Cessna Reports Record Backlog and Orders

Atlanta.– Jack J. Pelton, chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company, the world’s leading manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), said today that the unprecedented strength of the business aircraft market is creating a firm foundation for the company’s rapid growth.

“Last year, we delivered 307 business jets. This year we expect to deliver 380. Next year, we plan to deliver 470,” said Pelton, who is attending the 2007 National Business Aviation Association Meeting and Convention Sept. 25-27 in Atlanta. “This extraordinary rate of growth is being driven by strong economies and corporate profits and a rapidly-emerging global marketplace. Clearly, our strategy of having the broadest, most comprehensive product line in the industry is serving us well.”

At its static display at Fulton County Airport, Cessna is displaying its full range of business jets, including a Citation X with winglets, and several single engine piston and turboprop aircraft. At exhibit #8550 at the Georgia World Conference Center, the company is displaying full scale mockups of a proposed Large Cabin Concept that would be its largest business jet, as well as the XLS+ and CJ4 business jets that are currently in development.

Cessna currently produces eight different models of business jets, along with six models of single engine piston aircraft and three versions of the single engine turboprop Caravan. Pelton said the total backlog as of August 31 is the highest in the company’s history – more than $11 billion representing roughly 2,700 units, half of which are business jets. During 2007, as of August 31, Cessna has booked orders for 525 business jets, compared to 496 business jet orders booked in all of 2006.

Over the past 80 years, Cessna has delivered some 190,000 airplanes, making it, by far, the world’s largest general aviation manufacturer, based on unit sales.