("Jeff" wrote)
The cheapest Sport plane I saw there was still over $60k. Now, I know the
manufacturers have to make a profit (or at least pay the bills) and that
most of them will do good to sell 30 planes a year, but geez. You're note
going to attract a bunch of new interest at that kind of price tag. The
money is out there (look at the Harley Davidson craze of late) for people
to spend, but once you get past the $30-$40k range, you're outpricing the
masses.


Some numbers to play with: See what you come up with?

1978 a brand new Cessna 152 cost: $15-20K.
[1981 a new Cessna 152 cost: $21-24K. @ 15-20+% interest rate!!]

http://www.cessna.org/benefits/historical_data/model_histories/sample.pdf

Nice average house in my area cost: $45K - $60K
New average cars were around: $5K-9K Some $4K, some $10K.
New Yamaha 360 motorcycle: $1,200 w/windshield, backrest, roll bar, etc.

[1978]
High school job .................$3-$5/hr
Average "factory" job ......$6-$10/hr
"Good" Union job ....... $11hr-$15/hr

[Roughly]
$5/hr ........10k/year
$7/hr ........14k/year
$10/ hr......20k/ year
$15/hr ......30k/year

Today's L- Sport Pilot plane ................$75-$90K
Medium Home Values (Twin Cities) ..........$240K
"Nice" average home .................................$300K
Average decent job: .........................$40k - $75K
Average HS/College job ........................$7-$11/hr
Average car price: ...........................$15K - $23K

1978 was the beginning of the end for bustling activity at many local
airports, IMHO. After that, interest rates soared, gas prices doubled, "The
Recession" was very real and evil and long, wages did not keep pace with
inflation, housing costs rose faster than inflation, etc.

Then, in the early 80's, the lawsuits started adding real [consumer visible]
dollars to the cost of everything aviation related.


Montblack
High School Class of '78 ...sorry about Disco. Who knew?