Piston Aircraft gather Strength in Delivery Figures

Piston-engined aircraft deliveries are on the rise after a strong showing in the Q3 2014 delivery figures.

Piston-engine aeroplane shipments increased 9.2% to 806 units in the first nine months of 2014, compared to 738 shipments in the same period 2013. Turbo-prop shipments were down 3.7% with 412 units this year. Business jet shipments were up over last year, from 421 units to 460 units in 2014.

Leading the piston charge is Cessna's C172SP, with 45 delivered for the quarter, making an even 100 YTD. Only 106 were delivered for the entire 12 months of 2013.

The SP's closest rival, Diamond's DA40, had a quiet quarter with only 28 aircraft delivered, compared to the 48 and 49 shipped for the first two quarters of the year respectively. Regardless, the DA40 still leads the four-seat sector with 125 delivered YTD 2014.

In the large single-engine market, the Cirrus SR22T continues to be king with 39 sold, compared with 28 of the normally-aspirated version, 6 G36 Bonanzas and five Cessna TTx.

Diamond's DA42 has established itself as the primary light twin, with customers taking delivery of 17 of the type in Q3, leading Piper's Seneca V (4) and the G58 Baron (9) easily.

Australasian manufacturers also fared lightly for the quarter, with only two Airvan 8s and no P750XLs being shipped.

Major Aircraft Shipments