"Gordon Arnaut" wrote in message
...
First of all, who exactly is willing to pay the going prices for the
sportsplanes?

How many people do you know who have written a check? I think there have
been about enough sales to count on the fingers of one hand.

Second, price-gouging is a fact, not my "whining," as you so
inappropriately put it. (Your own tone is more whine-like than mine has
ever been).

I have seen a huge jump in prices of sportplanes here in Canada since the
US rule went into effect. Remember we have had these planes here for
years. Two years ago the retail price of a Tecnam P-92 Echo, which is a
two-place high-wing with a Rotax 912, was CAD $65,000. At the exchange
rate at that time it came to less than US $50,000.

Today that same plane is pushing CAD $100,000 and is selling in the US for
$80,000 in bare-bones trim. Yes the Euro has strengthened since then, but
the inescapable conclusion is that the manufacturers are betting that
there are some desperate medical-lacking pilots who want to fly at all
cost and so they want to squeeze everything they can out of this
opportunity.

I am confident that once they realize they have priced themselves out of
the market that they will adjust to a more realistic level. Not only that
I anticipate new entrants who will see an opportunity to make money and
will take it.

But as for yourself, If you are happy with these prices, why don't you put
your money where your mouth is and buy one? It will save you a lot of
building time. But that's besides the point, because I get the feeling
that you are blowing air out your derriere, without actually having looked
into the issue in any meaningful way.

Regards,

Gordon.

They priced the product where they think it will sell. If they are wrong it
will be them that lose out.

If I wasn't already pretty far into the building process I probably would
buy LSA 601XL.