Mooney believes that speed is king – which is just as well because that’s just what its Acclaim Type S does.
“We’re here to sell airplanes,” says Mooney chief executive Dennis Ferguson, “and we’re still the fastest airplane – faster than that plastic stuff.”
But Ferguson is keen to expand the international footprint of Mooney. He expects to receive EASA certification by next month for the first of its models – the Ovation. The Type S was certificated by Transport Canada earlier this month.
“We can double the market with European certification,” he says. And to expand its international footings, the company has recently signed up a distributor in Brazil and is investigating Mexico too.
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New to the stable is the optional upgrade of synthetic vision. “SVT [Synthetic Vision Technology] increases the capability of the airplane,” says Ferguson. “Synthetic vision, GPS/WAAS and Safe Taxi are among the most important advancements in avionics technology to come along in decades. They contribute significantly to overall flight safety and efficiency.”
The first production airplane will get the synthetic treatment next month [August] and the company is working on an upgrade kit for its existing customers.
Looking to the future, Ferguson is tight-lipped about just where the company is headed but does say that Mooney is investigating its long-term plan.
“We have a demand from the market to burn something other than Avgas. We need to find the right option. Is that alternative fuels or just different technology?” he asks.
Ferguson says that the Mooney is still the fastest airplane and that he wants to maximize the market for the aircraft, especially on the international playing field.
Source: Flight International
