Cessna announces long-term agreement with The Ohio State University
LAKELAND, Fla. (April 21, 2015) – Cessna Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced at the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In and Expo that it has signed a long-term agreement with The Ohio State University’s Flight Education program. Initially, the agreement includes an order for five Cessna Skyhawk 172 training aircraft and support for aircraft delivered under the contract. First deliveries begin in May, with the agreement running through 2022.
The new Skyhawks will augment Ohio State’s current training fleet that includes Cessna 152s, 172s and 310s, among others.
“The new Skyhawks will continue upgrades to the fleet that will give aviation students enrolled in the university’s Center for Aviation Studies access to the more advanced avionics and NextGen compatible systems that they likely will encounter when they graduate and move into professional aviation careers,” added Brandon Mann, Director of Flight Education for The Ohio State University.
The Ohio State University traces its aviation roots to 1917 when the United States War Department established Schools of Military Aeronautics at six universities, including Ohio State. Through the years, a number of government-run flight schools were set up on campus before the Board of Trustees established the School of Aviation in 1942. Today, the Flight Education program is operated for the College of Engineering by The Ohio State University Airport.
About the Cessna Skyhawk 172
The Skyhawk is the world standard for pilot training and is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the G1000 avionics system, and proven dependability. More Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world than any other type of aircraft, with more than 48,000 in service since 1955.
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 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, and Textron Systems. 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 cancellations or deferrals of orders.