SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, Aug 14, 2013 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is debuting three of its new aircraft to customers attending this week’s Latin America Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE) in São Paulo, Brazil. The Citation Sovereign, Cessna Grand Caravan EX and the Cessna TTx are on display at the company’s exhibit this week at Latin America’s largest aviation convention.
The new nine-passenger Citation Sovereign has a range of 5,556 km (3,000 nm) and can fly non-stop from Rio de Janeiro to Panama City. Upgrades to the aircraft include the addition of winglets, which increases the aircraft’s range as well as enabling a top speed of 458 kts (848 km/h) and a direct climb to 13,716 m (45,000 ft).
Speaking at LABACE, Kriya Shortt, Cessna senior vice president of Sales said: “It is time to take a new look at the Sovereign, particularly for operators in Latin America. The new Sovereign is an ideal aircraft for the region. Designers improved on an already stellar aircraft by offering excellent short-field performance, allowing the aircraft to operate at a greater selection of airports. With its enhanced range, upgraded interior and more dramatic appearance, we expect it to be a hit with customers.”
Also on display for the first time in the region is the Grand Caravan EX, the latest addition to the globally trusted Caravan family. The aircraft offers increased horsepower to undertake a greater variety of missions in hard-to-access areas of the world, making it the perfect choice for the demanding Latin American terrain.
Jodi Noah, Cessna senior vice president for single engine/propeller aircraft, said: “Demand for high-performing propeller aircraft is strong in Brazil and the rest of Latin America and the Grand Caravan EX is well suited for the region. The aircraft can haul a 907 kg (2,000 lb) payload nearly 833 km (450 nm), making it an ideal solution for safely getting people and cargo into areas other aircraft simply cannot reach.”
Announced in July 2012, Cessna’s Grand Caravan EX is engineered for challenging, rugged missions with high payloads and short, rough runways. This “high and hot” workhorse delivers 25 percent more horsepower than the original Grand Caravan, a 38 percent increase in rate of climb, a 106 meter (340 ft) reduction in takeoff distance and 12-knot cruise speed improvement.
For single-engine pilots seeking jet-like performance, the Cessna TTx is the world’s fastest certified single-engine fixed-gear aircraft. With a range of 2315 km (1,250 nm), the aircraft can fly non-stop from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires. The TTx is capable of speeds up to 235 kts (435 km/h) and has been celebrated for its technologically advanced cockpit design complete with Garmin G2000 avionics. First deliveries began to customers in the U.S. in June.
Shortt commented: “True aviators appreciate the TTx. In flight the aircraft is fun, fast and sporty, while still offering a comfortable interior reminiscent of a luxury sports car. It is a high performance aircraft providing customers with the best of both worlds.”
For more information on the Citation Sovereign, the TTx or the Grand Caravan EX, please visit Cessna.com.
About Cessna
Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered nearly 200,000 airplanes around the globe. This includes 6,500 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2012, Cessna delivered 571 aircraft, including 181 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $3.111 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.
About Textron
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 Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at textron.com.