textron aviation is the general aviation business unit of the textron group that was formed in march 2014 following the acquisition of beech holdings which included the beechcraft and hawker aircraft businesses .

the new business unit includes the textron-owned cessna .

textron aviation sells beechcraft and cessna branded aircraft .

while no longer selling new hawker airplanes , textron aviation still supports the existing hawker aircraft fleet through its service centers .

the ceo of cessna , scott ernest , was named as the first ceo of textron aviation incorporated .

textron aviation

textron is a network of companies including bell helicopter , textron aviation , textron specialized vehicles , textron tools and test , kautex and jacobsen .
textron aviation’s 1call support network provides a single point of contact for customers . textron aviation has announced that they’ve improved and enhanced their 1call …
textron aviation’s 1view is offered with both web - based access or as an offline application . textron aviation has announced the launch of their new technical …
principal subsidiaries : bell helicopter textron ; cessna aircraft company ; textron automotive company ; textron fastening systems ; textron industrial products ; textron turf care and specialty products .
when it comes to the field of aviation , textron has a long and robust history that includes the iconic aviation - focused brands of bell helicopter , cessna , beechcraft , hawker , tru simulation + training and textron ground support equipment . textron has consistently been at the forefront of the aviation industry , continuing to make revolutionary advancements .
donnelly further penetrated the aviation market with the purchase of beechcraft in 2014 , forming a new business segment called textron aviation that includes three powerful brands : beechcraft , cessna and hawker . by joining these three iconic brands , textron aviation brings 200 + years of combined aviation experience to the market and an installed customer base of more than 250 , 000 airplanes worldwide .
view sounding board : five minutes with textron aviation president and ceo scott ernest in pdf format . scott ernest joined textron aviation in 2011 after 29 years at ge aviation . ernest has led the company through a number of development projects and the merger of cessna aircraft and beechcraft corp . he recently sat down with the weekly of business aviation to talk about the company and the business aircraft . . .
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the g1000 avionics package offers cessna caravan pilots a variety of enhancements and features . textron aviation has received certification from both the faa and …
textron aviation is a leader in piston aircraft and offers a complete line of training and recreation aircraft with unparalleled performance , reliability and efficiency .
the textron aviation segment is the leading general aviation authority and home to the iconic beechcraft , cessna and hawker brands which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying . its product portfolio includes five principal lines of business : business jets , general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft , high performance piston aircraft , military trainer and defense aircraft , and a complete global customer service organization .
pratt & whitney ' s venerable pt - 6 turbine is one of the marvels of aviation . but like everything else in aviation , it requires overhaul . . . .
the citation m2 is positioned to take over the cessna citation mustang’s light jet role . according to textron aviation , they have just built the …
ron carlson did almost everything right but only luck transformed tragedy into an amazing aviation story .
the leading general aviation authority and home to @ beechcraft , @ cessna and hawker brands .
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the cessna turbo skyhawk jt - a offers improved takeoff performance , particularly in high and hot conditions . textron aviation has received certification from both the faa …
in our proflight pilot training centers , we offer a leading aviation training experience unlike any other .
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capitalizing on our expertise in aviation and defense , textron formed textron airland , llc , with the purpose of designing and manufacturing an affordable , capable jet platform based on commercially available technologies and processes for the tactical military jet aviation market . textron airland produces the scorpion , an entirely new twin - jet tactical aircraft designed to serve multiple missions for the u . s . and partner nations .
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also supporting our efforts in the aviation market is textron specialized vehicles . its product lines include e - z - go® golf cars and personal transportation vehicles , cushman® commercial and industrial utility vehicles , and textron ground support equipment for the aviation industry . its vehicles are found worldwide in environments such as golf courses , factories and airports .
our expanded network of support provides king air service at all textron aviation company - owned service centers in north america , paris , doncaster , uk , dusseldorf and zurich .
eisenhauer , robert s . , textron - - from the beginning , providence , r . i . : textron inc . , 1979 .
as a part of the company’s most capable and accessible global service network , textron aviation has more than 30 authorized service facilities supporting the fleet of aircraft throughout the asia - pacific region . in addition , the company also has five in - region field service representatives offering maintenance , inspections , parts , repairs , refurbishments and other specialized services for the entire range of textron aviation products .
further leveraging our strength in the aviation industry , textron acquired mechtronix in montreal , quebec , and opinicus in tampa , fla . in 2013 . donnelly combined these innovative flight simulation companies , along with textron’s aai logistics & technical services , to form tru simulation + training in 2014 .
