Cessna's new LSA

[Ed O'Brien]

At Oshgosh a friend of mine saw the following Cessna unveiled. It's a Light Sport new Cessna model. Not out yet but you can tell the field is filling up. Meaning, there's likely competitive tension inside the LSA Aviation Manufacturing community. Competitive tension means crankiness. SEE ADDRESS BELOW

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=ffb25809-f840-4352-8b1e-0e22548b10e5#d

With regards;
ED OBRIEN

[cpirrmann]

Re: Cessna's new LSA

Yes, every playboy's dream at only $100,000.00

[hangarb7]

Re: Cessna's new LSA

Let's be fair. They did not post a price, however they said it would be "...well south of a hundred thousand dollars..."

It ain't gonna be the 9 grand I paid for my tired but flying '46 '12D three short years ago...

Judging by the fact that they manage to sell 172s at ridiculous prices, they will have an intro price of 84K and a normal price of 96K.

We'll see how close I am. We should have a pool

Jack D
N44057

[cpirrmann]

Re: Cessna's new LSA

Let's be fair. They did not post a price, however they said it would be "...well south of a hundred thousand dollars..."

It ain't gonna be the 9 grand I paid for my tired but flying '46 '12D three short years ago...

Judging by the fact that they manage to sell 172s at ridiculous prices, they will have an intro price of 84K and a normal price of 96K.

We'll see how close I am. We should have a pool

Jack D
N44057

I won't touch that bet

[VictorBravo]

Re: Cessna's new LSA

All those new LSA airplanes for 50-100K are probably good achievements for the manufacturers... which makes the recent promise of a $69K Taylorcraft wich is basically a new F-19 a fantastic achievement... if it happened.

However, the real problem in aviation is the lack of new pilots and the attrition of the older pilots. If there were 1 or 2 million pilots instead of a couple hundred thousand, then many of aviation's problems would be solved. We'd have the political power to prevent Meigs Field type travesties, we'd represent a force to be reckoned with in real estate arguments, and we'd have the strength to fend off marauding politicians. The EAA Young Eagles program, and others like it, will be the life raft that saves aviation if there is one. We need to be like fishermen, hunters, and wildlife conservationists. Strength in numbers ovbiously.

Once you have a bunch of pilots, THEN they will want airplanes. New airplanes (at any price) and no new pilots cannot work IMHO.

It would be a great idea for the Foundation to invent some sort of spinoff of the Young Eagles program involving Taylorcrafts as a "bridge spanning the generation gap", a trip to the past and the future at the same time, etc. etc. public relations BS.

Perhaps all the type clubs for old ragwing airplanes could agree to join forces on this one idea. Certainly it would be in keeping with the purposes of our Foundation and probably all the other type clubs. The focus of it could be a follow-on to Young Eagles, where after the kid got their first Young Eagles ride and expressed interest, they could get a second ride in an antique airplane, and learn more about aviation's history, how the private airplane helped shape the country and win the war, etc. etc. This could dovetail perfectly with Young Eagles and not conflict with that fabulous program at all.

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Cessna's new LSA

The ebbs and flows of the aircraft and airfield business are
legendary for their boom and bust cycles. Like farming, gold mining, and oil production these industries never see things as going just right. They're never quoted as commercially perfect. They're always on the edge and about to fall into the abyss. That said, I fell in love with flying by walking open airports, noting every plane on the field, talking to pilots, and nosing around hangars. I fell in love with the adventure and the openess of these iconic monuments to transportation. Now according to a couple of friends of mine who run little airports and have 10 to 15 government agencies to answer to... from the EPA, FAA, NTSB, and FBI to the local, county and state authorities...
there's strangulation by paper... wads and books and note-binders of paper. Flowing in UPS truckloads laid on their desks in repetitive giant thuds. Some of this is a post
9-11 reaction and some is just business, all of it is drowning airport and manufacturing management.

While I don't suppose it will change, this loss of romance, this loss of freedom, this corporatization, and legalese is swallowing flying by the mouthful. The death of little town airports is premature to announce right now... but they're on life support and the family is discussing if the plug should be pulled. Young Eagles, EAA Chapters, CAP, Flight Schools, we pilots and plane owners, airplane manufacturers, parts makers, and little airport busy-bodies are looking for enough romance in flying to
hold our interest another minute or two -- because we are all on life-support. And, we can all hear the family discussing our fate.

Given this disheartening news... it seems worth noting that the LSA rules are atleast in a symbolic way... one family member speaking up on our behalf and expressing the hope that romantic flying should be allowed one more day, to live. The romance of flying isn't dead today... but tomorrow?
With regards;
ED OBRIEN

[birdlegs]

Re: Cessna's new LSA/corporate policies

G.A. is so thin now the LSA gift can hardly put meat on the bones,Corporate hard liners say 40% profit on investments a must. G.A. can't possibly produce figures such as say oil futures its unrealistic.How about subsidies like dairy farmers recieve? Mom & Pop G.A. could breathe at the very least.
If this nation ever has to "go to the well" for pilots I don't think Canada or Mexico will cough up too many.