Why is it, then, that AOPA is crowing about the record number of members?
IMO, the high cost of flying is more due to excessive liability litigation,
high fuel prices, and exhorbitant certification costs for airframes and
engines.

"Dude" wrote in message
...
As the numbers dwindle the ability for you to continue your enjoyment is
more threatened than by it increasing.

Much of the cost of GA is due to lack of economy of scale.

If you want to ever sell your plane, you will need a pilot to buy it.

Your ability to keep your airport open is a direct function of how many
voters your local pilot population can speak to or know.

Our ability to keep the majors (and the ever increasing threat from
bizjets)
from punting us from the skies and airports) is dependent on our ability
to
keep the piston friendly FBO's and flight schools in business.

I think perhaps you are letting this issue get ahead of you, and in the
long
run it will end flying just the same as letting the plane get ahead of
you.
Perhaps I am a bit of a chicken little on this, but the sky IS falling,
albeit slowly.





"Jeremy Lew" wrote in message
...
I don't understand many peoples' obsession with growth in the popularity
of
GA. The skies are plenty crowded enough as it is around where I fly.

"Dude" wrote in message
news

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Dude" wrote:
So what interests you?

Something that will take my daughter, my grandson, me and some
luggage
to Houston, against a 15kt headwind, nonstop, with comfortable IFR
reserves.

There are always mission trade offs, perhaps its just not the plane
for
you.
That doesn't make it any less a good design, just not designed for
your
purpose.


The SR20 is interesting, but I am still thinking the wingload is
too high for a new pilot (less than 300 hours).

Let him rent Skyhawks awhile.


This is what has been killing GA for years. There have been surveys
to
find
why more wealthy people do not take up aviation as a hobby. They
found
a
number of problems that will not change FAA hassles, pimple faced
instructors with no people skills, etc.

The other thing was the flight schools are mostly dumps with a bunch
of
old
ratty planes. Even a new Skyhawk is essentially an old plane.

How do we expect to grow general aviation if we REFUSE to change what
we
are
doing to attract new pilots? Isn't this the definition of insanity?
Cessna
is unconsciously doing to aviation what Microsoft and IBM did to
technology - killing fast growth and innovation in favor of
predictable
business.



Sure, 100 pounds would be more interesting, and I bet
they could go to 200 hp and get it, but would that really
make it more marketable?

It would to me.

You have to remember that these planes now come with a lot more
weight requirements due to the new FARS.

Like what, for instance?


Better crash protection for one. This necessarily adds weight.
Everyone
wants more avionics now too. I wonder if the 40 could make your trip
if
it
only had a single 430 and long range tanks.

The only thing better in my book is the Lancair, and it's a lot
more
money.

It's really in a different class, along with the SR-22. If it
didn't
have a side stick, I'd rather have an SR-20 than a D-40 for the
better
range & load.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM