Very good, I was hoping somebody could come up with better numbers then I
had. It looks like from your numbers the fuel savings come close to the
extra maintenance costs so the insurance costs would swing the balance
toward the FG model cost wise. I think the extra "sex appeal" of the RG
might swing it back toward the RG side, but bottom line you can't argue
for the RG just on cost savings over FG.

Sorry, I'm late to this thread, but it's an interesting point you bring up.

However, it's only applicable to what we might call "legacy aircraft" --
Pipers, Cessnas, Beechcraft, Navions, etc. All of the "modern" aircraft
(Cirrus, Lancair, Diamond) are going with stiff legs, and don't appear to be
paying much of a price penalty for doing so.

Anyone care to venture a guess as to how much faster an SR-22 (for example)
would go with retractable gear?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"