Ultimate Personal Aircraft
 

Hi Folks,

How long do ye reckon before something like this because "standard":

* Jet-A Engine
* FADEC
* Garmin G1000 or similar
* 3d Terrian (like Chelton)
* Known Ice
* Pressurisation
* Traffic / Mode-S Data
* HITS

for $250k ?? As these features become standard over time, do you reckon the average price of aircraft will increase or new technologies will be available in higher end aircraft. What other features would people like to see over hte next few years?

Toddy

You will never get all that for US$250k, especially a pressurised hull.

A small turbine engine costs best part of $250k too, but is likely to fall some years from now.

The rest is easy, subject to volume. I think that as India and China open up internally, the volume of "utility GA" in there will dwarf the pitiful size of the European IFR population, and together with the U.S. market it will be worth doing something quite new. Names like Honda will then make a move. Presently, it's not worth their while.

Even in the USA, Cirrus (regarded as revolutionary) have in fact done nothing new technologically. A fibreglass airframe, 1960s engine, BRS chute is new but has been around for many years elsewhere. The price is nothing new either. What they did is a clever marketing exercise.

Note also that a G1000 does no more than a GNS530 plus engine instruments.