General Aviation Aircraft Shipments

General aviation airplane shipments are the cleanest read on new-aircraft demand. GAMA (the General Aviation Manufacturers Association) publishes them quarterly by segment. In 2025 manufacturers delivered 1,782 piston airplanes, 594 turboprops and 854 business jets, for airplane billings of $31.0 billion, the highest dollar total in the series shown here.

What the shipment data means for buyers

Fourth quarters are consistently the strongest of the year, as buyers close before year-end for tax planning and manufacturers clear inventory. Piston deliveries have held near 1,800 a year since 2024, while business jet deliveries grew 11.8% in 2025 and turboprops slipped 5.1%. New-aircraft supply that stays flat while billings rise means higher average prices per delivery, which tends to support values in the pre-owned market buyers finance most often.

For financing, a steady flow of new deliveries keeps lenders comfortable with collateral values on late-model aircraft. See how current pricing translates into a payment with the aircraft loan calculator, or compare today's starting rates by category.

How to read GAMA shipment data

GAMA counts new airplanes delivered by its member manufacturers. Shipments are units handed to customers in the period; billings are the dollar value of those deliveries. The data covers certified airplanes from member companies, so most kit-built and many light sport aircraft are not included. Because deliveries cluster around year-end, a single quarter can mislead. Rolling four-quarter totals smooth that out.

Comparing the latest four quarters (Q3 2025 through Q2 2026) with the four before them: piston deliveries were 1,757 versus 1,812 (down 3.0%), turboprops were 615 versus 614 (flat) and business jets were 883 versus 796 (up 10.9%). The growth in the market is at the top end, while piston output is holding steady rather than expanding.

What it means by segment

• Pistons. Flat new supply keeps demand pointed at the pre-owned fleet, which is where most financed piston purchases happen. Certified pistons qualify for terms up to 20 years with 15% to 20% down for strong credit.
• Turboprops. Deliveries are steady at around 600 a year. Lenders treat late-model turboprops such as the PC-12 and TBM as strong collateral, which supports long terms.
• Business jets. The fastest-growing segment by units and by dollars. Larger loan sizes mean more lender competition and more structuring options.

Key takeaways

• 2025 airplane billings reached $31.0 billion, up 16.1% from 2024.
• Piston deliveries have held near 1,800 a year since 2024.
• Fourth quarters are the busiest delivery period every year in the series.

Twenty years of context

General aviation airplane deliveries peaked at 4,277 in 2007, collapsed to 2,024 by 2010 after the financial crisis and spent most of the following decade between 2,100 and 2,700 a year. The recovery since 2021 has brought annual deliveries back above 3,000 for three straight years, reaching 3,230 in 2025. Billings have risen faster than units because the mix has shifted toward larger, more expensive aircraft and because new-aircraft prices have climbed.

For buyers, that history matters in two ways. First, the long stretch of low production after 2008 means there are relatively few late-model aircraft in the pre-owned market, which keeps prices for 10- to 15-year-old aircraft firm. Second, lenders lived through the 2009 downturn, which is why they still focus on down payment, liquidity and the resale strength of the specific model.

When the next numbers come out

GAMA publishes third-quarter 2026 results the week of November 16, 2026, and full-year 2026 results on February 17 and 18, 2027. This page updates when each report is released. The Q3 report will show whether the year-end delivery push is on track; the year-end report sets the baseline for 2027 pricing conversations.

How FLYING Finance uses this data

• To anticipate lender appetite by segment, especially for new turbine deliveries.
• To explain price movements to buyers comparing new and pre-owned options.
• To time year-end closings for buyers using bonus depreciation.