Mooney factory is open 12/2/19

[TGreen]

50 minutes ago, Tony Starke said:

My thoughts as well. Mooney could use a really good PR campaign right about now.

Not if all they are trying to do is shut down as efficiently as possible with minimal exposure. Then they would silently go about their business. 

But I agree: If they were trying to save what is left of the brand, they would probably be communicating with their most loyal fans and brand ambassadors. I wonder if there is a forum where those types hang out. 

[toto]

2 minutes ago, TGreen said:

Not if all they are trying to do is shut down as efficiently as possible with minimal exposure. Then they would silently go about their business. 

But I agree: If they were trying to save what is left of the brand, they would probably be communicating with their most loyal fans and brand ambassadors. I wonder if there is a forum where those types hang out. 

Serious question, though..  Are there any Mooney factory reps that frequent MS?  Or is there a different forum where they regularly communicate with their customers?

[Marauder]

Serious question, though..  Are there any Mooney factory reps that frequent MS?  Or is there a different forum where they regularly communicate with their customers?

 

All 16 of their customers?

 

At Oshkosh and Sun N Fun, I was not impressed with the sales team Mooney had at both venues. If you’re struggling to sell products, having your sales people make no effort to speak to people showing up in your display area is inexcusable.

 

 

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[Bob]

Mooney never closed....It was just shut down for a special Chinese Holiday!

[toto]

Just now, Marauder said:

 

All 16 of their customers?
 

 

Well, I guess I'm thinking of the 10000-odd customers who currently own a Mooney aircraft (and who are likely current or future parts and service customers).  Those of us who have a clear, vested interest in the future of the company.

[toto]

But seriously, is the MAPA listserv the place to find factory reps?  Or some other forum?  I haven't seen anyone from the factory here at MS, but I dunno.

[carusoam]

Being on MS is similar to a full time job...

it would be hard to sell planes between threads... 

Best regards,

-a-

[amillet]

4 hours ago, Yetti said:

So who would buy a new $300K J model?

I still think of my 23 year old J model as almost new.  Maybe I’m comparing it to 43 year old J models

[amillet]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

Many boat mfr's have of recent had dealerships aggregate together to form investment groups that would buy into the manufacturer. The result has been much improved manufacturing and a manufacturer more responsive to the market. The dealers understand the market, the consumer and the product and drive the factory. It is a model that would work in aviation. 

I could probably scrape up $5K. What % ownership would that buy me?

[tigers2007]

I could probably scrape up $5K. What % ownership would that buy me?

Maybe they’ll be the next Amazon of the skies if you can wait long enough. $5k invested with AMZN in ‘97 would be worth around $5.9M today. The good news is that your $5k USD could be converted into Official AMU Bucks. 5 AMU bucks.


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[eman1200]

[tmo]

7 hours ago, carusoam said:

Being on MS is similar to a full time job...

it would be hard to sell planes between threads

That's why I can't seem to get any work done! ;-p

[Cargil48]

 

13 hours ago, toto said:

I actually think there would be a ton of buyers for a $300k J model.  In all seriousness, that's about what you would spend on a "better than new"-type refurbishment a la N205J.  And you'd have a brand-new plane, with none of the gotchas hiding in decades of chicken-scratch logbook entries.

Now imagine this scenario. Let's take this well cared of (as they say) E model, for $65k (they ask a bit more but with the money in the hand I bet the trade would be made around 65 grand...). Then you invest those $200k in making the same as they did with N205J and, important!, changing the interior for 2 people up front a one seat back for a kid up to, say, 12 y of age. With proper seat belts to be able to attach a special kids seat for youngsters, just like in our cars. You would have the perfect plane for a couple with a kid flying to a golf or tennis match some two or three hours away from home, or a grill event with friends or whatever you may want to go. For $265k... As new. No, way better than new! You just had to take the care of exchanging the engine cowling to a more streamlined one, or let that be made with the original in a car specialist knowing how to cut and weld metal and then finishing it properly to the desired shape. Like they do it in aftermarket work to extend the wheel arches in sports cars to give place to bigger wheels. Not that difficult to be done...

