Agree.
Opinions are like bellybuttons. Everyone has one, but some are more attractive than others, and all are useless. So here’s mine.
Not all millionaires who need to fly want a NetJets subscription and a pilot in the same way that very few wealthy folks want a chauffeur. But flying takes time and commitment to learn and stay current. So the universe of people with money who love aviation and have the time to commit is somewhat limited. However, the heyday of general aviation suggests the potential market is much bigger than current sales would suggest.
Aviation has always been expensive. It is clearly worse due to liability and the regulatory costs imposed by the FAA. If planes were cheaper, some additional sales could be expected, but the lamenting about how Mooney just needs to sell cheaper airplanes is not the problem. Ferrari doesn’t simply need to offer rebates And Cirrus sells a lot of airplanes at a higher list price than Mooney.
Nor is the idea of a Cirrus “lifestyle” compelling. In my opinion, Cirrus sells a lot of airplanes for 3 reasons. First, they make a model line with an upgrade path. Learn to fly in a Cirrus, you’re more likely to buy one. Second, they have added some features, interior and exterior, that make it feel more modern than the traditional manufacturers, and third - and by far the most important - is the stupid parachute. While educated pilots may cast doubt on the need for a parachute, uneducated spouses think they’re just wonderful, and I believe for many the parachute in the factor that convinces the spouse that it’s safe to fly in that little teeny airplane. Ask aircraft brokers and see if they concur. (Hint, they will)
Mooney’s don’t have that logical upgrade path, they are not for novice pilots, retractable insurance costs more, and they have struggled to get the capital necessary to upgrade the useful load, which I believe is the single biggest issue. It still wouldn’t have six seats like a Bonanza or the hauling capacity of a Saratoga, but with a higher load you could put a ridiculous parachute on it and compete favorably with Cirrus. That is unlikely to happen, however.
That being said, Corvettes sell with two seats, the useful load of a 911 isn’t much, and some people just like to go fast. Mooney’s marketing, or lack thereof, over the years, hasn’t helped. Unfortunately, venture capital money thinks software is a lot more enticing than airplanes, and the marketplace other than Cirrus would support that notion.
It’s a shame because Mooney’s are simply fantastic airplanes with a tremendous legacy. But a lot more people buy Camrys, preferably in gray or beige, than Corvettes because they’re “safe and reliable.” And boring, and overhyped, and slow….