only months after he assumed the leadership of textron , miller attempted a takeover of united fruit . when the attempt was thwarted textron returned to less ambitious acquisitions of small firms , particularly zipper and fastener manufacturers . by 1971 textron was ready for another ambitious takeover , this time of the kendall company , which would have placed textron in the healthcare business . the attempted takeover of kendall failed when another company outbid textron .
business aviation’s essential planning tool features digital - only sections with detailed , comparative data on business aircraft and equipment . . . . more
cwc – still a part of textron today , cwc produces cast iron engine components .
at the end of 1960 , royal little retired , but not before carving textron’s imprint into the transportation industry with the purchases of two companies that are still part of textron today : golf car manufacturer e - z - go and textron bell aerospace—which included bell helicopter . buying bell balanced textron ' s earnings base by increasing its government business .
textron aviation continues to integrate customer feedback and include the latest technology and performance capabilities into its industry - leading product line . the company continues to develop products and services that exceed customer expectations in india and throughout the world .
the breadth and depth of our aviation - focused products and support provides the aviation industry unique solutions from acquisition of aircraft to simulation and training offerings . in addition , textron has an extensive support network , which enables the company to offer maintenance and assistance through globally - based customer support facilities , as well as mobile service units to effectively and efficiently manage ground support needs .
women in aviation international ( wai ) has announced that it is now accepting applications for scholarships to be awarded in 2019 . at . . .
bca is the industry’s most reliable “how - to” source for business aviation intelligence . view individual articles ( subscription required ) . . . . more
how is the business and general aviation sector faring today ? we are seeing excellent results with our new citation latitude , which has become one of the world’s best - selling business jets since entering the market in august 2015 . it is now the leader in the midsize segment with more deliveries in 2016 than any other aircraft in its category . this is encouraging and reflects the growth that we’re seeing across many of our product segments . at textron aviation , we remain focused on investing in our products to help invigorate the business aviation sector .
growing up in wichita , kansas – the air capital of the world – i guess you could say i have always had aviation in my blood . my first job out of college was in aviation and every job thereafter . it is just such an exciting industry – connecting the world through flight .
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about textron inc . 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 , beechcraft , hawker , jacobsen , kautex , lycoming , e - z - go , greenlee , textron off road , textron systems , and tru simulation + training . for more information , visit : urltoken .
last year , levil aviation showed off its wing - mounted portable adahrs called the bom . it kinda looks like its namesake , too . in this . . .
in our proflight pilot training centers , we offer a leading aviation training experience unlike any other . here are some of the qualities that differentiate us from our competitors :
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while we take great pride in our long history , we are even more excited by the future . textron is proud to partner with iawa in supporting the advancement of women in the aviation industry . by working together , we can continue to encourage , inform and inspire others to achieve their goals .
textron aviation continues to lead the market in india with its broad range of products that include best - selling aircraft such as citation business jets , beechcraft king air and cessna caravan turboprops and t - 6 military trainer aircraft , all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable global service network .
. textron’s automotive segment is a leading supplier of plastic products , such as instrument panels , fuel tanks , and interior and exterior trim , for cars and light trucks . the industrial segment manufactures a variety of products from fasteners , gears , pumps , and tools to golf carts , turf - care machinery , and aviation piston engines . in 2000 textron had about 70 , 000 employees and operations in about two dozen countries .
marking a major milestone for the company , textron was listed on the new york stock exchange on december 22 , 1947 .
with its solid footing in the aerospace industry providing financial stability , textron grew again with the purchase of jacobsen in 1978 . still a part of textron today , jacobsen produces the world’s broadest lines of professional turf maintenance equipment and lawn care machinery .
royal little retired from textron in 1962 and relinquished his seat on the board of directors . thompson maintained a strict policy toward textron ' s various divisions . the company would sell a particular division at the first sign of adverse performance . such was the case for textron ' s last textile holding in 1963 ; amerotron was sold when it ' failed to perform . '
the company vertically so that it soon controlled all aspects of its textile business , from the processing of raw goods to the distribution of finished products . in 1945 it adopted the name textron incorporated , which was shortened to textron inc . in 1956 .
falcon aviation continuously proves that everything is bigger and more luxurious in the uae with their high quality fleet of jets and helicopters . the vip charter company was raised in abu dhabi in . . .
