A turning point?

Doug Pardee

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Mar 17, 1986, 1:13:01 PM3/17/86

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The March issue of "AOPA Pilot" magazine has the 1986 GA aircraft
directory. It looks to me like we are at a major turning point in
General Aviation history.

This year, there is only one (1) significant fixed-gear, fixed-prop
plane still in production -- the Cessna Skyhawk.

[For completeness: the other fixed/fixed planes still in production
are the Arctic Tern and the Mudry CAP10B, both special-purpose 2-seat
planes. "Pilot" also shows Taylorcraft as being in production, but
T-Craft went out of business last year.]

Thirty years ago, Piper's top-of-the-line plane was a 150-hp 4-seat
Tri-Pacer. This year, the smallest plane that Piper builds is the
310-hp 6-seat pressurized Malibu.

The days of the simple and inexpensive fixed-gear, fixed-prop airplane
are coming to an end. The Wright brothers' dream of flying like birds
has been replaced by the American dream -- turning a buck. Flying is
increasingly used only to make money or to save money. And the simple
planes are too limited for that purpose.

I bid a fond adieu to personal flying's innocent days, when people flew
Aeroncas off of grass strips, without destination nor mission, just
to experience the joy and beauty of flight.
--
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {elrond,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug

Peter Ladkin

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Mar 18, 1986, 6:46:44 PM3/18/86

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In article <10...@terak.UUCP>, do...@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) writes:
> This year, there is only one (1) significant fixed-gear, fixed-prop
> plane still in production -- the Cessna Skyhawk.
>

I share your concern wholeheartedly.
However, Piper is still delivering Warriors and Archers at a
rate comparable with the Skyhawk (Aviation Week publishes
Monthly figures). So maybe the suspended production is due
only to the high inventory. There was a multi-base aircraft
rental company whose name escapes me which had orders for
70 or so new Warriors and Archers. Since they just quit
business, this leaves Piper with a large inventory.
AOPA Pilot was more concerned with billings than with units
shipped. Their graph tends to belie their comments.

Peter Ladkin

A Gomez

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Mar 20, 1986, 9:31:31 AM3/20/86

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Taylorcraft just re-started production for $25,000. Maules are $35,000.
But there are no airplanes (new) in the $10,000 area. Too bad.

If you count taildraggers, there are still a few more fixed/fixed planes
than just the Skyhawk left.

Angel

ar56...@sjuvax.uucp

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Mar 20, 1986, 10:49:04 AM3/20/86

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I would think that with the rise and subsequent technological advancement
of ultralights, as well as the rise in the costs involved in flying licensed
fixed-wing aircraft, the fate of recreational flying as we used to know it
has been sealed.

Tony Rowley

--

_______________________________________________________________________________
Anthony J. Rowley St. Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA USA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{ bpa | burdvax | allegra | astrovax } !sjuvax!ar563303
_______________________________________________________________________________

Rich Giannotti

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Mar 20, 1986, 2:04:15 PM3/20/86

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I agree that reading AOPA magazine is a little depressing,but take heart!

You can still buy a REAL nice 2 place airplane for the price of a 3 year
old car, have many hours of flying fun (going nowhere in particular)
and sell it for the same or more than you paid for it.

Grass roots flying isn't dead,the AOPA just doesn't write about it.

BTW..Taylorcraft was sold by Dorothy Ferris to a guy who is back in business
in the old Piper factory at Lock Haven Pa. What goes around,comes around!