Textron Aviation delivers full product lineup for special missions market

Textron Aviation Inc., said today at the Farnborough International Airshow that the entire product range of Beechcraft and Cessna products are available in special mission configurations. All 20 current production aircraft - including a Special Mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER on display this week in Farnborough, U.K. - fit numerous mission profiles, including aerial survey, air ambulance, flight inspection, aerial surveillance, training and utility transport.

"With the combination of the Beechcraft and Cessna products within Textron Aviation, we now offer the largest proposition of special mission platforms in the industry," said Dan Keady, vice president, Special Missions. "We have seen a significant growth in special mission activity around the globe and anticipate this market will continue to grow across our aircraft platforms. From our piston-engine Beechcraft and Cessna products up to the largest Citation business jets, we are able to offer our customers an aircraft to fit just about any mission requirement."

The Beechcraft products, particularly the King Air turboprops, are utilized around the globe in a number of services including air ambulance, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), maritime patrol and pilot training, while the Cessna product line lends itself to multiple special mission roles from piston trainers, to the multi-purposed Caravan operating in an air ambulance, cargo, parachute and float plane platforms. The Citation jets are also used in training, flight inspection and air ambulance roles throughout the world.