The Royal Australian Navy selected the Bell 429 helicopter for its Retention and Motivation Initiative contract. Under the four-year contract, Bell Helicopter will provide three Bell 429 helicopters to the Royal Australian Navy to allow junior aircrew to consolidate skills and transition to operational fleet aircraft. The Bell 429 was chosen because its modern avionics, cabin size, and speed make it well-suited for pilot skill development activities. Bell Helicopter has supported the Australian Defense Force for over 50 years.

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Bell Helicopter’s 429 Selected for Royal Australian Navy Retention and Motivation
Initiative Contract
09/19/2011
Fort Worth, TX ­ September 19, 2011 – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced
today it was awarded a new contract by Raytheon Australia to provide three Bell 429s for the Royal Australian
Navy's Retention and Motivation Initiative.
The Retention and Motivation Initiative provides the Royal Australian Navy with supported aircraft to allow junior
qualified aircrew to consolidate and enhance their skills prior to flying operational helicopters. Under the terms of
this four­year contract, these three state­of­the­art Bell 429s will replace currently operated helicopters in the
fleet and fly a minimum of 1,500 flight hours per year.
“We are pleased by the Royal Australian Navy's enthusiasm for the Bell 429, and we are looking forward to
working with Raytheon Australia in supporting the Royal Australian Navy's Retention and Motivation Initiative,”
said Sameer Rehman, Bell Helicopter’s managing director for the Asia Pacific region.
“The Bell 429 is a perfect fit for the development of pilot and crew skills to make the transition to fleet aircraft.
Its modern avionics, cabin size and speed will serve the Royal Australian Navy and Raytheon Australia well in this
role. Not to mention the Bell 429 is backed by Bell Helicopter’s industry­leading customer support and service,”
he added.
Bell Helicopter has supported the Australian Defence Force for more than 50 years, through the sale and support
of the Bell 47 Sioux, the Bell 206 Kiowa and Bell UH­1 family of helicopters – and now the Bell 429.
About Bell Helicopter
Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry­leading producer of commercial and
military, manned and unmanned vertical­lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft.
Globally recognized for world­class 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. is a multi­industry 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, E­Z­
GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at http://www.textron.com/.