Cessna SkyCatcher Prototype Completes First Flight

WICHITA, Kan.--(Business Wire)--
Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company,
completed the first flight of its Model 162 SkyCatcher prototype
Saturday.

"The first flight of the SkyCatcher is a significant step ahead
toward our goal of bringing an affordable training aircraft to
market," said Jack Pelton, Cessna's chairman, president and CEO.
"There is a lot of excitement at Cessna as we progress through our
many developmental programs and I'm very proud of our teams for
continuing to stay on track."

The one-hour SkyCatcher flight departed Cessna Aircraft Field
Airport adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base just after 7 a.m. and
consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating the controllability and
stability of the aircraft. The SkyCatcher, flown by Cessna Engineering
Test Pilot Dale Bleakney, proceeded to Mid-Continent airport where it
will continue development testing.

"Cessna's dedicated SkyCatcher team made an incredible effort to
complete the first flight ahead of schedule and I'm extremely proud of
their accomplishments," said Derek Mookhoek, program manager for the
SkyCatcher.

This is the first of three airframes: a prototype, the first
production model, and an ASTM (American Society for Testing and
Materials) test article that Cessna's engineering team will build in
the development phase of the SkyCatcher program. All engineering work
and testing of the 162 will be completed in Wichita. The aluminum
aircraft is planned to meet ASTM standard for F2245 light sport
aircraft.

Fabrication of the first production 162, scheduled to fly later
this spring, is progressing as planned and the ASTM test article last
week completed limit load testing alongside the new Citation CJ4 test
article at Cessna's structural test facility.

Also, Cessna's engineering team continues to evaluate the 100-hp
Continental O-200 engine using the proof of concept aircraft. It first
flew with the Continental engine on Aug. 17, 2007, just weeks after
the program's official launch at the Experimental Aircraft
Association's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.

Priced at $111,500, the 162 is expected to cruise at speeds up to
118 knots with a maximum range of 470 nautical miles. The aircraft
will feature a Garmin G300 avionics system. Information is presented
in a single, split-screen primary flight display (PFD) and
multi-function display (MFD), or as two full-screen displays with an
optional second screen. The aircraft will be capable of day and night,
visual flight rules operations.

Preliminary design parameters for the SkyCatcher include a maximum
gross weight of 1,320 pounds, a service ceiling of 15,500 feet, a
useful load of 490 pounds and a usable fuel capacity of 24 gallons. It
has a cabin width at shoulder height of 44.25 inches, equaling that of
the much-larger, 6-place Cessna 206 Stationair. It features two
top-hinged cabin entry doors and forward pivoting seats giving access
to a 12.5 cubic-foot baggage compartment. The aircraft will have
tricycle landing gear with a castering nose wheel and standard dual
toe-actuated disc brakes.

About Cessna Aircraft Company

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. Cessna has a current backlog
of $11.9 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 5,000
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 an $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
http://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, (b) the
interruption of production at Textron facilities or Textron's
customers or suppliers; (c) slowdowns or downturns in customer markets
in which Textron products are sold or supplied; (d) changes in
aircraft delivery schedules or cancellation of orders; and (e) changes
in national or international government policies on the export and
import of commercial products.

Investor Contact:
Textron
Doug Wilburne, 401-457-2353
or
Bill Pitts, 401-457-2353
or
Media Contact:
Cessna
Doug Oliver, 316-517-1927
or
Textron
Kim Reingold, 401-457-2494

Copyright Business Wire 2008