The FAA's approval of the Light Sport Aircraft category just over two years ago has sparked a revitalization of the two-seat general aviation industry, climaxing this week with the unveiling here of plans by Cessna and Cirrus to enter that market in a big way.
But the customers have yet to be revitalized.
Cessna's 400 or so orders for its $109,000 Skycatcher (a déjà vu of the Cessna 150, introduced with the same O-200 engine in 1957 at a price of just on $7,000) have been generated largely via dealer allocations.
And over at Sportsplanes.com of Salt Lake City, president Josh Foss allows he has sold just 25-30 LSAs since taking on distributorship of the Breezer, American Flyer, C-42 and Skylark aircraft in the last two years. This week he added the Explorer LSA to his stable.
"Yes, this is less than we expected," he allowed. "I feel the market hasn't been educated yet to the LSA; the industry needs to make headway in this direction."
Asked whether LSAs are just too expensive, providing access but not affordability, Fosh said the $70,000 to $130,000 price tag for his stable isn't the main issue. Plenty of pilots of Mooneys and more sophisticated types want to trade down to a cheaper way to fly, he believes.
But they haven't done it yet.
"The biggest complaint we get is that prospective owners cannot yet get trained near their home," unless they live near Sportsplanes.com centers in Texas, California or Ohio or other LSA flight schools. Until that deficiency is fixed, sales will not reach their potential, Fosh said.
Over at Sonex Aircraft, founder and CEO John Monnett is taking orders for his small, two-seat Sonex and Waiex low wing kitplanes, promising to get customers flying for $25,000.
"I have always tried to keep my airplanes at about the cost of a car," says Monnett.
The going price at auction this year of a 1957 Ford Fairlane would suggest he has succeeded: the car, which retailed for $2,942 some 50 years ago, went for about $22,000.
Meanwhile, others are grumbling that the advent of $100,000 LSAs is making aviation less accessible or affordable in another way. "A chap told me he now wants $28,000 for the (run out) Champ he has flown for 30 years because it qualifies as an LSA and LSAs are commanding $100,000," an aircraft restorer and dealer told me. Advertisements on the Web suggest the asking price for fully restored Champs has now hit $35,000, compared with $25,000 in 2005. In comparison I bought my immaculate Taylorcraft BC-12D in 1980 for $6,500.
Was aviation really more affordable in the past? — John Morris