geelong , australia ( feb . 28 , 2017 ) – textron aviation inc . , a textron inc . ( nyse : txt ) company , today announced it is displaying a variety of its product offerings at this year’s australian international airshow and aerospace & defense exposition ( avalon ) with channel partner hawker pacific , including a cessna citation latitude , beechcraft king air c90gtx , cessna grand caravan ex , cessna ttx , beechcraft bonanza g36 , cessna skylane 182 , and the textron airland scorpion jet model . the show will run from feb . 28 to march 5 in geelong , australia .
bell helicopter textron 206b - 3 jetranger iii civil helicopter , in police service , fort worth , texas , u . s .
these leading platforms are all backed by the industry’s most capable service network , including a robust network of authorized service facilities in india . textron aviation’s extensive engineering and manufacturing resources provide customers a worldwide network of knowledgeable technical support representatives and the largest distribution network in the world , offering timely and efficient delivery of high quality factory - owned parts .
straetz and dolan later divested textron of divisions not related to aerospace or technology . in effect , textron was being reconverted into an operating company . they professed impatience with subsidiaries that did not ' perform ' and promised to ' dump ' them without a grace period . straetz told fortune magazine , ' some of that concept of non - related diversification still exists , but we ' re trying to make textron a more focused company . ' the company operated principally around bell aerospace , which accounted for about one quarter of textron ' s sales .
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in 1984 textron was the object of a hostile takeover bid by chicago pacific corporation . it was the third unsolicited bid for textron , which had become a target because of its large debt . chicago pacific was one - sixth the size of textron . it had emerged from bankruptcy only months before the bid , selling all its railroad capital , including engines , track , and traffic rights . the company had a large amount of cash and was embarking on an acquisition program . textron , however , mounted a defense that rather easily foiled the takeover bid .
…businessman and investor who founded textron , inc . , the first major american corporation built on the concept of diversification , or conglomeration . …
textron aviation offers the broadest lineup of special mission platforms in the industry , with its entire product range available in special mission configurations using innovative technologies and advanced engineering techniques . the versatile cessna and beechcraft platforms continue to be used throughout the asia - pacific region in multiple roles such as air calibration , flight inspection , surveillance , maritime patrol and air ambulance .
in 1986 , textron continued to strengthen its position in the defense industry by forming textron marine & land systems from a bell helicopter business . a manufacturer of an extensive line of military security vehicles , including the commando™ family of four - wheeled armored vehicles , and marine craft , textron marine & land systems was chosen to produce the landing craft , air cushion ( lcac hovercraft ) for the u . s . navy .
if you are in need of an exchange or overhaul on your hawker or beechcraft landing gear , let textron aviation be your source for oem quality gear . with efficient support available 24 / 7 / 365 , you’ll benefit from competitive pricing , availability , and oem quality . our efficient one - stop - shop provides exceptional service with a single point of contact .
the strategic divestitures and complementary acquisitions that campbell orchestrated strengthened textron’s product portfolio . the company’s fastening & systems and fluid & power businesses were among those campbell sold , and overwatch systems and aai joined textron in 2006 and 2007 , respectively . as part of textron systems , overwatch has since evolved into advanced information solutions and geospatial solutions . similarly , aai transitioned into three operating units : electronic systems , support solutions and unmanned systems .
early in his tenure , donnelly faced the challenge of leading textron through a global economic crisis . during this tumultuous period , he put textron’s liquidity strategy on a strong path and spearheaded restructuring initiatives and operating improvements across textron , building upon campbell’s vision and taking it to the next level . with a steadfast focus on disciplined execution and profitable growth , he significantly increased the company’s pace of new product development and reinvigorated acquisition activities .
textron airland has developed , in the scorpion , a highly affordable twin - engine multi - mission jet for the tactical military aviation market . a versatile jet platform based on commercial best practices and proven high technologies , scorpion is designed as a multi - mission aircraft for diverse battlefield , security and training missions . more information about our initial aircraft is available at urltoken .
the best students from the five universities in the top hawk program will also have the chance at a summer internship with textron . cessna has …
under donnelly ' s leadership , textron’s steadfast execution of its financial and operational strategies continues to build value for all of its stakeholders . combined with its portfolio of renowned brands and some of the most sophisticated and leading technology products in the world , there are tremendous opportunities ahead for textron and its customers .
