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The Bell 429 Makes Successful Flying Debut
at Recent Heli-Expo

Press Contact
Greg Hubbard (817) 280-8245
gdhubbard @ bellhelicopter.textron.com

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 26, 2009) - Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, provided a summary of the customer demonstration flights held during the Heli-Expo convention that ended Tuesday, February 24th.

The Bell 429 demonstrator flew 220 customers on 35 flights during the show, accumulating 16 flight hours with 100 percent reliability. Over the course of three days, customers representing Emergency Medical (EMS), offshore, corporate/utility and foreign military from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East all flew in the helicopter.

Customer comments were universally positive regarding the power of the helicopter, its great climb rate, and the exceptional visibility and roominess of the cabin. Several of the pilots commented that the controls had a very nice feel to them and the aircraft had excellent stability.

Bob Fitzpatrick, sr. vice president of Business Development and Commercial Programs stated, "The 429 is proving to be all we said it would be and we are as anxious to start delivering this outstanding aircraft to our customers as they are to put it into service."

Bell saw strong interest during the show in the use of the 429 for offshore oil and gas missions in Africa and EMS missions in China, showing the capability of this helicopter to expand into previously untapped markets.

Certification is expected around the middle of this year, with customer deliveries beginning by the end of the year.

About Bell Helicopter

Bell Helicopter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) 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 www.textron.com.

http://www.bellhelicopter.com
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Post Office Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101

Forward-looking Information: This release contains forward-looking statements regarding a U.S. Government programs awarded to Bell Helicopter. These forward-looking 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 forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including the following: [a] Textron�s ability to perform as anticipated and to control costs under contracts with the U.S. Government; [b] the U.S. Government�s ability to unilaterally modify or terminate its contracts with Textron for the Government�s convenience or for Textron�s failure to perform, to change applicable procurement and accounting policies, and, under certain circumstances, to suspend or debar Textron as a contractor eligible to receive future contract awards; [c] changing priorities or reductions in the U.S. Government defense budget, including those related to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism; and [d] changes in national or international funding priorities, U.S. and foreign military budget constraints and determinations and government policies on the export and import of military and commercial products.

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