Impressions from Sun-n-Fun

[fearofpavement]

Well, just got back from Sun-n-Fun. Overall, it seemed to have a great turnout. This sport pilot thing has almost become a craze. I think everyone is convinced that their only chance for success is to get in on the ground floor. I don't disagree with that assessment but I could not believe how many different sport pilot eligible aircraft there were displayed there. It may not have actually been hundreds but sure seemed like it. Obviously, there are way more manufacturers (or wanna-be manufacturers) of these aircraft than the market will ever support. What I see as the largest issue is price point. I know the difficulties of bringing any aviation product to market and the challenge of spreading development costs over a few hundred units instead of multi-millions of units as in the auto industry but I was looking at the prices of many of these planes and got thinking that they can't do anything a T-craft can't do. So, other than being "new" exactly what are you getting for the price of three restored T-crafts and a five year supply of gas? I don't think the market is going to support this industry to the extent that a significant number of optomistic entreupeneurs is expecting. However, the amount of enthusiasm out there is exciting to see in this post 9-11 aviation world.

[waltermrich]

Re: Impressions from Sun-n-Fun

Well said.Perhaps all of the interest is good for Taylorcraft owners.

[whake]

Re: Impressions from Sun-n-Fun

I agree it is going to be a tough marketing problem for the light sport planes..I spent four days at Sun & Fun. I think the crowds were smaller. I listened to the AOPA talk about the fact that you can get your special medicals faster, but they never mention the cost of extra exams. Doctors do not write letters for free,,some Of my friends spend a minimum of $1500 each year to renew their medical...The flea market was hurt by Ebay sales and that is acceptable..General aviation needs lots of PR to hold the local politicians and the national poiticians at bay...The EAA is our only hope.

[M Towsley]

Re: Impressions from Sun-n-Fun

As a Taylorcraft fan I can tell you it won't cruise at 120-130 mph as some of these can, hence why they are a little pricey. Obviously there are many other reasons, but they are new in this market, though cheaper than a new domestic aircraft. Many have been in use in Europe for awhile. Very few also look like real airplanes. I test flew a Breezer at Osh in 2005. Very nice plane, 100 hp Rotax with comparable fuel burn and fast. Looks like a real airplane rather than the pregnant guppy look so many have. The only difficult thing to get over is the 6000 RPM cruise, not the 2150 lope we are used to.