Textron's Farnborough and Oshkosh News Highlights
PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Aug. 2, 2002--The following is a summary of news announced by Textron Inc.'s businesses during last week's Farnborough International 2002 airshow held in England and the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh convention held in Wisconsin.| -- | Bell Helicopter has delivered five H-1 Upgrade Program prototype aircraft to the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md. Bell is upgrading the Marine Corps' aging fleet of combat utility and attack helicopters by remanufacturing two different aircraft, UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras, to share a common drive train, rotor head, tail boom, avionics, software and controls. These five prototypes are beginning the flight test phase of the program and all are expected to be flying by the end of the summer. This upgrade program increases the speed, range, maneuverability and lift capability of both aircraft. Over the 30-year expected lifespan of the aircraft, the commonality created among the two aircraft is projected to save the Marine Corps approximately $3 billion in operating and support costs. |
| -- | At a press conference held at Farnborough, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Jones expressed his support for the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft being developed jointly by Bell Helicopter and the Boeing Company. "By anybody's definition tilt-rotor technology is transformational," said Jones. "The V-22 can best be described as a gateway to the future," he continued. The V-22 Osprey took to the skies at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md. on May 29 for the first time after being grounded for over 17 months. "We could not be more pleased with the aircraft we now have and with the success of the flight test program," said Col. Dan Schultz, V-22 program manager. |
| -- | Bell Helicopter Flight Training Academy announced it is offering the first FAA-approved Night Vision Goggle (NVG) training course for civil operators. "The use of night vision goggles is paramount in the military," said Gary Young, Chief of Flight Training at Bell Helicopter. "This new training course extends our well-proven military training techniques for NVG to vital civil operators such as law enforcement, emergency medical services and other essential helicopter operations." |
| -- | Bell Helicopter announced several upgrades to its model 407, a light, single engine, six-passenger helicopter. Approval was given recently that changed tail rotor bearing inspections from every 25 hours to 100 hours and eliminated tail rotor performance limits. Other improvements include improved drive train components, a quick, lightweight blade fold kit that allows tighter parking, reliability improvements in engine instruments, a new strengthened tailboom, new transmission & mast oil seals, a new cargo hook system, selected easy to install kit wiring sets for floats, cargo hook and flight instruments, and a starter generator that gives better performance for operations over 10,000 feet. These improvements are now available on new 407s and for upgrades of existing helicopters. |
| -- | At Oshkosh, Cessna Aircraft Company received an order for 18 new Cessna Skylanes from the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry to be used for forest fire surveillance. Cessna's market share for special missions continues to increase as organizations are made aware of the flexibility and enhancement options of Cessna's high-wing aircraft. The Skylane is particularly popular for special missions because of its fuel efficiency, ease of handling, visibility and reliability. |
| -- | Textron Systems showcased its diversified product lines at Farnborough. Significant international interest was expressed in the surveillance system known as Terrain Commander(TM), an early detection and warning system for homeland security needs. Interest was also shown in HR Textron's electromechanical actuator control technology used in Boeing's X-45B UCAV, an unmanned combat air vehicle. |
| -- | Textron Systems' announced its HR Textron Operations received Department of Transportation approval on an enhanced power gas cylinder for aircraft emergency door power systems. In an emergency, a color-coded handle is depressed which releases the compressed gas cylinder charge triggering an air powered actuator which allows the aircraft emergency door to open. The improved cylinder's new stainless steel construction combined with a proprietary welding technique adds to the component's structural integrity resulting in an unprecedented 18-year interval FAA certification testing and an approved 35-year design life. The cylinder currently in use requires testing every 3 years and has a design life of only 24 years. Joseph Klocko, vice president, HR Textron Operations said, "The new steel cylinders will be removed from aircraft doors only once every 18 years for testing. Such a significant increase in certifications intervals will dramatically decrease operator life-cycle costs for this subsystem as well as help operators to reduce spares inventories." |
Textron Inc. is a $12 billion multi-industry company with more than 51,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services in industries such as aircraft, fastening systems, industrial products and components and finance. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com.