- - - - - - , ' the text on textron , ' barron ' s , june 14 , 1993 , pp . 32 - 33 .
to reflect the new business model and expanded product portfolio , little chose the name textron—a combination of
tex
from textiles and
tron
from synthetics , such as lustron . the theme of the advertising reflected little ' s vision :
from yarn to you , it ' s textron all the way .
in 1953 , textron purchased its first non - textile business , st . louis - based burkart manufacturing co . that supplied cushioning materials to the automotive market .
which cessna model was the first to receive seaplane approval ? the c - 37 ! the aircraft broke grounds in aviation innovation , featuring advancements like an electric fuel gauge and ball bearing controls . # avgeek # aviationhistory # cessna # tbt # history urltoken
, kansas , has built nearly half of the world’s general aviation aircraft in current use . it is known for its highly popular light , single - engine piston aircraft and citation series of business jets , including the citation x , which flies at nearly the
having reached the objectives he set at the beginning of the decade , hardymon retired in 1999 . his successor , lewis campbell , ushered textron into the 21 st century .
textron inc . has made so many changes in its corporate identity that any characterization of it is subject to revision on rather short notice . it has , however , consistently earned a profit for its stockholders . for that reason , many investors may not care what it does so long as it keeps generating a profit for them . textron , involved in many industries , has limited its areas of investment since the 1970s . through its bell helicopter and cessna subsidiaries , textron remains an important united states aerospace manufacturer .
textron aviation recently introduced the next generation garmin g1000 nxi integrated flight deck to its piston product line , bringing customers the latest in performance enhancements . the platform incorporates leading cockpit technologies including significant flight display modernization with faster processing times , improved graphics rendering and enhanced readability with led back - lighting . these capability improvements , as well as additional optional enhancements , combined with the company’s class - leading piston products offer pilots a greater overall flight experience .
one strategic priority was regaining an overseas presence , lost with the sale of ex - cell - o corp . ' s machine tool businesses in the mid - 1980s . in 1989 , however , u . s . regulators blocked textron ' s $ 250 million purchase of avdel , a british manufacturer of industrial fasteners . textron was able to make progress through a manufacturing venture in the netherlands with ford and a helicopter distribution arrangement in japan ( mitsui ) . textron had revenues of $ 7 . 4 billion in 1989 .
in october 1984 , textron emerged newly strengthened for expansion in a rising economy . straetz and dolan realized that strategic acquisitions would remain essential for sustained growth . in 1985 , textron acquired connecticut - based avco corporation , a $ 2 . 9 billion conglomerate that played a major role in the apollo missions of the 1960s and early 1970s . nasa chose avco to design and install the heat shield . avco pioneered the heat resistant material that charred to form a protective coating and block the heat from penetrating the space capsule . textron , which nearly doubled in size with this acquisition , transitioned the business to textron defense systems which evolved into today’s textron systems weapons & sensor systems . a leader in intelligence - gathering capabilities and advanced protection systems necessary for mission success , weapons and sensor systems continues to provide these heat resistant materials—the thermal protection material of choice for the current nasa orion crew exploration vehicle program .
general aviation aircraft / business jets ; aircraft aftermarket services ; military helicopters ; commercial helicopters ; tiltrotor aircraft ; rotorcraft spare parts and services ; unmanned aircraft systems ( uas ) ; uas support services ; armored security vehicles ( asv ) ; turrets and related subsystems ; advanced marine craft ; advanced flight training courseware and devices , including full flight simulators ; piston aircraft engines for the general aviation and remotely piloted aircraft markets ( lycoming ) ; high technology test equipment and electronic warfare test and training solutions ; intelligence software solutions ; geospatial analysis solutions ; aircraft and equipment financing .
as the decade drew to a close , textron experienced changes in leadership . miller’s tenure ended in 1977 when president jimmy carter nominated him to be chairman of the federal reserve . joseph collinson succeeded him and led the company until he retired in 1979 when robert straetz was named chairman and ceo . he and president beverly dolan would lead textron into the reviving economy of the ‘80s .
simon , jane , ' with its second billion - dollar buy , a remodeled textron eludes easy definition , ' new england business , september 15 , 1986 , pp . 37 - 39 .
shortly thereafter , dolan completed textron ' s $ 3 billion acquisition of avco . avco was formerly the aviation corporation of the americas , one of the three large aeronautic combines of the 1930s and the company that launched pan am and american airlines . over the years avco gradually sold most of its aircraft interests until , by 1985 , it was primarily a financial institution centered around the insurance business . ( it did continue to manufacture sections of large military aircraft , however . ) avco already was threatened by a takeover from a smaller company when textron , avco ' s preferred suitor , made its own bid . with the success of the avco acquisition , dolan replaced bob straetz as chief executive officer .
