Compared with the year before, that number sucks. Compared with the 18 years before that when they sold on average 17/year it is pretty steady. They where excited like children when they had 30 orders for 2007. 2008 was the outlier.

42 in 2006
46 in 2007

The 850 I flew a couple months back was sold.

Same with the Pilatus I flew.

I'm not implying sales are good though.

At a time when every other non-military manufacturer has shut down operations for periods of time, they are still selling planes at a pace comparable to their 5 year average. Due to the impending end of bonus depreciation, they had an exceptional year in '08 and they wheren't able to match that in '09, but the basic premise that they are still selling planes is correct.
There was probably quite some re-shuffling of positions with some commercial operators replacing larger jets and some owner-pilots postponing their slots. I wouldn't be suprised if they have burned through their backlog by now.

Pilatus says their business is really good.

Here's the article:

http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2 ... c_sect=gan

Mh, back when piper announced that they sold 150 matrices you told us that that doesn't count as anyone can drum up positions , only end user deliveries count.

Make up your mind.

[quote="Yvés Soeté

I'm frustrated.[/quote]

Yves,

Welcome to America. Facts are irrrevelant, its the Spin and Public Relations that counts.