…As Cessna, Cirrus, and Diamond Churn Out Singles

Cessna led the pack, delivering 588 single-engine piston planes, plus 67 of its Caravan turboprops; and Cirrus Design was close behind with 469 sales. Diamond came in third, delivering 228 of its DA20 and DA40 models. New Piper completed 185 single-engine deliveries plus 44 sales of light twins. Raytheon sold 55 Beech Bonanzas plus 107 light twins, Socata sold 74 from its single-engine line, and American Champion sold 63 from its stable of light aerobatic and utility aircraft. Lancair sold 51 Columbias, and other U.S. manufacturers coming in at under 50 sales for the year were Aviat, 47; Mooney, 36; Maule, 32; OMF, 19; and Tiger, 18. GAMA also listed for the first time this year Australia’s Gippsland Aeronautics, which sold 19 of its hefty single-engine AirVans, and Pacific Aerospace of New Zealand, which sold two PAC 750XLs (one of which was lost in a ditching before delivery). GAMA President Ed Bolen also noted that the student population rose by 1.5 percent last year, a figure he called “impressive” considering the weak economy and the war. Bolen credited BE A PILOT‘s work for the rise.