Heavens no. It evolves with the times, ebbs and flows with the economy, and generally changes over time. LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN ENDEAVOR UNDER THE SUN.

those days are long gone and the people who built in beechcraft quality are long dead

Check out a recent build G36 and look at how the doors (don't) fit. Crawl up in the wheel wells and look around with a mirror. Check the rivet heads that aren't easy to see.

Cirrus aces new Beech pistons in any quality metric you can think of.

Disheartening to hear that.
I think the workmanship in my S35 is top notch.
Sad to hear it's gone downhill.

Darn it...

How does Textron even maintain an assembly line for one delivery per quarter? I assume they are working on multiple airframes and probably aren't very proficient on any of them.

Being a TBM owner I spent quite a bit of time in the TBM booth watching the air show a couple of afternoons. I watched the director of sales spend an hour sitting in the sun on the wing of a 940 talking to someone sitting in the pilots seat. When he came by I asked if he sold it and he said their job was not to sell at Oshkosh but to create desire and goodwill. In hopes if an when someone made a decision to purchase, hopefully it would be their product. Others could learn from his approach.

Arnie,
Your S model was the era when Beech reached the pinnacle of airframe build quality, in my opinion. Everything prior to that was great, of course, but the evolution of the processes and the experienced labor force were at its peak. This continued through the late 70s; again, my opinion.

As with many things, when the experienced and quality conscious employees begin to retire, and new management/employees replace them, it's not the same business. The product is just a husk of what it once was.

Mooney bankruptcies:

1930.

Almost in 1954, saved at the last minute by two investors.

1969.

2001.

2004 (holding company).

Almost in 2011, down to 10 employees, eventually bought by the Chinese.

I wouldn't make any long term plans if I am a Mooney employee.

Mike C.

They should hire the sales people at the massage chair booths to man the Beech/Textron locations.

Obviously not Oshkosh, but Textron had some planes and reps at the AOPA fly-in at FDK this spring. They just sat around a table talking to each other. After standing there a while and not getting much attention, I waited for a break and just blurted out, “Where’s Mindy?” Got the dirty looks I was expecting, smiled, and walked off.

Lolol

Mooney bankruptcies:

1930.

Almost in 1954, saved at the last minute by two investors.

1969.

2001.

2004 (holding company).

Almost in 2011, down to 10 employees, eventually bought by the Chinese.

I wouldn't make any long term plans if I am a Mooney employee.

Mike C.

+1

I love the lines of the Ovation. An Ovation/Eagle with air conditioning is a remarkable travel machine for one or two people, good for another 10-15 knots over the NA A36.

They don't come in my size.

MU2 was first marketed and supported by Mooney in the USA, which ended with the 1969 bankruptcy.

Also, the "M" in "TBM" stands for Mooney.

Seems like Mooney wanted to get into turboprops but never had the chops to stay with it.

Mike C.

They don't come in my size.

tastes vary
For me, a trip around the pattern in a mooney would be as much as i can stand
Hate 'em. Feel like I'm inside a tunnel looking out through the mouth. Every time I get in one, i can't wait to get out and back into a bonanza or cessna.