tell us about your career to date the majority of my career has been centred on customer service and support . i started out managing delta air lines’ customer support division , based in wichita , and then moved to koch industries , also in wichita , to lead the quality department for its aviation division . in 1999 , i joined then raytheon aircraft ( hawker beechcraft / beechcraft corporation ) as director of the global parts organisation . during my career at the company , i took on additional roles and responsibilities in the service organisation and eventually became the senior vice - president of global customer service and support . prior to assuming my current role at textron aviation , i served as senior vice president of turboprop aircraft and interior design , where i was responsible for the development of our popular turboprop platforms and led the interior design team .
citation latitude - welcome to the future of business aviation where the new citation latitude represents the perfect balance of comfort and efficiency . the latitude is the first business jet to combine a roomy , flat floor , stand - up cabin , with a midsize price and a best - in - class operating cost advantage .
forced it to stop production . the factory was reopened by cessna’s nephews dwane wallace and dwight wallace in 1934 , after which its products gained a leadership role in aviation by winning air races and setting sales records . during world war ii the company was an important subcontractor and a producer of a twin - engine trainer .
by the late 1990s , more than 30 percent of textron ' s revenues came from abroad . the company posted record results in 1999 as revenues increased 20 percent . textron acquired 18 business and entered two joint ventures while selling avco financial services for $ 2 . 9 billion . a fatal crash of a marine v - 22 osprey in april 2000 , however , raised doubts about the viability of the program .
no one knows your aircraft like the people who built it and our expertise is just the beginning . we offer general aviation’s farthest reaching service network , which includes company - owned facilities throughout the world , mobile and airborne service during aog events , and parts that ship the day you order them . watch service that gets you there
in 1985 textron surprised its stockholders by offering to sell its main operating division , bell aerospace . upon closer inspection the stockholders voted in favor of the proposed sale , but it marked a serious change in textron ' s stated intention to convert itself from a conglomerate into an operating company . the sale of bell was intended to raise stockholders ' return on equity and eliminate the corporate debt that made it an attractive takeover target .
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beechcraft king air 350i - with best - in - class range and payload , the beechcraft king air 350i is the business aviation solution without compromise . now featuring pro line fusion touch - screen avionics the king air 350i takes more passengers and cargo further , on less fuel than any competitor allowing customers to quickly and efficiently move their businesses forward .
in 2013 , textron acquired sherman + reilly , a manufacturer of underground and aerial transmission and distribution products and hd electric , a designer and manufacturer of power utility products and solutions that test , measure and control electric power . these companies have a rich history of innovative products . the combination of hd electric and sherman + reilly allows textron to offer a more complete product solution to the power utility customer than we had served with our greenlee products .
textron ' s vision is to be : one of the world ' s best managed companies ; excellent managers of shareholder resources ; a multi - industry company with global leadership positions in each of our businesses . key dates :
to deepen its focus on aircraft , automotive , industrial and finance , textron decreased its holdings in military contracting , insurance and consumer products , divesting
non - core
businesses that represented $ 2 . 8 billion in revenue .
these are but a few examples of textron’s commitment to innovation . all of our businesses are dedicated to developing advanced products and technologies to meet the current and future needs of customers , while making us leaders in the markets we serve .
true to its tradition of diversification so as not to rely on one industry , textron bought greenlee in the same year . based in rockford , ill . , greenlee , still a textron company , is known as a premier manufacturer of professional contractor tools that are recognized for their excellent value , superior performance and durability . with more than 4 , 000 offerings in its product line , it is the preeminent brand name among trade professionals who work with wire , cable and electrical infrastructure .
with only a decade left in the 20 th century , textron developed a laser - sharp focus on obtaining 100 percent of its revenues from its core businesses—aircraft , automotive , industrial and finance—and on increasing its international revenue as a source of growth .
through decades of innovation , textron brought many firsts and best - in - class products to the markets we serve . these are just a few examples of how we anticipate our customers’ needs and deliver products that help our customers solve business problems :
the sale was postponed following an improvement in the company ' s financial position . bell ultimately was retained and reorganized into two operating units : bell aerospace , which continued to handle the aeronautic business ; and textron marine systems , for marine projects .
