The new arrivals in general aviation could dominate deliveries for the first time this year, based on their sales so far. Diamond Aircraft has joined Cirrus Design in reporting strong orders for the first quarter, traditionally a slow period for sales.
Cirrus booked 170 orders in the first quarter, in addition to delivering more four-seat piston singles than any other manufacturer: 105 SR-series aircraft versus Cessna's total of 89 172/182s. Diamond, meanwhile, delivered 44 DA40 four-seaters in the first quarter, but in April alone booked 122 orders for its DA42, taking the orderbook for the four-seat diesel twin close to 400.
Last year Cirrus delivered 469 aircraft, while Cessna shipped 514 172s and 182s plus 74 six-seat 206s. Diamond delivered 153 DA40s, plus 75 DA20 two-seaters, and next month will begin deliveries of the DA42.
Whether Cirrus ends the year as the largest producer of four-seat light aircraft will depend on how much of a boost Cessna gets from the introduction of Garmin's G1000 integrated flightdeck on its piston singles. Cessna says 94% of 182s, as well as 76% of 206s, scheduled for delivery this year, have G1000 avionics, introduced last October, while total orders for the Garmin-equipped piston singles exceed 400 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
