Textron Aviation to showcase its new innovations at ABACE 2017, April 11-13 at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport

SHANGHAI, 2017-Apr-13 — /Travel PR News/ — Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is displaying its leading Cessna Citation XLS+ light midsize business jet and Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop at this year’s Asian Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (ABACE) April 11-13 at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. During the three-day event, the company is also highlighting its new family of large-cabin business jets – the midsize Cessna Citation Latitude, super-midsize Cessna Citation Longitude and large-cabin Cessna Citation Hemisphere – which will bring a broad range of capabilities and class-leading features to the market. 

“ABACE is a great opportunity to showcase our class-leading platforms in region and introduce our customers to the new innovations we are bringing to market,” said Bill Schultz, senior vice president, Business Development, China. “The Citation Latitude has quickly become the best-selling midsize business jet since it entered the market less than two years ago, and we believe this aircraft is going to be a great fit for the region with its imminent certification in China.”    

Leadership in region

With more than 1,000 Textron Aviation turboprop aircraft positioned throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the company’s platforms continue to lead the market. The Beechcraft King Air and Cessna Caravan platforms have proven to be ideally suited to the region’s needs. These aircraft offer an unmatched combination of performance and flexibility to meet a variety of business and special mission aviation needs. The total ownership experience goes beyond the superior range, solid load capacity and numerous cabin configurations by providing dependability and low operating costs, ensuring customers receive the most value for their aircraft. 

A favorite among private and commercial operators in the region, the Grand Caravan EX allows for extended missions and higher payload. The amphibian model continues to garner interest throughout China and surrounding markets by giving operators greater access to remote locations with a first-class interior configuration that can accommodate up to nine passengers. The company continues to deliver Caravans to customers in China through its joint venture with AVIC General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (AVIC General). 

The Asia-Pacific region is perfect for the extensive mission and performance capabilities of Textron Aviation’s broad range of Citation business jets with approximately 250 in operation throughout the region. Textron Aviation and AVIC General operate the joint venture – Cessna-AVIC (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd. – for paint, interior installation, flight testing and delivery of the Citation XLS+ for Chinese customers. Business owners consistently have chosen the Citation XLS+ more than any other aircraft in the light midsize category for its unparalleled combination of comfort, ease of operation, range of mission capabilities and favorable operating efficiencies. The aircraft allows customers in China to travel from Beijing to Hong Kong or from Hong Kong to Shanghai, well within a one-day trip. 

New Citation innovations

The company’s new large-cabin business jet family, with the Citation Latitude, Longitude and Hemisphere, are also positioned to bring additional capabilities to the Asia-Pacific region, offering impressive packages of performance, technology and comfort at the lowest operating costs in their respective segments. 

Since its introduction in the summer of 2015, the Latitude has rapidly set a new standard, redefining the expectations for a midsize business jet. In 2016, the company delivered 42 Latitudes, making it the most delivered midsize jet in the world for that year. The Latitude, with a maximum range of 5,278 kilometers (2,850 nm) and a best-in-class four-passenger range of 5,000 kilometers (2,700 nm) at high-speed cruise, is set apart from the competition by its combination of comfort and efficiency. The aircraft offers an unrivaled cabin experience featuring the most open, spacious, bright and refined cabin environment in its category. It brings all of the amenities of a larger jet at a midsize acquisition cost. Certification of the Latitude by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is imminent.   

Designed specifically for maximum passenger comfort with the lowest cabin altitude in its class at 1,814 meters (5,950 ft), the Longitude is poised to revolutionize the super-midsize category.  With seating for up to 12 passengers, the aircraft features a stand-up, flat-floor cabin with a standard double-club configuration and a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment fully accessible in flight. With a range of 6,482 kilometers (3,500 nm) and full fuel payload of 726 kilograms (1,600 lbs) the business jet will bring even more value to customers, particularly for popular non-stop routes such as Beijing to Moscow or Shanghai to Perth. 

The Longitude is designed to feature the longest maintenance intervals in its class – 800 hours or 18 months – which is expected to make it the most cost effective to operate in its category. No super-midsize business jet will offer more range, greater payload or higher cruise speed at a lower total ownership cost. Certification of the Longitude is anticipated at the end of 2017. 

For the first time in more than 20 years, the large-cabin business jet segment will see a clean-sheet design aircraft with the recent introduction of the Citation Hemisphere. With a range of 8,300 kilometers (4,500 nm), the Hemisphere will connect important city pairs such as Beijing to Dubai or Shanghai to Hawaii. The three-zone cabin will offer the widest cabin in its class at 206 centimeters and features exceptional style and quality of finishes with the flexibility to meet a wide variety of operator’s needs. The aircraft’s cabin altitude of 1,524 meters (5,000 ft) will ensure passengers arrive at their destination feeling refreshed. 

The Hemisphere will be powered by two Safran Silvercrest engines, a next-generation engine with over 12,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft will also come well-equipped with Honeywell’s advanced Primus Epic^. fully integrated cockpit solution. To support the superior handling characteristics for an aircraft this size, the Hemisphere will incorporate a full fly-by-wire flight control system, providing the latest design for maximum performance. The first flight for the Hemisphere is expected in 2019. 

Dedicated support

As part of the company’s most capable and accessible global service network, Textron Aviation operates a company-owned service facility and dedicated parts depot in Singapore. In addition, a team of expert service technicians is positioned throughout the Asia-Pacific region offering maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, refurbishments and other specialized services. The company also has nearly 40 authorized service facilities supporting the fleet of aircraft throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

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About Textron Aviation Inc.

Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. For more than 90 years, the Textron Aviation brands have represented unrivaled innovation, performance and leadership in the industry, offering an unmatched value proposition rooted in the total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market, Textron Aviation provides the most versatile and comprehensive business and general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft and a complete global customer service organization. Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft in over 143 countries. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable global service network. For more information, visit txtav.com. 

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, 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, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information visit:www.textron.com. 

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements 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 statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact our customers’ ability to fund or finance purchases of our products; and risks related to our international business, including relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

SOURCE: Textron Aviation

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