Thomas Borchert wrote:

Let's assume Piper would manage to do the stuff you suggest AND keep the
price the same. Let's further assume they would get a tenfold increase
of Arrow sales. I guess we can all agree that would be huge, now,
wouldn't it? That would mean 50 Arrow sales per year - a very, very
distant spot way behind Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond and even Columbia.


If Piper was really interested in a modern and fast aircraft based
on one of its older aircraft they would start with the Comanche
not the Cherokee. In fact, a company has already designed a
modern composite version (also availabe in fixed gear) which
has amazing performance numbers. Its called the Ravin (checkout
http://www.saravin.com/).

One of the huge stumbling blocks to certifying modern
aircraft is the MASSIVE costs and liabilities involved.
I think the future of GA (as we know it) will be in
experimental designs.