Cessna Announces Agreement with Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH

Wichita, Kan.– Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it has reached agreement with Germany’s Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH to collaborate on future programs centered on the Thielert diesel engine. Details are scheduled to be announced later this year.

“We think the Thielert engine may provide a very worthwhile power option for many of our customers since it runs on jet fuel and diesel,” said Cessna Vice President, Worldwide Propeller Aircraft Sales John Doman. “We have had discussions with Frank Thielert and his group for some time, and we think the time is right to move forward.”

“We have a number of products that are of interest to Cessna and we are excited to be moving forward in our relationship,” said Frank Thielert, CEO of Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH. “The benefits are documented, so we have great confidence the customers of Cessna would be pleased with the savings and reliability.”

Thielert has won several European certifications since 2002 for retrofitting diesel engines into Cessna aircraft, and a supplemental type certificate (STC) for retrofitting the Cessna 172 was granted in March 2007 by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Thielert engines feature low fuel consumption, electronic engine control systems, and improved hot-and-high engine performance.