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From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Homebuilts
Message-ID: <807@terak.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Oct-85 16:14:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: terak.807
Posted: Fri Oct 18 16:14:26 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 21-Oct-85 06:48:10 EDT
References: <3024@mhuxd.UUCP> <1172@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> <3097@hplabsb.UUCP> <689@alberta.UUCP>
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 28

[ If you've read my ravings in the past, feel free to 'n' past
this one, nothing new here]

> As far as I can see, all the innovation in general aviation
> nowadays can be directly attributed to the homebuilt industry.
> Furthermore, the large aviation companies seem to have no
> interest in building an airplane for the common man.

Ah, my favorite soapbox subject...   What kind of plane does "the
common man" want?  Sorry, he doesn't want a 2-place plane with no
room for luggage nor avionics.  What "the common man" wants is a
miniature airliner.

Four to six seats.  Dual Nav/Comm's with ILS/DME/RNAV.  ADF.  LORAN-C.
Transponder w/altitude encoder.  Backup vacuum and electric supplies for
the full-gyro panel.  Long range tanks (1000 miles or so).  Huge useful
load, with uncritical CG limits.  Plush interior, preferably with air
conditioning.  Two engines would be nice, as would approval for "known
icing".  Of course, it has to go fast, too.

In short, he wants an all-weather plane that will get him and his
family wherever they want to go, as fast as possible, in as much comfort
as possible.

Unfortunately, such planes are beyond the financial means of "the common
man", and so we find ourselves in the current General Aviation "slump".
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {calcom1,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug