INDEPENDENCE, KAN., Oct. 29, 2013 – Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, delivered the first Citation Mustang destined for service in India. IRM Limited, one of the largest integrated travel and travel-related financial services company in India, took delivery of the best-selling Citation business jet during a ceremony at the Cessna delivery center in Independence, Kan.
The delivery ceremony was attended by B.V. Suresh, the Executive Vice President of IRM Limited. The first Mustang in India will be based at the company’s facility in Ahmedabad, capital city of Gujarat State, providing IRM Limited with high-speed executive and corporate travel, plus charter opportunities.
Brad Thress, Cessna senior vice president of business jets, said: “The Mustang is a great fit for IRM Limited, and perfect for operation in India out of Ahmedabad. From the west coast, passengers have non-stop access to practically every part of India. The Mustang can get in and out of places that might be tough for other aircraft to access, thanks to its short field performance and a full-fuel range of 1,150 nautical miles.”
“We expect the Mustang to play a key role in helping us provide fast, convenient business solutions for our clients,” said B.V. Suresh. “The Mustang will be able to reach many more parts of Gujarat State and the major metro cities of Mumbai and Delhi; routes which take much longer to reach using ground transportation. Having this business tool enables our executives and clients to access places difficult to reach with commercial travel in a convenient and efficient manner. Business aviation enables economic progress – our clients stand to benefit from the speed and utility of the Mustang.”
The Mustang is equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite and weather avoidance radar. Also part of the avionics system is a terrain-avoidance warning system (TAWS), traffic information system, dual altitude heading reference system and dual air data computers. The Mustang has a maximum operating altitude of 41,000 ft (12,497 m) and can accommodate two pilots and four passengers. The ground-breaking aircraft made its first flight in 2005, and since then more than 400 of the aircraft have been manufactured and are in service.
About Cessna
Cessna is the world’s leading general aviation company. Since its inception in 1927, Cessna has designed, produced and delivered nearly 200,000 airplanes around the globe. This includes 6,500 Citation business jets, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world. Today, Cessna has two principal lines of business: aircraft sales and aftermarket services. Aircraft sales include Citation business jets, Caravan single-engine utility turboprops, single-engine piston aircraft and lift solutions by CitationAir. Aftermarket services include parts, maintenance, inspection and repair services. In 2012, Cessna delivered 571 aircraft, including 181 Citation business jets, and reported revenues of $3.111 billion. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at cessna.com.
About Textron
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 Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at textron.com.