Comments on: Light sport prices going up

By: JoeJoe90

JoeJoe90 — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:52:23 +0000

The company betrayed America. I hope pilost continue to boycott this America-hating plane. It is a new low in American aviation, that a company would hate the USA so much.

By: grumpy

grumpy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:33:38 +0000

Most homebuilts are MADE IN THE USA.

By: RDM

RDM — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:06:15 +0000

I have had a passion and love of flying in excess of 40 yrs., both as ex-military and civilian flying. Probably few of my fellow men have enjoyed it more than I have. Sadly, the middle class will not be able to enjoy this fun and practical endeavor in the future, because of the outrageous costs. It is little wonder that we are losing the battle to encourage people to participate in pilot training. At a cost of $150K for a LSAT , 99.9999999% of general aviation enthusiasts will not be able to afford the purchase price. Another very real concern is the future safety record of these underpowered toys. My guess is the future accident trend of LSAT types will be directly proportional to their respective time in service (age, flight time, etc). Then general aviation,(AOPA, etc) will have a very difficult time in defending that situation. It is a very sad reality to me that the future of general aviation will consist primarily of flying for “business” purposes. Too bad Cessna and some other manufacturers could not figure out a way to produce a safe, reliable, affordable aircraft,-MADE IN THE USA-

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:44:03 +0000

I don’t know why anyone would buy this LSAT plane when you could get a used cirrus for the same amount of money. I bought my cirrus with dual avidyne screens and only 545 hours on it for under $190,000. And it is a real airplane. I think only flight schools will venture to have these since they are cheaper than a new 172. An net resting thought is that a 172 was only $30000 in 1970 but today it is $250,000 while the average income went from $16,000 to $30,000. Thus incomes have doubled in forty years while aircraft price went up ten times. Put it another way, in 1970 you cold rent a 172 for ten dollars an hour wet, today expect $120 per hour and that’s an old 172. The long term prognostics for general aviation are bad. Most people who own planes are baby boomers or older. Very few people belw fifty own planes. In twenty years the AOPA membership will be half of what it is today.

By: grumpy

grumpy — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:13:38 +0000

Want an inexpensive LSA? You can get a used Sonex for around $25,000.00-$32,000.00.
136 mph on 6 gph, 1200 fpm rate of climb and, if equiped with a Jabiru 3300, approx 160 mph TAS at 9500 ft. ( 120 kts indicated. Still legal.)

By: Dale Smith

Dale Smith — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:45:43 +0000

This just proves that flying is a sport for the wealthy. The GA population is dwindling not because people don’t want to learn to fly but because they just can’t afford such an expensive hobby. I am a student pilot and find it hard too afford sometimes even though I make a decent income. I can never dream of owning a new plane. The only way to own my own plane would be to purchase a clean used plane. At least it would be made in the USA and not China!

By: Brent

Brent — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 06:31:28 +0000

Been a pilot for 40 years….until Cessna and oil companies forced me into retirement. Thanks for the Christmas gift…the aviation industry.

By: Norman Drouillard jr

Norman Drouillard jr — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:38:42 +0000

So much for cheaper prices at offshore manufacturing plants. Cessna should have manufactured it here to begin with.
I don’t think this is an entry level aircraft anymore or LSA priced.

By: don cleveland

don cleveland — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:12:30 +0000

a nice product way over priced i had really wanted one no hope now

By: Angelo Campanella

Angelo Campanella — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:27:25 +0000

The Paradigm of inflation is more dollars chasing the same quality and quantity of products.
The paradigm of taxing and tax revenue is not understood by politicians… I know that because they never cite the critical factor of “Velocity of Money”. The more time something is bought at the SAME price, the more profit is made and the more the tax is collected. This is directly linked to people having jobs. Either more persons buying, or the same person buying ore often… Instead short-sighted politicians and congressmen inspire and print more dollars to cover the tax collections not received. That’s been the unfortunate truth all my life. So aviation costs will continue to rise out of the reach of the Middle Class.