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From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: No advances in GA plane designs?
Message-ID: <1024@terak.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 27-Jan-86 19:32:00 EST
Article-I.D.: terak.1024
Posted: Mon Jan 27 19:32:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 04:21:18 EST
References: <1009@terak.UUCP> <6316@utzoo.UUCP>
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 19

> The advances have not been
> the result of greater sophistication; they have been the result of bigger
> price tags.  Which is what the complaint is about.

Cause and effect; which is which?  High prices didn't bring about
sophistication.  Sophistication brought about high prices.

In 1983, AOPA Pilot noted that the base price of a '83 Skyhawk was
virtually identical to that of a '63 Skyhawk after allowing for
inflation.  And the '83 is better equipped than the '63 was.  (This
doesn't mean stuff like radios; the base price doesn't include any
radios.  It means stuff like dual toe brakes and full gyro panel.)

What has increased is the sophistication demanded by buyers.  In '63
many pilots would buy a 'hawk with only a few options; but in '83 the
plane that AOPA flew for a review had $36,000 worth of options (added
to a $44,000 base price!)
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {hardy,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug