Bell Helicopter Announces Deal with Guangxi Diwang Group for 10 Bell 525s

Bell Helicopter Announces Deal with Guangxi Diwang Group for 10 Bell 525s

HAI HELI-EXPO - Louisville, KY (March 1, 2016) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today a signed letter of intent with Guangxi Diwang Group for 10 Bell 525 Relentless super-medium helicopters. Guangxi Diwang Group will use the Bell 525s for tourism and search-and-rescue missions. Guangxi Diwang Group is a Commercial Development and Real Estate Investor.

“After learning more about the Bell 525, being able to experience its capabilities in the aircraft’s simulator, and seeing the prototype fly at its production center in Amarillo it was easy to determine that the Bell 525 is the best choice to fill our commercial needs in China,” said Hai Lin, Chairman of Guangxi Diwang Group. “We are eager to incorporate the aircraft into our operations and are confident that it will provide exceptional value and performance for our variety of clients and that Bell Helicopter will be there to support us.”

“The Bell 525 is the first fly-by-wire commercial helicopter, and we are excited to see our first Chinese customer come forward and make the commitment to sign a letter of intent for a significant number of aircraft to debut in that market,” said Larry Roberts, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of sales and marketing for the Bell 525 Relentless program. “With its diverse capabilities, the Bell 525 is a great fit for Guangxi Diwang Group’s range of missions while also being cost effective.”

The Bell 525 is designed to operate safely and reliably in austere environments and with decreased pilot workload. The aircraft integrates critical systems data to be easily accessible at a glance with the Garmin G5000H® suite, the first fully-integrated touch screen flight deck designed for helicopters. Best-in-class payload, cabin, cargo volumes, comfort and egress complement the technological advancements on the aircraft. The first flight of the Bell 525 was achieved on 1 July 2015 and certification of the aircraft is anticipated in 2017.

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(From Left to Right: Front Row: Mr.  Van Han, Assistant to Chairman, Mr. Hai Lin, Chairman of Guangxi Diwang Investment Group, Bell Helicopter’s Larry Roberts and General Manager of Bell Helicopter’s Amarillo Assembly Center Shannon Massey, Back Row: Loretta Liu, Chief Sales Representative at Aerochine Aviation and Bell Helicopter’s Independent Representative for Southern region of China, Hong Kong and Macau, Bell Helicopter Sales Manager Zhenhong Jin, and Manager of the Bell 525 Program Assembly Dave Dennison)

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Press Contact:

LINDSEY VIOTTO 

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mediarelations@bh.com

About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

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, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these 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 statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

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