when you look at the actual cost of construction,

the methods of riveted aluminum, Mooney's combination of methods or composites are virtually the same cost at equal volumes. and the other components like engines, instruments, insurance, etc are also the same.

the cost is very volume dependent so if you can not sell 500 Mooneys or 500 bonanzas per year you cannot compete.

the old rule of thumb in manufacturing is that for every 10 x increase in volume the cost is 1/2 the direct manufacturing cost

so if you only build 60 per year your manufacturing costs are in the order of 3 times as much. even if you figure out a way to build them for only 2X the cost of a cirrus you are much more expensive and you need some convincing reason to pay the extra.

thus I think putting the Mooney aircraft back into production is a losing proposition.

I think done right supporting the existing fleet with parts and some improvements could be a profitable business if done right.

Chuck, I would be exactly that guy if I hit a Powerball! I could get by on a small fortune and could have a fun go at revitalizing the brand. And moving home to Texas would be a nice bonus.

Why do they have to produce only Mooney parts? With the PMA and the certificates on hand they (whoever buys them) could produce parts for any GA plane. Run a survey with the owners groups, A&Ps, FBOs and find the top the top 10-20 most needed/worn out parts on the various fleets and reverse engineer them, use soft/rapid prototype tooling if you are only going to make 50 or fewer parts that way you can refine the part each run you make. Imagine new "Beachcraft" or "Pipper" or "Cezzna" parts for vintage planes or parts that have long been out of stock/back ordered for some discount over the fictional and unavailable list price or a salvage yard part that is only 10% better than the part it is replacing but it will last for a few more years until "I can find a better one."

There is my $2(inflation adjusted) idea.

I am skeptical of your PMA gambit.

Even with ABS’ $500k-plus prize, nobody seems interested in producing kits to re-skin ruddervators. If the business was viable, I would expect Univair, GAMI, Beegles, Mtn. Airframe … someone to step forward.