Piper Aircraft is almost synonymous with Vero Beach, just like the Dodgers once were, but our nation's current economic crisis may relegate the venerable firm to aviation history. It seems like only yesterday we were basking in the afterglow of Piper's decision to remain in Vero and add up to 500 more jobs to its workforce of more than 1,000. That was yesterday. Today, the company's 650 or so remaining employees wonder what the future holds for them. There seems to be a pattern of near-failure, rescue by a new buyer, near-failure. A number of potential suitors have visited the plant, including Japanese, Russians, a presumably, even Americans. Through all its ownership changes, Piper has continued to produce popular light aircraft. Let's hope the current market funk doesn't permanently ground it, or worse, live for another day as Piper-san or Piperski.
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2009/090309piper.html
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