After a flurry of product announcements in recent years, Mooney Airplane Company is concentrating on turning the resulting orders into black ink. CEO Dennis Ferguson told the media at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday that the product line is set for the foreseeable future as the focus turns seriously to “getting Mooney on its feet financially.” The venerable Kerrville, Texas company has been through several ownership changes, including a brief period as a public company, and has struggled financially, but Ferguson says he’s optimistic about the future. The Acclaim, a turbocharged version of the M20 that was introduced in the spring of 2006, has enjoyed particular success, with 50 copies delivered since last November.
Ferguson said a revamped management team is concentrating on manufacturing processes and other efficiencies designed to make the company profitable in its current form. Once that’s accomplished (no timeline was offered), he said the company can entertain new product development. He said the light sport market is “really interesting to us,” but did not say if it’s something that will be pursued. Likewise with a future jet — it’s something they’re thinking about.”We have to get our feet on the ground and make money, and then we can put our heads in the clouds,” he said.
