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Old April 25th 06, 04:36 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
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Default True Cost of Older Bonanza

General Motors, Honda, just to name two, build cars by the
millions every year. Many of the parts are unique to each
model. But there will be hundreds if not thousands of
versions of even limited edition models.

Airplanes are built by the dozens. Since 1939, world-wide
aircraft production has not reached the numbers of one year
by one division of GM or Honda. Yet it cost more to design
and certify each part for an airplane and have all the
paperwork in order. If you go to a glass molding company and
ask them to build you ONE bottle for your home-brew, it will
cost you a million dollars, the next million bottles will be
a penny each.

The Bonanza has been built for over fifty years by the same
company and most of the tooling is in storage on the factory
property. Given some time, they can find the tool and build
almost any part, if you just want one, it will cost a
bundle. You should have bought a hundred footsteps, the
price each might have only been $250 and then you could
store the parts in a dry, secure place until you could sell
them at a profit.

If you want economical transportation, but a Yugo, no wait,
they don't build junk cars anymore.


"swag" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Well I don't know if high Beech prices are a myth overall
or not, as
| I've really only owned a Bonanza and have nothing to
compare it to.
| But I do know that a new footstep (forged stainless steel)
was $1700.
| That kind of blew me away.
|