Textron, Inc. - TXT STOCK NEWS

Textron Aviation announced the successful flight of its second Cessna Citation Ascend flight test article (P1). The flight lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes, achieving a maximum altitude of 13,500 feet and a speed of 308 knots. This milestone follows the initial flight of the Ascend prototype in 2023. The Citation Ascend, unveiled at the 2023 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), is set to enter service in 2025. The P1 aircraft, which is the first conforming production flight test aircraft, will primarily test systems including propulsion, human factors, environmental control, and avionics. The certification program expects to complete testing with the two test articles and has accumulated over 400 flight hours so far.

Textron E-Z-GO, a leader in golf cart manufacturing, celebrates its 70th anniversary by establishing National Golf Cart Day on June 13, 2024. The event marks the founding of E-Z-GO in 1954 and is accompanied by nationwide promotions. Celebrations include $500 off all vehicles (with up to $3,400 off on certain promotions), 0% APR for 36 months, 2.99% APR for 48 months, and 35% off select parts and accessories. Purchasers from June 13 to June 15 will enter a drawing for four Universal Orlando tickets and a two-night hotel stay in Orlando. Follow events on Instagram and X with #NationalGolfCartDay.

Textron Aviation is expanding its operations in Australia by modernizing facilities and boosting parts availability for Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft. The company is moving to larger service centers at Jandakot Airport in Perth and Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne. The Perth facility aims to enhance capacity and customer service, while the Melbourne expansion will quadruple parts storage space. Additionally, Premiair Aviation Maintenance, acquired in 2020, has been rebranded as Textron Aviation Australia to fully integrate into Textron's global network. The expansions are expected to be operational by mid-2024.

Textron Aviation has produced its 400th Cessna Citation Latitude midsize business jet, set for delivery later this year. The milestone was celebrated at their Wichita, Kansas headquarters. The Citation Latitude, certified in 2015, has been the top-delivered midsize business jet globally for eight consecutive years. Known for its reliability and 2,700-nautical mile range, it supports diverse operations including corporate, charter, and specialized missions. Innovations in manufacturing, such as automated robotics and precision tooling, ensure high quality and minimal downtime.

Textron Aviation has announced new Garmin G5000 avionics enhancements for its Cessna Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude jets. These upgrades aim to improve performance and user experience based on customer feedback. The Latitude will receive these enhancements starting in 2025, and the Longitude in 2026. Significant features include the Synthetic Vision Guidance System (SVGS) and improved situational awareness tools, such as 3D building footprints and Taxiway Routing. These upgrades are designed to enhance pilot situational awareness and safety. The Citation Latitude has been the top-delivered midsize business jet for eight years, and the Citation Longitude is known for its pilot and passenger-centric design.

Textron Aviation announced that the Cessna SkyCourier has received FAA certification for a new Combi interior conversion option. This allows the aircraft to transport nine passengers and cargo simultaneously. Deliveries of the Cessna SkyCourier with the Combi option are expected to begin later this year. The aircraft, known for its versatility and single-pilot operation, is designed to cater to a wide range of missions, including air freight, passenger transport, and special missions. This certification adds another layer of functionality, making it appealing to diverse global markets such as government agencies, law enforcement, corporations, and humanitarian organizations.

Textron Systems is partnering with Kodiak Robotics to develop an uncrewed military ground vehicle for advanced terrain environments. This vehicle will integrate Kodiak's autonomous driving technology, designed for driverless operations. Kodiak's technology, validated by nearly 3 million miles of real-world operations, will be embedded in a Textron Systems' prototype vehicle. This collaboration marks Kodiak's first integration of its autonomous system into a driverless vehicle, featuring modular DefensePods for easy field swapping. Demonstrations are expected later in 2024, with future explorations in automating military tasks to enhance national security.

Textron Aviation announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved supplemental type certification (STC) for an integrated Future Air Navigation System (FANS) and Protected Mode Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (PM-CPDLC) program for Hawker 4000 jets with Honeywell PRIMUS EPIC cockpits. This upgrade enhances pilot-ATC communication and uses the latest data link services in North America and Europe. The technology reduces pilot workload and improves efficiency. The program supports future FAA NextGen Data Com capabilities and offers features such as trajectory-based operations, improved re-routing, and prioritized departure clearances. Installations are available at selected Textron Aviation service facilities.

Textron Aviation announced the progress of the Cessna Citation Ascend program, with successful certification tests and over 350 flight test hours. The business jet is set to enter service in 2025, offering enhanced performance and luxury features. The prototype completed rigorous testing, including extreme weather, bird strike, and braking performance tests. The aircraft features Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545D engines for improved fuel efficiency and performance.