HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 22, 2011 — Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is displaying a wide array of aircraft at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Hartford and celebrating 15 years of operation at its Independence, Kan., facility where Cessna single-engine pistons are produced.

On static display at Hartford-Brainard Airport, Cessna shows off its 162 Skycatcher, 182T Turbo Skylane, 206T Turbo Stationair, 208B Grand Caravan, Citation Mustang High Sierra edition and Citation CJ4.

Cessna is also celebrating 15 years of production at its Independence, Kan., facility, which opened in 1996 after the passage of the U.S. General Aviation Revitalization Act in 1994. Cessna discontinued single-engine piston aircraft production in Wichita in the 1980s due in part to rising liability costs.

Operations in Independence include assembly, paint, installation of interiors and delivery of all seven single-engine piston aircraft models as well as the Citation Mustang business jet. The first Independence-produced single-engine piston came off the line in November 1996 and the facility has delivered more than 9,000 single-engine pistons and more than 350 Citation Mustangs. In total, Cessna has produced more than 154,500 single-engine pistons since the company’s founding in 1927.

“Being an aviation pioneer with our single-engine products for more than 80 years and knowing that our aircraft have trained thousands of pilots is something to be proud of,” said Jodi Noah, Cessna vice president of single engine/propeller aircraft. “To be able to continue to produce those quality, steadfast aircraft at our facility in Independence with highly skilled Cessnans is worthy of celebration.”

This year also marks the 55th birthday of the Skyhawk and Skylane, which have amassed a fleet of nearly 44,000 and more than 25,000 respectively.

Source: Cessna