Comments on: Time to be greedy? http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589 Online perspective from the editors of "AOPA Pilot". Fri, 17 May 2013 05:39:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Richard A. Strong http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-81759 Richard A. Strong Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:07:37 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-81759 William Smeaton: Please go to http://www.strongware.com/dragon/calcs to read the engineering calculations for rotation and take-off. I’m reminded of how, way back when, I spoke with Molt Taylor at an EAA convention where I displayed a model. He questioned the rotation and I replied, “It’s a simple summation of moments problem.” He laughed and replied, “Well, you must be an engineer.” I had recently graduated from UMich, under the tutelage of Ed Lesher.

]]> By: Kenry http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-46485 Kenry Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:36:07 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-46485 Great post, thanks for the info

]]> By: William Smeaton http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-19264 William Smeaton Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:30:55 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-19264 They can’t be serious. All you have to do is to look at how far aft of the CG the rear wheels are placed to know the “car” will have to be going about 250 knots before there is enough elevator power to rotate to fly. It’s sometimes hard to tell the optomists from the frauds in this sort of endevor but sometimes careful scrutiny of the details make that choice easier. The press releases on ths machine claim it will be licensed in the Light Sport category. Really? Some of the press releases also claim that no pilot’s license will be required for this vehicle. Is that because it won’t fly or because the promoters don’t know the difference between Ultra Light and LIght Sport? Would you buy a used car from these guys?

]]> By: Greg Noonan http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-19168 Greg Noonan Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:22:14 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-19168 Hi Tom,

Having spent the last 14 years as publisher of an automotive magazine and you know my background in aviation; I am more than skeptical. I think there’s a very small market for the air car but it will never loose its novelty. I remember doing my training in Ft. Lauderdale back in 1991 and being 2nd on final after the Aero car. Even seeing it, and later walking around it parked near American Flyers, it puzzled me how it could fly. Ever since Moulton B. Taylor invented the Aero car in 1949 people have been trying to replicate it.

My skepticism resides in the reason only hundreds of thousands pursue their pilot license vs. the millions who get their drivers license. Seeing the troubles that auto retailing is facing over the next 24 – 36 months with MPG and price being the drivers on purchase I think the question to be posed is actually; will current pilots who own or are considering the purchase of an aircraft buy a $150,000 aircraft with modest performance. I say no! They can probably sell a hundred or so but never to the degree that would be profitable. As long as cars drive on highways and planes only land at airports the two will forever be separate vehicles.

The Lotus Elise has promise to fly but the market for the sale of the car is even more limited then the sale of the car itself. I would not want to try and fly cross country in a 2 seat roadster with wings when, for the same money, I can drive to my airport and fly a Mooney. I will be happy to be there for the test flight and will cover it in Dealer magazine when that vehicle is produced and flies; so contact me in enough time to the airport , or should I say highway?

Always great to read what you say and sorry I can’t get to California.

Greg

]]> By: David Dow http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-19108 David Dow Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:25:13 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-19108 I think you’re correct. There are some deals out there. Now is a good time to buy, if you know what you want, understand the market and don’t over commit yourself (financially & otherwise).

]]> By: James McCausland http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-19042 James McCausland Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:27:21 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-19042 Depending upon engine(s) and how it is equipped, I would certainly consider purchasing one after all the kinks are worked out and approvals are received.

]]> By: Dan McGaw http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-19007 Dan McGaw Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:56:58 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-19007 Probably not. As with prior attempts I’d be concerned that I would end up with both a car and a plane that did not meet my expections.

]]> By: Starr A. Wilson http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-18943 Starr A. Wilson Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:30:41 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-18943 If a car nowadays sells for, say, $65,000 and an airplane sells for $150,000, why should I pay more for an air/car? It’s a car with wings, right? As a consumer and hopeful pilot, I would want to know what the engine is like, is it airplane or car or a combination, what the gas mileage is both airborne and land. Heck, I’d even want extra features such as water landing gear. How do the wings fold in? Will the vehicle be hazardous in traffic due to the wings sticking out? How does it function in cold weather/ hot weather? Sure, the prices are going down because gas is expensive. Moreover, you have to watch the fuel to make sure it’s not contamined, both air and land, especially at the air field. But there’s just not enough information or testing done to insure my confidence in an air/car. I’m sure you could take one of those Mercedes Benz petite box cars they’re now selling for over $32,000 which barely fit one person and a grocery bag that can park in really small places, put wings on it and see if it flies, too. It’s not that I don’t like the idea. I think it’s a great idea but one that still doesn’t have all the kinks taken out of it. How do you explain to a cop who pulls you over what you’re driving? And can you only take off from an airplane strip or can you take off from your local traffic intersection or freeway? I mean seriously this could be a real fun aircraft auto but it would sure wreck havoc with the local air and ground transportation rules for take offs and landings! Can you imagine your 16-year-old saying, hey mom, dad, I want one of those! It would take flying to a whole new level.

]]> By: Nick Selby http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589&cpage=1#comment-18911 Nick Selby Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:35:54 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=589#comment-18911 Tom,
What a timely post for me. I totally agree with you – in fact, we just started pricing out purchase options and things look better than they have for a long time or buyers. I’m definitely happy that the tax incentives you mention are there – they’ve actually allowed me to consider much more airplane than I had originally set out to buy. The other interesting metric out there is in this month’s AOPA Pilot, which mentions that the real cost of flying has stayed static for some time. I do worry about Avgas availability in the coming years, but I think that the risk is mitigated – aww, heck, forget the justifications… the opportunities may be just too great to pass up.

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