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From: doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: A turning point?
Message-ID: <1095@terak.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Mar-86 13:13:01 EST
Article-I.D.: terak.1095
Posted: Mon Mar 17 13:13:01 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Mar-86 05:16:10 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lines: 27

The March issue of "AOPA Pilot" magazine has the 1986 GA aircraft
directory.  It looks to me like we are at a major turning point in
General Aviation history.

This year, there is only one (1) significant fixed-gear, fixed-prop
plane still in production -- the Cessna Skyhawk.

[For completeness:  the other fixed/fixed planes still in production
are the Arctic Tern and the Mudry CAP10B, both special-purpose 2-seat
planes.  "Pilot" also shows Taylorcraft as being in production, but
T-Craft went out of business last year.]

Thirty years ago, Piper's top-of-the-line plane was a 150-hp 4-seat
Tri-Pacer.  This year, the smallest plane that Piper builds is the
310-hp 6-seat pressurized Malibu.

The days of the simple and inexpensive fixed-gear, fixed-prop airplane
are coming to an end.  The Wright brothers' dream of flying like birds
has been replaced by the American dream -- turning a buck.  Flying is
increasingly used only to make money or to save money.  And the simple
planes are too limited for that purpose.

I bid a fond adieu to personal flying's innocent days, when people flew
Aeroncas off of grass strips, without destination nor mission, just
to experience the joy and beauty of flight.
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {elrond,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug