GAMA has published their 2004 aircraft sales numbers. Here are the results for single engine piston sales:
Cessna (all SE) 654 33%
Cessna (4 seats) 565 28.3%
Cirrus Design 553 27.7%
Diamond 261 13%
Piper (all SE) 127 6%
American Champ. 94 5%
Lancair 78 4%
Bonanza 62 3%
Piper (4 Seats) 49 3%
Aviat 42 2%
Mooney 37 2%
Tiger 19 1%
Socata 5 0.3%
Cessna nosed out Cirrus unless you only consider normally aspirated, 4 seat SE piston aircraft. But Cirrus Design’s production has exceed 2 planes per day! Diamond made an exceptional showing jumping into third place. Especially notable are the sales of their DA-40, 4 seat plane, which accounted for 75% of their total sales.
Piper was in fourth unless you only look at 4 seat models and then they were 7th. American Champion was 5th, a solid showing for these tail draggers. This seems to validate that there are a lot of folks eschewing the new, high tech models for simpler, cheaper aircraft that are more appropriate for dirt strips and $100 hamburgers, than hauling the family half way across the country or business trips.
Lancair has moved up in sales and total volume to 6th with 78 sales. That was about 1.5 planes per week. They’ve past the stalwart Beech Bonanza. All great news for them. Given the recent articles about their expanding production, I expect to see them in 4th or 5th place next year.
It is interesting to note that ‘plastic planes’ account for about 45% of the market (almost 50% of the 2-4 seat market). No doubt about it, the plastic generation is here to stay.
Great job by Alan K. and the Duluth crew increasing production and innovating at the same time.
On a very sad note, Commander Aircraft and Belanca were not mentioned. One can only wonder how much longer Mooney, who has been in bankruptcy more times than J-Lo has been married, Tiger & Socata can continue.
