Product Code Database
Textron Aviation Inc. is the general aviation business unit of the conglomerate Textron 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. In October 2018, Ronald Draper succeeded Ernest to become its second CEO.
Once the purchase was completed on March 14, 2014, Textron combined Beechcraft with its existing Cessna subsidiary to form Textron Aviation and brought all production under the new company name. The old companies became brands of the new company due to their historical significance and name recognition.
In January 2017, the company announced lay-offs as a result of falling business jet and turboprop sales and company profits. Textron CEO Scott Donnelly indicated that customers are seeking pricing levels that the company is not willing to support.
In the first quarter of 2017 company revenues were down US$121 million compared to 2016, as a result of lower sales of military and commercial turboprop aircraft. The company made a first quarter 2017 profit of US$36 million, down from US$73 million in the first quarter of 2016.
Sales of the Cessna 400 had been slow, with only 23 of the model being sold in 2017. In February 2018, the company ceased production of the aircraft.
In April 2022, Textron purchased Slovenian manufacturer Pipistrel to form a new division called Textron eAviation, for electric aircraft development.
In June 2025, Textron secured its first order for the Cessna SkyCourier in Africa, with Algeria's Tassili Travail Aérien purchasing two aeromedical-equipped aircraft for use in passenger transport and medevac missions.
On October 20, 2025, Textron announced a strategic realignment, choosing to dissolve Textron eAviation as a distinct division and integrate its electric and conventional aviation initiatives into existing business units. This decision, detailed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, primarily saw the Pipistrel brand and the Nexus eVTOL passenger aircraft program brought under Textron Aviation, aiming to leverage the company's established capabilities. Other activities, including military applications and digital flight control system research, were also redistributed to align with relevant Textron segments, streamlining their advanced aviation efforts.
By 2015, Textron Aviation companies have delivered nearly 251,000 aircraft, exceeding 100 million flight hours, in over 170 countries. It provides aircraft parts and engineering support for them.
| + Summary of aircraft built by Textron Aviation | |||
| Beechcraft G36 Bonanza | 1945 | 17,000 | light general aviation aircraft, 6-seat |
| Beechcraft G58 Baron | 1960 | 6,691 | light general aviation aircraft, twin piston |
| Beechcraft King Air | 1963 | 3,100+ | light general aviation aircraft |
| Beechcraft Super King Air | 1972 | 3,550+ | light general aviation aircraft |
| Beechcraft T-6 Texan II/AT-6 | 2000 | 850 | military training aircraft/light attack aircraft |
| Cessna 172 | 1955 | 43,000 | light general aviation aircraft, 4-seat, 145-180 hp |
| Cessna 182 | 1956 | 23,237 | light general aviation aircraft, 4-seat, 227-235 hp |
| Cessna 206 | 1962 | 8,509 | light general aviation aircraft, 6 seat |
| Cessna 208 Caravan | 1982 | 2,500 | general aviation aircraft/commuter |
| Cessna 408 SkyCourier | 2020 | general aviation aircraft/cargo | |
| Cessna Citation Excel | 1996 | 575 | general aviation mid-size jet aircraft |
| Cessna CitationJet | 1991 | 400 | general aviation light jet aircraft |
| Cessna Citation Latitude | 2014 | general aviation mid-size jet aircraft | |
| Cessna Citation Longitude | 2016 | general aviation super mid-size jet aircraft | |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 2012 | general aviation light jet aircraft | |
| Cessna Citation Mustang | 2005 | 425 | general aviation very light jet aircraft |
| Cessna Citation Sovereign | 2002 | 300 | general aviation mid-size jet aircraft |
| Cessna Citation X | 1993 | 330 | general aviation long range mid-size jet aircraft |
| Cessna TTx | 2004 | light general aviation aircraft, 4-seat, low-wing | |
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