Sport Pilot Talk

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1387 Location: Lock Haven PA

LightSportFlyer wrote: when it comes to spending your own money and what you're willing to trust your life with - you buy American made.

Back when I had small kids, and was concerned about their safety (and spending my own money on a car), I bought a Volvo. It was then rated the safest car in the world. I can't seem to recall where in America it was built...

OK, tongue removed from cheek now. In all seriousness: there are good economic reasons for buying American made products. There are equally valid political reasons. But, I don't think the safety rationalization will hold up, if you examine the facts.

Aerco · Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 68 Location: Corona CA

LightSportFlyer wrote:

You make an interesting case for the Rotax but then when it comes to spending your own money and what you're willing to trust your life with - you buy American made.

.

Not what I said; I said I don't care where it's made. If there was a Chinese clone of the Continental and it was substantially cheaper and of a comparable quality, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

And perhaps Conti-coming would start being a bit more competitive. The whole idea that the small volume drives the cost of aircraft engines is ridiculous - They had time to re-coup their development and tooling costs decades ago.

flyingclay · Joined: 08 Aug 2010 Posts: 26 Location: Tennessee

Aerco
Quote: They had time to re-coup their development and tooling costs decades ago

This really has little to do with the expectation of their price to be going down. That would be equivalent to a renter feeling that their apartment rent is to high because the landlord has already paid for the mortgage on it. Supply verse demand and competitive factors drive price.

frfly172 · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Location: Quincy Mass

Competition will run the market.consumers are not stuck on US made.just look at the auto industry.

flyingclay · Joined: 08 Aug 2010 Posts: 26 Location: Tennessee

competition didnt' ruin the auto industry. autos are sold everyday and everybody drives one. companies that become "inefficient" in getting the product that customers desire at the best price are what become ancient. This is topic is getting off topic and going in the wrong direction, however I assume there are others like me, that are going to buy the "best value at the best price" no matter where it is made, so I can have money left over to spend on things I want here in the good old USA.

frfly172 · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Location: Quincy Mass

Sorry if you misunderstood my post.The point is because of competition people will have more choices and can purchase what they find to be most valuable to their needs.I stated competition would run the induastry not ruin it.Just a thought

LightSportFlyer · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 64

drseti wrote: With regard to the dearth of authorized Rotax mechanics, this is a very real problem to which I find only one solution. I have enrolled in Rainbow Aviation's 3-week course, begin in October, and by early November I will be a Rotax authorized LSA mechanic with both maintenance and inspection privileges. I wish more folks would do this!

That's one way to solve the problem and nothing personal but I wouldn't want a brand new inexperienced mechanic working on my ac engine.

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1387 Location: Lock Haven PA

LightSportFlyer wrote: nothing personal but I wouldn't want a brand new inexperienced mechanic working on my ac engine.

Understandable. Just remember that there's a difference between inexperienced and newly licensed. Carol Carpenter (who runs the Rainbow Aviation course) tells me that most of her students are old farts like me -- engineers with decades of experience, who just don't happen to be FAA licensed. The course will certainly teach me a thing or two - but the main objective is to meet FAA requirements to get the piece of paper.

Besides, I'm not planning to hang out a shingle and work on your engine -- mainly, I want to be able to legally maintain and inspect my own fleet. If you're the mechanically inclined type, there's no reason you shouldn't do the same -- take the course, get the ticket, and maintain/inspect your own plane.

tadel001 · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 251

Wow, this topic is too exhausting to read all the post. We use Rotax exclusively. We have our 8,000 hours on them in 3 1/2 years. Our mechanic was trained in Sebring and thinks the engine are good/easy to work on. I have been happy flying the Rotax. I applaud those that buy American made products. Personally, there are certain things I prefer from overseas (chocolate, porsches, cheese, and my wife).

Would I buy the Lycoming? Not sure. I don't know how it differs from prior products. I do know that they currently don't have a product that works for us. I am concerned about a new product (because it is new). I just hope more engine choices means better pricing.