Textron Aviation Independence facility delivers 10,000th single-engine aircraft

Joe Hepburn, Textron Aviation SVP of Piston Aircraft presents Dave Howard, USAF retired, Brigadier General Dave Young, Assistant Provost for Aeronautics Education at Liberty University the keys to the milestone Cessna Skyhawk.
Joe Hepburn, Textron Aviation SVP of Piston Aircraft presents Dave Howard, USAF retired, Brigadier General Dave Young, Assistant Provost for Aeronautics Education at Liberty University the keys to the milestone Cessna Skyhawk.
The Textron Aviation Independence team celebrates the delivery of the 10,000th Independence-built single engine Cessna aircraft.
The Textron Aviation Independence team celebrates the delivery of the 10,000th Independence-built single engine Cessna aircraft.

The milestone Cessna Skyhawk carries a custom paint scheme displaying its position as the 10,000th Independence-delivered single-engine aircraft.
The milestone Cessna Skyhawk carries a custom paint scheme displaying its position as the 10,000th Independence-delivered single-engine aircraft.

WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 27, 2014 —Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that Cessna Aircraft Company delivered the 10,000th single-engine aircraft from its Independence, Kan. facility since its first delivery in June 1996. Liberty University took delivery of this milestone aircraft, a Cessna Skyhawk, along with two other Cessna Skyhawks, adding to its growing flight training fleet.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the quality of the workforce at our Independence facility, which continues to be a cornerstone of our manufacturing footprint,” said Lily English, Independence general manager. “Through the years, our Independence facility has grown from producing only single-engine aircraft to now also producing and delivering the Citation Mustang and the recently certified Citation M2.”

The Independence team and Liberty University representatives marked the occasion with a delivery ceremony of the three Cessna Skyhawks, with one carrying a custom paint scheme displaying its position as the 10,000th Independence-delivered single-engine aircraft.

“Through the years we have developed a great relationship with the team here in Independence and continue to choose Cessna products because we trust the craftsmanship that goes into each one of their aircraft. The Skyhawk is the mainstay to the quality flight training we provide to America’s next generation of professional pilots,” said USAF retired, Brigadier General Dave Young, Assistant Provost for Aeronautics Education at Liberty University.

The Cessna Skyhawk has become the global standard training platform and has earned a reputation for offering the best combination of modern features, including the G1000 avionics system, and proven dependability. There are more Skyhawks in the world than any other type of aircraft, with more than 48,000 having been designed, manufactured and delivered since 1955, first from Wichita, now from the facility in Independence.

Since its first single engine delivery in June 1996, the Independence facility now produces the majority of Cessna single-engine piston products, including the Skyhawk, Turbo Skylane JT-A, Stationair, TTx , as well as two Citation jets– the Mustang and the M2. Textron Aviation also has its Garmin avionics training center in Independence.  

The Liberty University School of Aeronautics has grown from four students and is currently the largest faith-based university aviation program in the country. The school offers a variety of online and residential programs, including a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in military aviation, missionary aviation, commercial/corporate aviation, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). They are also the owner of Freedom Aviation, the Fixed Based Operator (FBO) located at the Lynchburg, VA airport.

About Textron Aviation Inc.
Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation companies include Cessna Aircraft Company and Beechcraft Corporation, bringing together decades of unmatched experience in designing, building and supporting airplanes. It provides the most versatile and comprehensive 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. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation and Hawker business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s largest global service network. For more information, visit textronaviation.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, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com