General Counsel and Safety and Compliance Officer Margaret Napolitan said: "It's a commercial dispute. It has nothing to do with the safety of the aircraft." Neither the company nor the FAA have released any further information. 2008–12 global recession In November 2008, responding to the global economic crisis, Liberty announced a package of incentives for aircraft buyers who bought a Liberty XL2 before December 31, 2008. The added incentives included free fuel for 125 flying hours, free scheduled maintenance for 125 flying hours, free insurance and five hours of free flight training. The company also matched deposits made on competing aircraft up to $5,000 for buyers who chose a Liberty aircraft over a competitor's product. In February 2009 the company announced that it will create an independent division called Liberty Composites that will market its composite construction skills outside the aviation industry. By March 2009 the company had laid off all but 32 workers of its previous 180-person workforce, citing the global economic situation that has resulted in a sharp decline in sales. CEO Keith Markley indicated the company intends to rehire its workers when conditions permit. The company had delivered a total of 100 XL-2s by the end of February 2009. The company decided to offer its fleet of eight demonstrator aircraft for sale in December 2009 at deeply discounted prices. In April 2011 the company consolidated its operations in Melbourne, Florida by giving up expiring leases on two of its five buildings. The company continues to supply parts for their fleet in the field and build aircraft to order. During 2011 the company shipped only two aircraft and none during the first two-quarters of 2012. In late September 2012 the sale of 50 XL-2s to the city of Wuhan, China was announced. 2014 merger In early April 2014 the company announced that it was merging with Discovery Aviation with the intention of returning the XL-2 to production. References External links Liberty Aerospace web site Discovery Aviation XL-2 website Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States Companies based in Brevard County, Florida