beechcraft’s king air twin turboprop has long been popular , with more than 3 , 000 built since the 1960s , but that doesn’t make it invulnerable to market forces — and a weak international market has driven down deliveries in the first quarter of this year to just 12 , compared to 26 in the same period last year , the company reported last week . ceo scott donnelly said he expects those numbers to improve by the end of the year , and end up about the same as last year , when the company sold 106 king airs . revenues overall for the quarter at textron aviation were down $ 121 million compared to last year , primarily due to lower volumes of military and commercial turboprops .
leading the turboprop segment with more than 900 aircraft operating in region are the best - selling cessna caravan and beechcraft king air platforms . these aircraft offer an unmatched combination of performance and flexibility to meet a variety of business and special mission aviation needs . the total ownership experience goes beyond the ample range , solid load capacity and numerous cabin configurations by providing dependability and low operating costs , ensuring customers receive the most value for their aircraft .
what are your current duties ? i’m responsible for the interior design and engineering for all of textron aviation’s broad product lineup . my previous experience in customer support lets me see things from a customer point of view . i don’t have an engineering background , so i really challenge my team to think outside of the box and find ways we can incorporate customer input in everything we do . that’s how we are developing our new large - cabin citation hemisphere jet . we continue to engage regularly with our customer advisory board , which is comprised of industry executives operating various products in this class , to affirm what customers need in this segment . this input is a key influence as we continue to develop this world - class aircraft .
to help ensure that textron continued on a positive trajectory , campbell led a multi - year succession planning process that culminated with his retirement as ceo on december 1 , 2009 . scott donnelly , then - president and coo , succeeded campbell and became chairman of the board in september 2010 .
early in the new century’s first decade , campbell immediately set a new vision for the corporation : to become the premier multi - industry company , recognized for its network of powerful brands , world - class enterprise processes and talented people . this shared vision became a unifying mission for textron employees worldwide .
textron had high hopes in the $ 25 billion v - 22 tilt - rotor aircraft program . developed by bell and boeing for the u . s . marine corps , the fusion of helicopter and fixed - wing aircraft was expensive to fly . faced with few possible users in the united states , the company resorted to asking japan and west germany for funding for a civilian variant . fortunately , the market for civilian helicopters was up , and avco corp . , now the aerostructures division , had entered the booming airliner market , making wings for airbus . textron ' s automotive businesses also were generally lucrative .
as bell helicopter was making its indelible mark on the military , little’s successor , rupert thompson , and president g . william miller bade farewell to the textile industry in 1963 . thompson and miller continued little’s strategy of acquiring companies , penetrating various consumer markets with the purchase of watchband manufacturer speidel ; sheaffer pen ; staple and nail gun maker bostich ; and rhode island - based silver company gorham . throughout this period , textron was recognized as the pioneer of the conglomerate and one of the most highly diversified corporations in the u . s . in 1967 , the wall street journal called textron
the conglomerate king .
bell was the division most responsible for textron ' s identity as an aerospace company . that identity was preserved by the continuing success of bell . whereas bell ' s products were of good quality , however , a unique management structure also must be credited for the general success of the division and its parent .
textron continues to blaze a trail with innovative products created by our talented workforce , with a sales and service network that spans the globe . with a presence in 25 countries , we maintain a sound understanding of market environments , strengthen our capability to identify and respond to new market opportunities and engage customers more effectively .
v - 22 osprey tilt - rotor aircraft hovering above a carrier flight deck . developed jointly by bell helicopter ( a subsidiary of textron ) and boeing as a military transport , the aircraft can take off and land vertically like a helicopter or rotate its engines in midair and fly like a fixed - wing plane .
textron acquired cessna aircraft from general dynamics for $ 605 million in early 1992 . the company had made 6 , 500 small planes a year in its heyday , but this business had been crippled by an industrywide wave of airplane crash lawsuits . when textron bought it , cessna was devoted to manufacturing its popular line of citation business jets . legislation in 1994 to limit manufacturers ' liability on planes more than 18 years old , however , made making single - engined , propeller - driven aircraft feasible again , and the company resumed production on the small trainers that made it famous . cessna ' s revenues were $ 783 million in 1993 .
