Sport Pilot Talk

AZPilot · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 156

From AeroNews Network

http://www.aero-news.net/news/sport.cfm?Dynamic=1&Range=WEEK&FromDate=01%2F14%2F2010&ToDate=01%2F21%2F2010&Category=%2Fnews%2Fsport.cfm#d

And From AvWeb:

Piper Aircraft says it's going back to its roots with a Czech-built light sport aircraft it's calling the PiperSport. In its first appearance at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Fla. today, the company unveiled the aircraft, which was previously sold as a SportCruiser by Czech Sport Aircraft. The two companies now have a licensing agreement and Piper says it's ready to start deliveries in April. "Piper's heritage dates from what was one of the original 'LSA' aircraft of its time: the venerable Piper Cub," Piper CEO Kevin Gould said. "Consequently, Piper is in many ways returning to a market segment we played an integral role in inventing ... but with all the modern, state-of-the-art elements that our customers expect today, from design and manufacturing to performance, avionics and reliability. There will be three models; the basic PiperSport ($119,900), training-oriented LT ($129,900) and decked out LTD ($139,900).

All will be powered by the Rotax 912 that will run happily on premium unleaded mogas or 100LL. Useful load on the mandated maximum weight of 1320 pounds is 600 pounds. If the seat and baggage load allow, the tanks will hold 30 gallons and maximum range is 600 nm. Like other manufacturers of larger aircraft that have included LSAs in their lineup, or are planning to, the idea is to start new pilots on Pipers so they'll keep buying them. "The PiperSport is an amazing entry-level aircraft that will bring new customers into Piper and lead the way for those customers to step up into more sophisticated and higher performance aircraft within our line over time," Gould said.

zaitcev · Joined: 05 Jan 2010 Posts: 255 Location: Albuquerque, NM

AZPilot wrote: There will be three models; the basic PiperSport ($119,900), training-oriented LT ($129,900) and decked out LTD ($139,900).
They are just trying to make getting PP cert and fly a used plane more attractive. How can Luscombe make a plane for $85k when their production processes must be completely obsolete and the economies of mass production non-existent?
-- Pete

LightSportFlyer · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 64

I was at Sebring in '07 and recall the previous owners were selling the SportCruiser for $ 77,000. Compared to the basic AC they now sell for $ 119,000 thats a 55 % increase in 3 years !

tadel001 · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 251

That is the reason the previous owners are no longer the owners. They thought that if they underprice the plane, they can capture the market. Ops...they forgot that you have to deliver the airplane in working condition to complete the sale. Guess they missed that business class.

I wonder if Piper will make any improvements to the plane.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1384 Location: Lock Haven PA

LightSportFlyer wrote: I was at Sebring in '07 and recall the previous owners were selling the SportCruiser for $ 77,000. Compared to the basic AC they now sell for $ 119,000 thats a 55 % increase in 3 years !

And three years ago, the Euro and the US dollar were at parity. Today, the exchange rate is 1.41. That's a 41% devaluation of the dollar in 3 years! So, if Piper tacks on another 14%, we get the stated price...

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1384 Location: Lock Haven PA

tadel001 wrote:
I wonder if Piper will make any improvements to the plane.

Having flown the SportCruiser, I would suggest that the only improvement it needs is to reduce pitch sensitivity. It's really easy to over-rotate. Ideally, the pitch and roll forces on the stick should be about equal - they're not.

LightSportFlyer · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 64

drseti wrote: LightSportFlyer wrote: I was at Sebring in '07 and recall the previous owners were selling the SportCruiser for $ 77,000. Compared to the basic AC they now sell for $ 119,000 thats a 55 % increase in 3 years !

And three years ago, the Euro and the US dollar were at parity. Today, the exchange rate is 1.41. That's a 41% devaluation of the dollar in 3 years! So, if Piper tacks on another 14%, we get the stated price...

Yeah thats the problem with imports, you pay 50 % more for the plane and really get nothing in return.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1384 Location: Lock Haven PA

LightSportFlyer wrote:
Yeah thats the problem with imports

More like: that's the problem with the US economy. But, that's a discussion for another forum!

tadel001 · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 251

Actually, Czech doesn't use the Euro.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1384 Location: Lock Haven PA

tadel001 wrote: Actually, Czech doesn't use the Euro.

Well, last time I was there, they still used the Koruna internally - but all foreign trade was pegged to the Euro. Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004. I hope, by the next time I'm there (September), that they will finally adopt the Euro.