Backlog Continues to Build with 80% Order Increase

Bell Helicopter says 2004 was a great sales year. Orders at Bell are up approximately 80% over 2003. The backlog was built-up in all models. We expect the growing sales trends to continue in 2005. We are on the path to achieving doubling the business of Bell Helicopter by the end of the decade.

Product improvements, continued superior customer support and service coupled with an improving economic picture and world events all combined to provide for a busy year for Bell commercial helicopter sales. Changes in many company processes resulted in being able to bring products to market faster to meet customer requirements. The Bell program of Retrofits, Modifications and Upgrades (RMUs) responding to customer inputs also contributed to the sales year success.

Commercial aircraft deliveries increased to 109 in 2004 from 97 in 2003. Foreign military business saw 8 aircraft delivered in 2004 versus 28 in 2003. The difference was primarily in Huey II kits delivered, six in 2004 versus 19 in 2003. Additionally deliveries of Royal Saudi 412's completed in early 2004.

Bell products will be on display in the Bell booth (#1087) at Heli-Expo 2005 in Anaheim, CA. In addition several models will be in the static area and there will be flying demos for customers at the Anaheim Stadium.

For the year Bell Helicopter Textron deliveries breakdown as follows:

Bell Helicopter Textron, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a $1.6 billion, leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 7,500 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries

FMI: www.textron.com