by the late 1980s , the hounds of peace could be heard over the steppes . the end of the cold war hurt defense company stocks , and as one analyst explained in forbes , conglomerates generally suffered according to their lowest common denominator . at the time , textron ' s 32 operating companies made up three groups : aerospace , commercial products , and financial services . in the last category , the company ' s paul revere insurance helped lift textron ' s balance sheet . still , aerospace , with 1988 sales of $ 3 . 6 billion , remained the largest division ( the other two had sales of less than $ 2 billion each ) .
rupert thompson left textron in 1968 after he was diagnosed as having cancer . the man he appointed to take his place was the company ' s president , g . william miller . the company miller took over was a well - diversified manufacturer of tools , industrial machines , consumer goods , plastics , appliances and , of course , helicopters .
realizing this vision involved a company - wide restructuring program to increase operational efficiency . the transformation included the consolidation of several manufacturing facilities , more unified systems and standards and shared services across the business units . campbell also championed the idea of moving textron’s most skilled managers from one business unit to the other , helping to bolster company - wide performance significantly .
textron started as a small textile company in 1923 , when 27 - year - old royal little founded the special yarns corporation in boston . sales that first year were just $ 75 , 000 . today that company has grown into a highly successful multi - industry enterprise recognized around the world for our network of powerful brands , world - class processes and talented people .
the post - world war ii economic boom came to a crashing halt during a decade marked by an oil crisis , a stock market crash and the demise of richard nixon’s presidency . yet , amid this turmoil , while many conglomerates struggled to maintain positive cash flow , textron persevered by winning new customers in the aerospace industry and by never wavering from its acquisition strategy .
as the demand for textiles further decreased following the war , little received approval from the company’s board of directors to diversify into unrelated businesses . this conglomeration process , begun in 1952 , became a model for other businesses to follow . among textron’s acquisitions over the next four decades were outdoor power equipment maker homelite ; camcar , a maker of fastening systems ; engine castings manufacturer cwc ; golf cart manufacturer e - z - go ; speidel , a maker of watchbands ; sheaffer pen ; staple - and nail - gun maker bostitch ; gorham silver company ; and the conglomerates avco corporation and ex - cell - o corporation . textron also developed a policy of selling weak divisions , which led to the divestiture of its last textile holding in 1963 .
rupert thompson was described as having combined alfred sloan ' s management strategy for general motors and little ' s strategy of growth through acquisition . textron maintained a consistency for meeting production and financial targets , demanding a 20 percent return on equity after taxes for the company ' s various divisions . thompson was the manager of a company that , perhaps , was better described as an asset portfolio , or ' management concept . '
hardymon retired in july 1998 , succeeded by lewis b . campbell . like his predecessor , campbell had grown up in the rural south and studied engineering before working in sales , marketing , and management positions . campbell formed his career at gm , rather than emerson electric , like hardymon . he joined textron in 1992 and became president and chief operating officer within two years . campbell also became board chairman in february 1999 .
designed and built with leading - edge technologies , textron airland’s scorpion jet is a bold new direction for tactical aircraft . the scorpion jet provides unparalleled acquisition and operating costs and is built to excel in numerous roles , including intelligence , surveillance and reconnaissance , close air support , armed reconnaissance , maritime and border patrol and jet training missions . the company will be exhibiting a model of the scorpion jet at its avalon chalet .
revenues reached $ 8 . 3 billion in 1992 . aerospace contributed more than a third of the company ' s profits , in spite of the reliance on military contracts . the financial segment accounted for 43 percent of income ; commercial , 20 percent . james f . hardymon became ceo in 1992 after joining textron as president and chief operating officer three years earlier . ( he had previously held those two positions at emerson electric . )
bell ' s uh - 1 huey helicopter was used extensively during the american involvement in the vietnam war . after vietnam , textron cultivated a strong market for bell helicopters in iran . this $ 875 million market was lost , however , with the fall of the shah . from this turn of events , straetz and dolan learned the importance of maintaining a diverse group of customers . they tried next to establish a lucrative commercial market for bell .
miller ' s attempt to enter into the oil and gas business was cut short when he left the company in 1977 to take a position with the carter administration as federal reserve chairman , and then later as secretary of the treasury . one of miller ' s best qualities was his insightful recognition of the fact that the united states was rapidly transforming itself into a service - oriented economy . he brought textron into financial services by acquiring insurance and other financial service companies .
unlike most other firms , an unusual amount of authority was vested with textron ' s vice - presidents . a vice - president was thereby enabled to specialize in a certain area of the operation with the full authority of his office behind him . this also encouraged good communication within the top management echelon and allowed the president and chief executive officer to concentrate on more general matters , such as acquisitions and divestitures . many american corporations have admitted to copying this style of management .
