116 Airplanes Sold!

ANN has learned that there was more than turkey for Thanksgiving this year up in Duluth, Minnesota. Cirrus Design, manufacturer of the leading edge SR20 and SR22 four place GA aircraft series, has just posted their best-ever month, in terms of actual orders taken.

While the rest of us were cramming turkey and stuffing into our bods, the folks at Cirrus were on their way to selling a staggering 116 airplanes in one month--an all time record for the company. So much of a record that Cirrus honcho Alan Klapmeier confirmed that this figure was about twice what they had expected in an exclusive interview with ANN.

Klapmeier (below, right, with his brother Dale) took pains to note that the 116 number was quoted on actual orders for new airplanes and were not speculative sales placements. "It was a record number for us... the highest number of sales we've ever had in a given month... It's almost 100% above expectations... it started with a great AOPA show down in Tampa at the beginning of the month and continued strong all month long."

Klapmeier added that there were only 4 uncommitted airplanes sitting out on the ramp in Duluth and but a half-dozen "well-loved" demonstrators for sale -- none of which were included as part of the record November figure.

December is looking good as well, and while they probably won't exceed November's high point, there does seem to be a trend in exceeding the average once again. This is particularly heartening in light of the fact that 2005 got off to a soft start and is now promising to finish aggressively.

"Over all, it's been a pretty good year, " added Klapmeier.

The effect this is having on the company is profound... to the point where planned production increases that were scheduled for the spring are now being pushed up for implementation as soon as the holidays are over.

ANN readers can hear some of Alan's remarks in the Friday edition (12.23.05) of our daily audio Aero-Briefings.

FMI: www.cirrusdesign.com, www.aero-news.net/podcasts/casts/7/ann-daily-aero-briefing-2005-12-23.mp3