Banner Year Sets Multiple Records; Production Increase and Plant Expansion Recorded

It was a VERY GOOD YEAR for Cirrus Design. The company reported 600 new aircraft shipped in 2005, representing an increase of 9.2% over 2004. The company registered 701 new aircraft orders during fiscal year 2005.

On the manufacturing side, CIRRUS reached a production milestone by manufacturing its 2,000th airplane in 2005 while setting monthly sales records in January and November.

"2005 was a very good year for CIRRUS! There has not been another start-up company in the last 50 years to accomplish what we have - which is to deliver 2,000 airplanes in less than six years," said CIRRUS CEO Alan Klapmeier.

According to 2005 GAMA shipment data CIRRUS remains the market category leader in high-performance, single-engine piston, four-place airplanes. The CIRRUS SR22 was for the fourth consecutive year the world's best selling airplane in 2005. CIRRUS attributes much of the growth to its maturing international sales distribution network and its established domestic direct sales team.

"Our aircraft deliveries put CIRRUS ahead of last year's anticipated totals and well beyond our own target. This is both a reflection of everyone's hard work and the unique CIRRUS factory-direct to the consumer sales model. CIRRUS has no dealers or dealer network able to stockpile idle or un-sold inventory. Our numbers are actual - they represent orders taken - planes built and planes delivered," according to John M. Bingham, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

"CIRRUS will also increase its international branding and sales efforts in 2006 in an attempt to increase overall international sales to at least 26% of our total volume," stated Bingham.

To keep pace with its sales success and owner appeal, CIRRUS is expanding manufacturing capacity in Duluth and Grand Forks, N.D. New construction at these existing facilities will accommodate the sales driven boom in aircraft production and the growing CIRRUS workforce.

"We surpassed our 2005 sales forecast and expect steady production increases as we create and satisfy the consumer demand for safe, technologically advanced planes," added CIRRUS President David Coleal.

"In addition to the expansion we are always focusing on customer satisfaction through continuously enhancing our delivery process, service capability and ultimately providing our customers with the highest quality, most innovative plane on the market.  The goal being to bring customer satisfaction to new levels, as seen by the SR22 being the best selling plane four years in a row," Coleal concluded.

FMI: www.CIRRUSdesign.com