recognizing the opportunities to move into adjacent markets in need of specialized vehicles , textron purchased bad boy buggies in 2010 and dixie chopper in 2014 . bad boy’s dual - motor , fully electric four - wheel drive vehicles—machines that combined unparalleled off - road ability with quiet , emissions - free operation—strengthened e - z - go’s house of brands . dixie chopper similarly impacted jacobsen . known as the maker of the world’s fastest lawn mower , dixie expanded our reach into the consumer and commercial sectors , including municipalities .
in 1956 royal little hired a providence banker , rupert thompson , to oversee what he admitted were his irrepressible impulses to acquire more companies . thompson made sure that textron ' s acquisitions were ' balanced , ' or sufficiently spread out so that a depression in any one market would not severely affect the company as a whole . based on this strategy , little and thompson established what has ( arguably ) been declared the world ' s first conglomerate . notable acquisitions in the 1950s included homelite , camcar , and cwc .
james hardymon , who was named chairman and ceo in 1992 , quickly set out to achieve these goals by acquiring cessna aircraft co . already popular with pilots worldwide , the u . s . government and foreign militaries , cessna—as a leader in light and medium - sized commercial business jets—balanced bell ' s significant defense - related business activity . textron’s purchase of cessna as well as germany - based kautex —a global fuel tank and system supplier to the automotive industry—bolstered its core ; these businesses’ revenues totaled $ 3 . 9 billion .
the man who replaced miller was joseph collinson . collinson ' s tenure was short - lived ; he retired from the company in 1979 . he was succeeded by bob straetz as chairman and beverly dolan as president . ( dolan had started e - z - go , the golf cart manufacturer , in his garage . he joined textron when it bought the company in 1960 . ) the new men in charge were quicker to sell divisions that were performing poorly . one of the first to be sold was polaris , the snowmobile manufacturer .
the man behind the success of textron , royal little , graduated from harvard in 1919 . he then sought practical business experience as an unpaid apprentice at a textile mill before working for the franklin rayon yarn dyeing corporation . there , he recognized the drawbacks of producing a product in a business vulnerable to volatile market cycles . as far back as the 1920s , little advocated diversification as a means to insulate a company from occasional slumps in certain lines of business . specifically , little advocated ' non - related ' diversification , that is , simultaneous operation of totally unrelated businesses . the system had to be unrelated so that heavy losses in one business would not affect the profitability of related industries .
little founded the special yarns corporation in boston , massachusetts in 1928 . with first year revenues of $ 75 , 000 , these were modest beginnings for the world ' s first conglomerate . by world war ii , the company had been renamed the atlantic rayon corporation . the textile business boomed during the war , but by 1943 , little was already looking to the civilian market . at this time , the company changed its name to textron . the name comes from ' textiles ' and the ' - tron ' suffix of synthetic fabrics such as lustron . ( it is hard to imagine a global conglomerate named ' señorita creations , ' but that was the advertising agency ' s first choice . )
textron also saw a decrease in deliveries of its beechcraft t - 6 trainers , delivering just two , compared to nine in the same quarter last year . first - quarter citation jet deliveries stayed about even — 34 last year , 35 for this year . the company reported a profit of $ 36 million in the first quarter compared to $ 73 million a year ago , primarily due to lower volume and mix . “overall , revenues and profit were down in the quarter consistent with our expectations , ” said donnelly . “we are continuing to execute our restructuring plan while maintaining our focus on new product investment and the integration of acquired businesses , all of which will have a positive impact on our long - term growth outlook . ”
the news comes after a year of soft jet sales for textron , which has been scaling back its workforce . the wichita - based company restructured in october after announcing layoffs at its regional facilities and launching an early - retirement program . it has a regional workforce of more than 9 , 000 employees . efforts to boost sales will focus on the latitude model , which is expected to see delivery growth , according to the wichita business journal . meanwhile , two more citations in the series are in the works . the super - midsize longitude jet is undergoing flight testing and is on schedule to achieve certification by year’s end , the journal reported . the larger citation hemisphere is under development and is expected to begin test flights in 2019 .
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this week ' s letters brought comments from readers about the trainer refurb market , old vs . new , updated proficiency rules and airline . . .
i was flying southbound in the los angeles basin in mid - july 2017 when i heard a vfr pilot trying to get a shortcut through the los . . .
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