TX: Mooney Aircraft in Kerrville shuts down

[ELB]

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/moo ... urloughed/

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Kerrville, Texas-based Mooney Aircraft has reportedly shut down and released its entire staff, the Kerrville Daily Times is reporting. The Times reported and we can confirm that Mooney’s voicemail system states that “At this time, all Mooney employees have been furloughed and therefore we cannot take your call.” We have been unable to reach any of Mooney’s staff or management, and we understand that the firm’s workforce was down to just 50 preceding the furlough.

Sad.

[EastTexasRancher]

What a sad day for an iconic Texas company.

[powerboatr]

OMG last night it was dean foods and now this

[AF-Odin]

Unfortunately, general aviation has just gotten too expensive for the average guy. When I first started flying in 1971, a nice Piper Cherokee 140 rented for $15 per hour wet and am older Cessna 150 rented for $5 per hour plus gas which was about .35 per gallon and running rich used about 8 gallons an hour so about $8 per hour. Mooney made a neat airplane, but not many could afford to buy a new one.

[eyedoc]

Unfortunately, general aviation has just gotten too expensive for the average guy. When I first started flying in 1971, a nice Piper Cherokee 140 rented for $15 per hour wet and am older Cessna 150 rented for $5 per hour plus gas which was about .35 per gallon and running rich used about 8 gallons an hour so about $8 per hour. Mooney made a neat airplane, but not many could afford to buy a new one.

Around 850K for their plane is a little steep for most people.

[EL29jm]

When I was young, my father had a Mooney and flew out of Houston. He was an AF pilot and retired. When I was young, I took the controls and flew the aircraft for a short period of time. I did this a couple of times. When I got older, dad could not understand the lunacy of me jumping out of aircraft at SpaceLand in League City (so long ago). Dad sold the aircraft when he no longer could pass his medical.

Sad to see the company leave, a Texas Company that will be missed.

[eyedoc]

When I was young, my father had a Mooney and flew out of Houston. He was an AF pilot and retired. When I was young, I took the controls and flew the aircraft for a short period of time. I did this a couple of times. When I got older, dad could not understand the lunacy of me jumping out of aircraft at SpaceLand in League City (so long ago). Dad sold the aircraft when he no longer could pass his medical.

Sad to see the company leave, a Texas Company that will be missed.

Back when I was a kid working my way through college, I worked on the twin otter you jumped out of. N927 I think.