Cessna Progresses on Design, Development of Citation Columbus

May 19, 2008
Geneva - May 19, 2008 - Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is moving forward on its Model 850 Citation Columbus, the large cabin, intercontinental business jet launched earlier this year.

An interior mockup of the Columbus is on display this week at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE). The mobile mockup travels in a specially built semitrailer and will make appearances throughout Europe in the months ahead.

Cessna engineers have completed low-speed and high-speed wind tunnel testing. The Columbus team is completing architecture and layout planning; then, the aircraft's detail plans will merge into a master development schedule. One segment of the schedule, for example, will address facilities.

As the largest aircraft in Cessna's 80-year history, the Citation Columbus requires bigger production and ground testing buildings, as well as expanded flight hangars. Later this year, Cessna will break ground on new facilities in Wichita, Kan., where the company will produce the Model 850.

In April, the State of Kansas passed legislation to provide up to $33 million in state funds to aviation companies bringing significant projects to the state. Cessna is investing $780 million to develop the Columbus, which will result in more than 1,000 new direct jobs with an estimated annual payroll of $74 million.

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 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, defense and intelligence, 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 timing of new product launches and certifications of new aircraft products.

Connect with Textron IR
David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288

Kyle Williams, Manager, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288

Registered Shareholders Services & Information
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Phone: +1 (800)-468-9716
https://equiniti.com/us/
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