WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- K & F Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: KFI) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation (ABSC), has been chosen by Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.) (NYSE: ERJ) to supply the wheels, brakes and brake control system for its new Phenom 100 very light category business jet. Over the life of the program, the contract value is estimated to approach $250 million .

Embraer selected ABSC's durable yet lightweight aluminum alloy wheels and long-life steel brakes to provide the most cost effective solution and achieve Embraer's design objectives of long cycle life and low operating cost. Together, ABSC and Embraer will be the first to introduce brake-by-wire technology into the very light business jet market segment, capitalizing on ABSC's demonstrated ability to provide smooth braking modulation with high performance stopping efficiency. Such exceptional performance is a direct result of ABSC's industry leading system integration capabilities and related braking technologies, which has become the industry standard for high performance business aircraft.

With the largest cabin in its class, the Phenom 100 will offer premium comfort for four passengers in an executive club configuration. Designed for ease of flying, short take-off and landing distances, and ranges of up to 1,160 nm (IFR), or 1,320 nm (VFR) at 41,000 feet, the aircraft offers outstanding performance with low operating cost. The Phenom 100 is scheduled to enter service in mid-2008 and Embraer's order book for the aircraft is already full into 2010.

Kenneth M. Schwartz, K&F Industries president and chief executive officer, stated, 'The very light jet is a major new development in the general aviation market sector and Embraer is a leader in the space with the introduction of the Phenom. K&F is the wheel & brake supplier for Embraer's E-JET family of EMBRAER 170, EMBRAER 175, EMBRAER 190 and EMBRAER 195 aircraft. The Phenom 100 is going to be another exceptional Embraer aircraft that is already being well received by the marketplace. We continue to see the business jet market as a strong growth area for K & F Industries, which is further exemplified by this agreement.'

K & F Industries Holdings, Inc., is a worldwide leader in the manufacture of braking equipment for commercial transport, general aviation and military aircraft through its Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation subsidiary. The company manufactures a wide range of braking equipment including antiskid, auto-brake, brake-by-wire systems, and brake temperature monitoring systems as well as main and nose wheels, carbon and steel brakes, and ancillary equipment. Its products are installed on approximately 26,000 aircraft worldwide, more than any other supplier.

In addition, K&F Industries operates Engineered Fabrics Corporation (EFC), a leading producer of aircraft fuel tanks, de-icing equipment and specialty coated fabrics used for storage, shipping, environmental and rescue applications for the commercial and military markets.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements and information contained herein are not historical facts, but are 'forward-looking statements,' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, the Company or its representatives have made and may continue to make forward-looking statements, orally, in writing or in other contexts, such as in reports filed with the SEC or in press releases. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'may,' 'should' or the like, the negative of these words or other variations of these words or comparable words, or discussion of strategy that involves risk and uncertainties. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are only predictions, involve risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially as a result of a wide variety of factors and conditions, many of which are beyond our control. Factors and conditions that might cause such a difference include those discussed in our periodic reports filed with the SEC. For more information, see the sections entitled 'Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' contained in our Form 10-K and in other filings. We undertake no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.

SOURCE K & F Industries Holdings, Inc.