Company On Track To Double 2004 Deliveries
Mooney Aircraft
announced last week it will deliver its 11,000th Mooney production
aircraft during the first quarter of 2006 -- just in time for the
company's 60th anniversary. With 2005 sales tracking better than
double those of 2004, the company also announced a new interior
package for its planes to commemorate the anniversary, a better way
to hold a POH, and a program allowing veterans to earn their
A&P on Uncle Sam.
As of today, the company has produced 66 aircraft for 2005, with
one quarter to go -- beating last year's number of deliveries of
34.
The Mooney Airplane Company -- formed in Wichita, KS in
1946 -- produced its first M-18 "Mooney Mite" two years later. The
11,000th aircraft, a Garmin G1000-equipped Ovation 2 GX, will go to
a customer in New Jersey.
"Of course, surpassing this milestone is important to us as a
company. We are gratified that the customer for this aircraft chose
it after evaluating several competitive models. But, reaching such
a significant milestone can’t be accomplished without a loyal
base of customers who feel a sense of satisfaction and support that
they willingly pass on to other potential buyers," said Mooney's VP
of Sales And Marketing, David Copeland.
"We appreciate their loyalty and commitment to Mooney and we
will continue to do everything we can to ensure it," he added.
All 60th-anniversary Mooney aircraft will feature redesigned
door handles, armrests, and optional rear bench seat. The new
interior will also include a new center console, repackaged air
vents, and new color treatments, in addition to several other
interior mods designed for enhanced convenience. The interior,
displayed at last week's AOPA Expo 2005, will also be displayed at
the 2005 NBAA Convention in Orlando, FL.
Also making news at
Mooney is the advent of external "jump drives" to hold the entire
POH and other Mooney service manuals. The small, portable storage
devices (we use a bunch of them at ANN) were introduced at last
week's AOPA Expo in Tampa, FL, and will also be featured at the
2005 NBAA Convention in Orlando from November 9-11.
Each drive, at a suggested retail price of $250, will also
provide internal links and cross-references between various
documents.
"This program is revolutionary," said Al Nitchman, VP of
customer support. "It provides our existing customers with easy
access to key information at a reduced price, and it also has great
potential as a means of expanding communications between Mooney and
the entire active fleet in a readily available, highly portable,
and economic manner."
Mooney plans to make jump drives containing Model M20 R Ovation
information available in January, 2006, including material on the
new Ovation2 GX models equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics
suite. An update to the M20 M Bravo material including the GX
version will follow by mid-year. Drives featuring POHs, IPCs and
Service and Maintenance manuals for the remainder of the existing
fleet are expected by the end of 2006.
Mooney also announced a new program allowing qualified
veterans enrolled in its Airframe and Powerplant (A&P)
Apprentice program to utilize On The Job training funds, provided
by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, to cover the entire cost
of the three-year factory-administered program, leading up to the
FAA Certification Test.
"Mooney is pleased to
offer this training to our employees and we’re gratified that
the Department of Veterans Affairs has approved it for funding,"
said Hank Engel, Mooney Airplane Company’s Director of Human
Resources. "This recognition represents a ‘win-win’
situation for us. It will help us meet a growing need for certified
A&P mechanics in the production and service segments of our
business and will undoubtedly stimulate qualifying veterans to
enroll in the course, as well."
Engel added the program will come online at a time when, in the
face of increasing demand for its aircraft, the company will need
an expanded pool of capable technicians.