being able to buy a $1M+ dollar aircraft doesn't make you rich???
No, especially in the context where a new Cessna 182 costs $650K and a new Piper single is $500K and quite a few take out loans to pay for them just as they would on a new home or vehicle. I think your definition of “wealthy” may need a bit of an update at least in this context.
High performance aircraft (which is what Hill is promising) take amateurs beyond their skill level far quicker and with far less room for recovery than more sedate models.
Interesting. So your contention is that if two people, both possessing a private pilot certificate with helicopter rating, one gets into an R22 and one gets into a HX-50, the HX50 will crash and burn before the 22 will because they are “amateurs”?
The need for the CAPS is because the Cirrus is a high performance aircraft with poor spin characteristics - we are back to amateurs in aircraft they don't have the skills for but want the performance and kudos of.
Not quite. The Cirrus was to have CAPS from day one due to what happened to one of its co-developers. So when it came to certification time, Cirrus requested an exemption to spin recovery tests due to the CAPS and the FAA granted it. However, the EASA does not offer such exemptions and the Cirrus had to demonstrate its spin recovery to obtain its EASA TC. So the Cirrus recovers from a spin just fine. And there’s plenty of official docs to this point had you taken the time to research it.
So if people get hurt or just ripped off with a substandard product, this 'disruption' of the aviation industry is OK?
That comment was directed to the use of performance based consensus standards for certification under Part 27, power lift, and MOSAIC. But given your delicate views you may want to stay away from any MOSAIC info as it will allow the poor folk to fly and maintain certain helicopters under LSA and their drivers license.