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Single+Engine+Piston&make=MOONEY&model=M20E+SUPER+21&listing_id=2367041&s-type=aircraft

Edited December 3, 2019 by Cargil48
Correcting a word

[GeeBee]

I also think there is a lot of money to be made in upgrades and mods. There are a bunch of G1000s that could be upgraded to NXi if the factory would create a program that they themselves could install. Equally so a lot of 231s that would like to be 252s. That plus interiors and paint the factory could create some income but more importantly certainty and value to the new products.

 

[Yetti]

In reality the real value of the "factory" is the drawings, the dies, and patterns.   After that the people capital.    I would think the hard assets are probably worth 1 Million at auction.   Figure up an owner build program and crank out some Js.   If you want to make money.

[afward]

19 hours ago, aviatoreb said:

I'll take two. One in red, one in blue.  One turbo.  One NA.  I can't decide though which should be the red one.

The Acclaim, obviously!  Because red carsplanes go faster, right?

[Davidv]

I have no inside knowledge but the fact that the factory is now reopen and they are in talks with an outside investor sure makes this entire factory closed story seem like negotiation posturing...along with the fact that Don Maxwell said in the Facebook group that the parts department never shut down.

[steingar]

Can't imagine what the sales pitch looked like for the extra cash.  "We'll sell more airplanes, honest!"

[Davidv]

8 minutes ago, steingar said:

Can't imagine what the sales pitch looked like for the extra cash.  "We'll sell more airplanes, honest!"

They said to the guy making the pitch deck “hey can you make that part where your wrote “past performance is no guarantee of future results?” 36 pt font instead of 8?”

[EricJ]

5 minutes ago, steingar said:

Can't imagine what the sales pitch looked like for the extra cash.  "We'll sell more airplanes, honest!"

This is what I'm wondering, or it's the usual "rich airplane enthusiast" that just wants to see it happen, like the guy that financed Piper through the 80s.

 

[timpercarpio]

They cannot succeed selling Ultras. They have to become very creative and competitive. I think they should resurrect the J and K models, load them up with experimental/certified avionics and market them aggressively and realistically. 

[Cargil48]

1 hour ago, timpercarpio said:

They cannot succeed selling Ultras. They have to become very creative and competitive. I think they should resurrect the J and K models, load them up with experimental/certified avionics and market them aggressively and realistically. 

And why not in the low work times acquiring used Mooneys in the market and make them in the factory that complete overhaul like the M205J cited here and sell them with an honest profit, and in turn givng factory warranty?

PS: These so-called "factory reconstructed" planes would still be of the respective original construction year and what matters to a constructor? To make profit and to keep presence in the market, right?

Edited December 3, 2019 by Cargil48
correcting a word misspelled

[quik flite]

If they had something new and innovative maybe they would sell .like an engine that doesn’t corrode and require maintenance like a model T.  

[INA201]

I have a thought on this J possibility.  I don't have the time for this currently but would be a fun proposition.  Take a group of say ten guys and incorporate an LLC or whatnot.  Collectively buy a J with a solid core, no corrosion, etc.  Bring in the MSCs and reputable avionics shops that want to partner on this complete refurbishment.  Let's say you can find this plane for $75k.  Let's also say that a tip to tail refurbishment can be completed for $125k more.  You then sell for a no haggle price of $250K.  I am betting one of us would even buy it.  This would accomplish two things.  It would show that it can be done.  It would also show to the factory that they could also do it.  You could even create a separate branding if it spun off on it's own.  Think of the fun on MS picking paint color schemes or voting on the avionics package.  I would consider putting my money into the first round but unfortunately my time is limited at this point. 

[ArtVandelay]

If they had something new and innovative maybe they would sell .like an engine that doesn’t corrode and require maintenance like a model T.  

Electric...cheap fuel, practically no maintenance...a “J” model and a fixed gear version that flight schools would buy.
Like the model T...few or no options that makes manufacturing efficient.
They have to do something unique, a Cirrus copy won’t do it.


Tom