'It's Tough To Attract Investors When You Need Them To Shovel Snow'

ANN APRIL 1st "SPECIAL" EDITION: It's a story we never thought we'd have to tell; after all, the Klapmeier brothers are synonymous with Duluth, MN... yet the company they founded, Cirrus Aircraft, announced Wednesday it plans to relocate operations to Key West, FL by the end of next year, for business-related reasons.

"There have been reports our majority investor, Arcapita, may consider selling its stake in Cirrus at some point down the line," said Cirrus co-founder Alan Klapmeier. "Now, that doesn't mean they're chomping at the bit to do so -- I don't want anyone to misconstrue my comments, like what happened a little over a year ago -- just that it's a recognized possibility.

"And, like it or not, it's tough to ask the moneylenders from Europe or the Middle East to make the trek to Duluth in the heart of winter," Klapmeier added. "For one, the airport often closes when too much of the white stuff falls... and even when it's open, sometimes we must ask for an extra hand to shovel off the ramp.

"As for summers... wow, have you seen the size of the flies we get up here? They make some bird strikes look tame by comparison. Granted, we'll need to watch for alligators in the grass at our new facility... but at least they won't usually be in the air."

The new facility at Key West International Airport (EYW) will reportedly include a completion center for the reportedly still-alive SRS light sport aircraft, a high-tech Future Projects development center, and a complete Customer Care reception center (with an in-hangar franchise of Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" restaurant!) and full production lines for the SR-line and the upcoming SF50 Vision jet.

Speaking of the SF50... Klapmeier noted the company quietly changed the nomenclature for the upcoming turbine single earlier this year, for reasons the company wouldn't disclose.

"First it was 'the-jet,' then the SJ50 Vision, and now the SF50," Klapmeier said. "And even that may not be the final name. We're nothing if not enigmatic."

Klapmeier added Cirrus has considered a customer contest to name the aircraft, with the winner being awarded an all-expenses-and-bail-paid trip to Key West to see the new production facility upon its completion.

FMI: www.cirrusaircraft.com