“We are confident that the Citation Longitude will set the new standard in business aviation with its incredible cabin comfort, low operating costs, long maintenance intervals and combination of speed and range,” said Rob Scholl, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. “Throughout the flight-test program our test pilots have been reporting that the Longitude is the best flying Citation to date. Now, with this full interior test aircraft, we’re able to showcase its class-leading and incredibly quiet cabin experience.”

With four aircraft flying in the Longitude test program, the company has tested various systems and technologies throughout the last eight months including avionics, stability, handling and cabin technologies. The program team has also completed many important development and certification tests such as the ultimate load testing, which evaluates the maximum forces the fuselage and wing can endure, as well as extreme climatic and environmental testing at the U.S. Air Force’s McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

The first Longitude flew in October 2016 and to date, the flight test program has amassed more than 230 sorties, accumulating over 450 hours. A fifth and final flying test article will join the program this summer, showcasing the company’s dedication and commitment to getting the aircraft in the hands of its customers. The company anticipates achieving Federal Aviation Administration certification by the end of this year (2017), followed by European Aviation Safety Agency certification next year (2018).

“The dedication of our team, and the early success of our development program demonstrates that we are not entering this super-midsize space lightly,” Scholl added. “The design of the Longitude was driven by input from customers around the world, so we’re thrilled to showcase this particular aircraft to our European customers, who will benefit from the industry-leading cabin comfort and performance capabilities required to connect them to important destinations throughout the region.”

About the Citation Longitude

With a range of 6,482 kilometers (3,500 nautical miles) and full fuel payload of 726 kilograms (1,600 pounds), the Longitude is poised for the European market by connecting city pairs such as London to Dubai, Paris to Boston or Geneva to New Delhi.

The aircraft is set to elevate passenger expectations in this class of aircraft by delivering the quietest cabin, lowest cabin altitude (1,814m), more standard features, and a comfortable, bespoke interior with a superior fit and finish. With seating for up to 12 passengers, including an optional crew jump seat, the Longitude features a stand-up, 6-foot tall flat-floor cabin. A standard double-club configuration allows the most legroom in the super-midsize class. Fully berthable seats are designed and manufactured in-house and a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment is accessible in flight.

Natural light is plentiful with 15 large windows positioned throughout the cabin for optimal viewing. A large, forward wet galley offers versatility to meet a wide variety of passenger needs. State-of-the-art cabin technology allows passengers to manage their environment and entertainment from any mobile device, while standard internet maximizes productivity in flight.

The clean-sheet design of the Longitude integrates the latest technology throughout the aircraft, bringing customers the lowest ownership costs in this class. It features the next evolution of the Garmin G5000 flight deck and is powered by FADEC-equipped Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines with fully integrated autothrottles. With optional head-up display and enhanced vision capability, the Longitude facilitates eyes-up flying. The spacious cockpit incorporates easier access and an ergonomic design that fully focuses on crew comfort and efficiency.

No super-midsize business jet offers more range, greater payload or higher cruise speed at a lower expected total ownership cost. The Longitude is designed to feature the longest maintenance intervals in its class – 800 hours or 18 months – expected to make it the most cost effective to operate in its category.

About Textron Aviation Inc.

Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. For more than 90 years, the Textron Aviation brands have represented unrivaled innovation, performance and leadership in the industry, offering an unmatched value proposition rooted in the total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market, Textron Aviation provides the most versatile and comprehensive business and 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. Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft in over 143 countries. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable 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, Textron Off Road, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. 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 efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products or unanticipated expenses in connection with the launching of significant new products or programs; the timing of our new product launches or certifications of our new aircraft products; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of commercial products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; risks related to our international business, including relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries; difficult conditions in the financial markets which may adversely impact our customers’ ability to fund or finance purchases of our products; and demand softness or volatility in the markets in which we do business.