New airplane prices

[Don]

[quote="Rich"]Today the median household income is about $50,000. "everyman's" airplanes go for $250K and with a few options bounce up at $350K. So it's now 5 times median income. quote]

I think one thing that needs to be factored in is the cost of product liability insurance for airplane manufactures is a much higher percentage today than the cost was back in the 70's. I guess we can blame the personal injury attorneys for that.

PS: The fact is that the general public's view of flying is that it is a rich man's sport and to some degree it is. Most of my pilot friends have incomes in the multiple six figures plus with some even higher. The ones who don't have that type of income are flying very old Pipers, Cessnas and expermentals.

[Rich]

Today the median household income is about $50,000. "everyman's" airplanes go for $250K and with a few options bounce up at $350K. So it's now 5 times median income. quote]

I think one thing that needs to be factored in is the cost of product liability insurance for airplane manufactures is a much higher percentage today than the cost was back in the 70's. I guess we can blame the personal injury attorneys for that.

Piper Aircraft supposedly went "bare" for a time because of this.

Regardless of blame, it is where we are. And it appears acceptable to the industry.

[Mchargmg]

Hey Alexander,

If you see any more DA-20s with only 150 hours on em let me know:-) I obviously really enjoy flying the DA-20, otherwise I would rent something else. Down here in the states all the DA-20s I see on the market have over 2000 hours on them, and buying one of those just does not seem to make sense to me. All in all it is a great plane, and my wife and I really enjoy taking it places.

I bet we can all agree that "New airplane prices" are too darned high.

cheers

Geoff

[alexanderk]

They seem to come in waves. At some point there were a fair bit of those on the market, the controller had around 22 or more of the DA20 alone. A few months ago there were 15 or so, a few of them were really nice. Right now it is a strange moment with no DA20 available on the market. It will probably change, one would hope.

I picked up mine off of ebay....

On the other hand it is good time to buy the XLS's - there are plenty to chose from.

[Gasser]

My DA40 has 750lbs useful on POH W&B.
1/2 fuel leaves only 600lbs
Full fuel and only 450lbs left
MTOW 2535 on DA40
1785 empty

LSA P92
730 empty
1320 MTOW
= 590 useful (wishful thinking, huh?)
Fuel fuel (26 gal is 156lbs) = 434 lbs
I CAN HAUL NEARLY AS MUCH FULL OF FUEL WITH MY DIAMOND!!!!
It burns 3.5GPH and has a range within 100NM of my diamond!
Weight limitation on the P92 is limited by its class on the US, not its design!
1900MTOW in other countries.

Diamond can do better!



Brad - N216DG - KELK
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Hey Brad, just sitting around post call and reading some old posts and I noticed your numbers.

You plane is 40 pounds heavier than mine and your still at the 2535 MTOW. I think the cost at DTO for the useful load increase to 2646 is around 1k in ours and is pretty easy process in ours since we basically have everything but the stops in the elevator and a plackared...

I will admit, I've used the 2646 limit on a few occasions as there is nothing they change about the plane including landing gear in ours and my GC was perfectly in line and not to far rearward. Not sure what it would do to yours with the bigger tanks but guessing at full it might move you back further than mine. At the future legal 2646 limit and full fuel I can Cary 660 pounds and that's my entire family of 4 with 100 pounds of bags. Of course the kids are gonna grow.
I plan on getting the upgrade done ASAP to be legal along with some better form of landing lights ASAP. Seems like a cheap way to legally gain 100 pounds useful.
Did they raise the MTOW on the newest Diamond da40? I'm guessing its still the 2646

[hookem80]

We did the 2646 MTOW increase modification at KDTO about 5 years ago. I believe that 2646 is the current Max weight limit. This modification is little more then a placard and a shorter elevator stop. I seem to recall about a $750 price for this mod, and well worth it for the extra 111lbs of useful load!


Trey West
DA40.447
KGDJ KFTW

[Rich]

We did the 2646 MTOW increase modification at KDTO about 5 years ago. I believe that 2646 is the current Max weight limit. This modification is little more then a placard and a shorter elevator stop. I seem to recall about a $750 price for this mod, and well worth it for the extra 111lbs of useful load!


Trey West
DA40.447
KGDJ KFTW

It depends on which main LG legs you have. For me, I first need to swap out the original ones for either the longer legs or the 18mm legs. I will probably try to get that done this year.

[cloudhopper]

Can someone please take a pic of he required 2646 placard. I want to see exactly what it says. Thanks

[Rich]

Can someone please take a pic of he required 2646 placard. I want to see exactly what it says. Thanks

Well, in the POH it shows the Maneuvering speed placard being revised to:

If MÄM 40-227 is carried out:
Maneuvering Speed:
vA ' = 111 KIAS (above 1036 up to 1200 kg, above 2284 up to 2646 lb)
vA ' = 94 KIAS (780 to 1036 kg, 1720 to 2284 lb)
The airplane may only be operated in accordance with the Airplane
Flight Manual. It can be operated in the „Normal“ and the „Utility“
categories in non-icing conditions. Provided that national operational
requirements are met and the appropriate equipment is installed, this
airplane is approved for the following kinds of operation: day VFR,
night VFR and IFR. All aerobatic maneuvers including spinning are
prohibited.
For further operational limitations refer to the Airplane Flight Manual.

[cloudhopper]

Oh ok thanks


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