Piper Aircraft European Sales Stronger Than Anticipated

Vero Beach, Fla., May 7, 2012 - Piper Aircraft dealers in Europe have noted a sales trend toward new, more fuel-efficient business aircraft.

"We are seeing more buyers opt for new, more fuel-efficient aircraft as they downsize from twin-engine aircraft," said Peter Winters, General Manager of Winters Aviation, with Piper sales responsibility in France and Belgium. "At the same time they are keeping their cabin-class preferences intact with the single-engine Piper Meridian and Piper Mirage. They are just flying more efficiently now in response to changes in aviation fuel prices," he said.

Early in 2012, Piper delivered three new Piper Meridian turboprops into France and a Piper Mirage pressurized single in Switzerland. Additionally, the company has five more M-Class single-engine aircraft set for delivery to retail customers in Europe this year.

"This performance is higher already than we expected for the entire year," said Enrico Evers, Piper's Director of Sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "Winters Aviation has been particularly effective," Evers said. "But indeed the whole EMEA Piper dealer network has been strong."

Piper's international aircraft deliveries continued to outpace those in the United States, led by the vigorous sales in Europe. The company's international success clearly demonstrates the wisdom of its aggressive globalization strategy.

"All of our dealers are fielding more customer inquiries and the recently ended AERO Friedrichshafen aviation trade show generated considerably more leads and aircraft demonstrations than past years," he said.

About Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft, Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida. A global force in aviation, Piper is an investment of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Brunei. The company offers efficient single-engine and twin-engine trainer, personal and business aircraft. With economical acquisition and operating costs, Piper airplanes deliver the best value available today and into the future. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.