Textron Showcases Global Offerings at Farnborough International Airshow

Business Wire, July 17, 2006

FARNBOROUGH, England -- Reinforcing its leadership in the global aerospace marketplace, Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) businesses are exhibiting this week at the world's largest airshow, the 45th Farnborough International Airshow (FIA). This seven-day event serves as a highly effective platform for Textron's aviation and aerospace-related businesses, including Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company and Textron Systems, to showcase a wide range of innovative offerings and solutions - such as the breakthrough V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor - and to connect with customers from around the globe.

"Textron's multi-industry nature makes us a very attractive player in the aerospace arena, as we are equipped to serve a variety of key markets and customer needs in an industry that demands high-performing solutions; and FIA is a perfect venue for Textron to connect with aviation and aerospace customers from around the world," said Lewis B. Campbell, Textron's Chairman, President and CEO. "After all, our achievements in this arena would not be possible if not for the voices and input from these customers, who are so critical to our product design and development process."

Textron at Farnborough

Textron companies are sponsoring a variety of exhibits, demonstrations, panels and events at FIA. Following are highlights of Textron presence at the show:

--Textron exhibit sites at FIA include the Bell Boeing Chalet L1-2; Bell Helicopter Chalet L3-7; the Bell Pavilion Outdoor Exhibit 1 (OE1); a static display featuring Cessna aircraft and Bell helicopters, including the V-22 Osprey; and the Textron Systems display in Hall 3, Stand 8;

--On Sunday, July 16, Textron is presenting the award for the Best General Aviation submission at the RAS Aerospace Journalist of the Year Awards Dinner at the Royal Courts of Justice;

--Also on Sunday, Textron and Boeing will host a V-22 Osprey Reception at Two Temple Place;

--A formal V-22 Press Briefing will occur at 12 p.m. on Monday, July 17 at the Farnborough Press Center;

--The new Bell X-Hawk will be unveiled on Monday at 2 p.m. at the Bell Pavilion;

--On Wednesday, July 19 at 11 a.m. there will be a V-22 Operators Panel featuring V-22 pilots and maintainers at the Bell-Boeing Pavilion;

--In addition, Textron's E-Z-GO, a leader among golf car manufacturers, is the sole sponsor of 40 golf cars that will transport VIPs around the airshow; and

--Cessna Finance Corporation, a subsidiary of Textron Financial Corporation, will be present to support Cessna Aircraft and its customers.

Textron Businesses at Farnborough

Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Bell will be showcasing a variety of technologies at FIA during the week. This includes the V-22 Osprey, which made its first international flight across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom last week, and will - for the first time ever - be a part of the daily FIA flight demonstrations. In addition, Bell will display the Bell 407 and the Bell Eagle Eye, X-Hawk, ARH-70, 429 and 417, which will all be featured in a variety of commercial and military applications.

As the vertical aircraft industry continues to grow in Europe, Bell Helicopter remains focused on the needs of its sophisticated customer base and their growing businesses. As technology continues to drive vertical lift towards more efficient and economic solutions, Textron continues to invest heavily in Bell Helicopter to increase capacity and develop new technologies and customer relationships. Bell expects its presence in Europe to grow over the coming years as new product introductions like the Bell 429 enter the market place, which will set the standard for emergency medical services in Europe.

Cessna Aircraft Company

Cessna Aircraft manufactures the broadest product line of aircraft in the world, including business jets, freight- and passenger-hauling turboprop-powered Caravans, and single engine piston aircraft. During FIA, Cessna will exhibit two business jet aircraft from the well-known Citation line - the CJ3 and XLS - as well as a Grand Caravan.

The Cessna line of aircraft has been particularly successful in Europe due to the continued growth of business aviation in the market. Drivers for this expansion include enhanced time management, greater efficiency in business management, increased personal communication, and more optimum travel options. With a recently opened sales office in Farnborough, England, Cessna is primed to deliver aircraft to customers as more and more companies accept the business jet as a tool for increasing efficiency, making more productive use of valuable management time.

Textron Systems

Textron Systems provides advanced technology solutions to meet the needs of the global defense and aerospace industries. At FIA, Textron Systems in combination with operating unit HR Textron, will exhibit precision strike weapons and ground and airborne surveillance systems, including the Sensor Fuzed Weapon, smart anti-armor weapon, and advanced customized hydraulic and electromechanical flight controls, systems and components for commercial and military aircraft.