Mooney is back — and better than ever.
The 60-year-old company, which emerged from bankruptcy just a few years ago, is “running at full throttle,” according to Gretchen Jahn, CEO of the Kerrville, Texas-based company, which is on target to more than double its 2004 sales.
Last year, the company delivered 36 airplanes. Already this year the company has delivered 43 airplanes. “We also have the largest firm order backlog in 18 years,” said David Copeland, the company’s director of sales and marketing, on the opening day of AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh.
To meet those orders, the company has been on a hiring frenzy, increasing staff 93% in the last year to 350 employees. It also added a 50 employee second shift.
To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Mooney introduced special editions of the Ovation2 and Bravo models, sporting distinctive logos and paint designs, as well as Garmin G1000 glass cockpits. Deliveries will begin in early 2006.
Look for an in-depth interview with Mooney’s CEO, Gretchen Jahn, in an upcoming issue of General Aviation News.
