UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ORDERS 25 CESSNA 172 SKYHAWKS

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Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced it has entered into a multi-year contract with the University of North Dakota for Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The first four of 25 Skyhawks to be delivered in 2008 were handed over yesterday during a ceremony at Cessna's facility in Independence, Kan. The aircraft will be used for flight training.

The university's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences (UND Aerospace) is an international leader in collegiate and contract aviation education. On average, enrollment of flight students tops 1,000 and total flight training hours surpasses 90,000 each year in more than 120 aircraft.

Earlier this year, UND Aerospace took delivery of a Citation Mustang entry level business jet, making it the first collegiate flight program to have a Mustang in its fleet. The Mustang is used for executive travel as well as flight training for undergraduate and contract students.

"UND is a leader among collegiate flight schools, and we're thrilled they've chosen to expand their fleet with new Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The 172 remains the world's most popular training aircraft due to its unique combination of safety, reliability and predictable flight characteristics. With the addition of the Mustang and now the 172s, we're pleased and proud that UND continues to choose Cessna as we work together to increase new pilot starts," said John Doman, Cessna's vice president, worldwide propeller aircraft sales.

"Cessna has always been a big supporter of UND Aerospace throughout our 40 years in flight training," said Don Dubuque, Director of Extension Programs. "We are excited to once again see Cessnas on our ramp."