Jay Honeck wrote:
Just look at the drops of avgas consumption:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/hist/a403600001m.htm

Oh, my God. That is incredible. And awful.

I wonder if those sales figures from the 1980s included military
aircraft? There used to be lots of military hardware burning avgas
-- not any more...

If not? Holy moley...GA really is dead.

I don't think many military airplanes have used avgas since 2000, and
the drop since this is still very dramatic. I won't say GA is dead, but
it certainly is very sick. I'm looking at BMW motorcycles this weekend,
having decided I simply can't afford an airplane of the capability I
really need to be useful (Skylane or better) and the inconvenience of he
nearest airport with hangars being 45 minutes away. If I buy a new
bike, I'll probably drop my flying club membership and ride.

Matt