrade at no charge the Garmin G1000 avionics package standard on the 182 with Garmin's Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) currently in the final stages of certification by Cessna and Garmin.
"When you couple this with the U.S. government's bonus depreciation program for new business aircraft passed earlier this year, we have a package that offers unparalleled value for the popular 182," said John Doman, Cessna's vice president for propeller aircraft sales. "This will prove to be a very popular program as it provides unique ownership opportunities."
Bonus depreciation is part of the U.S. government's economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year and, if aircraft use and other factors meet qualifications standards, may provide substantial tax savings for new aircraft ordered in 2008 and delivering in 2008 or 2009. 2
SVT is being jointly developed by Garmin and Cessna engineering and is scheduled for certification in by the end of the year. SVT offers an enhanced presentation of terrain as well as "Highway-in-the-Sky" (HITS) flight guidance and is integrated into the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, the standard avionics suite in the Cessna 182, as well as in all other Cessna propeller aircraft and the Citation Mustang, the world's first fully operational entry level business jet.
To qualify for the incentives, a buyer must take possession of the Cessna 182 Skylane or Turbo Skylane between July 1 and September 30. More information can be obtained at www.cessna.com or from any of Cessna's Sales Team Authorized Representatives (CSTAR) around the globe.
1 Free fuel until December 2009 is based on an average of 11.5 hours flown per month at normal power settings (12 gallons/hour) and 100LL avgas priced at $6.00/gallon. The maximum value is $15,000.
2 Be sure to consult your own tax advisors to determine if the bonus depreciation program would apply to your aircraft purchase.
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Based on unit sales, Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's largest manufacturer of general aviation airplanes. In 2007, Cessna delivered 1,272 aircraft, including 387 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of about $5 billion. Cessna has a current backlog of $14.5 billion. Since the company was originally established in 1927, some 190,000 Cessna airplanes have been delivered to nearly every country in the world. The global fleet of more than 5,100 Citations is the largest fleet of business jets in the world. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at http://www.cessna.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 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.
Forward-looking Information: Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements and 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 forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including but not limited to the following: [a] changes in worldwide economic and political conditions that impact demand for our products, interest rates and foreign exchange rates; [b] the interruption of production at our facilities or at our suppliers' facilities; [c] the timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products; [d] the occurrence of slowdowns or downturns in customer markets in which our products are sold or supplied; [e] changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; [f] the launching of significant new products or programs which could result in unanticipated expenses; [g] changes in national or international government policies on the export and import of commercial products; and [h] bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers that could cause disruptions in our supply chain.