Textron celebrates Cessna, Beechcraft anniversaries

CEO Ron Draper indicated that more than 250,000 aircraft have flown under the banner of Textron and its brands over the years, many more than any other U.S. aviation company.

Draper also took pride in the fact that he flew a Beechcraft Baron from the Beech Party in Tullahoma, Tennessee, to Orlando for the event. “It was smooth sailing the whole way until right before Orlando—I joined a lot of planes in the airspace here,” he explained.

Draper also spoke with pride about the Special Olympics Airlift, a Textron initiative in which more than 100 Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air, Beechcraft Premier, Beechcraft Beechjet, and Hawker aircraft owners and operators donated the use of their aircraft, fuel, and pilots to transport Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando in June.

“The Special Olympics Airlift shows what private aviation can do to help people,” Draper said.