Origin of "Aviation Unit"

My wife Renee and I were having a conversation over dinner, along the lines of "Joe had this amazing mishap that's going to cost him at least a few aviation units". No, I'm not going to tell you who "Joe" was, though it was indeed pretty amazing. But I digress... Renee is wise to the ways of glider bums. She laughs hysterically when people ask "So Dave, how many gliders do you have?", and I don't even need to get my friends to register them to avoid discovery, as one acquaintance does. Only rule here is they can't be parked on the lawn. But I digress...

What is the origin of the "Aviation Unit" ? I've always believed it was to avoid wives finding out exactly how much we squander on our toys, though Renee suggests it may be to avoid realizing it ourselves as it might be truly painful. So, where did this start ? What's the earliest use of the term ?

Professor Cochrane, bonus points for explaining how an Aviation Unit has avoided inflation, when by all rights it should be up to $10k by now ?

Enquiring minds want to know.

It's winter...

On Friday, November 15, 2013 3:23:30 PM UTC-5, Dave Nadler wrote:
My wife Renee and I were having a conversation over dinner, along the lines of "Joe had this amazing mishap that's going to cost him at least a few aviation units". No, I'm not going to tell you who "Joe" was, though it was indeed pretty amazing. But I digress... Renee is wise to the ways of glider bums. She laughs hysterically when people ask "So Dave, how many gliders do you have?", and I don't even need to get my friends to register them to avoid discovery, as one acquaintance does. Only rule here is they can't be parked on the lawn. But I digress...



What is the origin of the "Aviation Unit" ? I've always believed it was to avoid wives finding out exactly how much we squander on our toys, though Renee suggests it may be to avoid realizing it ourselves as it might be truly painful. So, where did this start ? What's the earliest use of the term ?



Professor Cochrane, bonus points for explaining how an Aviation Unit has avoided inflation, when by all rights it should be up to $10k by now ?



Enquiring minds want to know.



It's winter...

Is an "Aviation Unit" at all correlated to a "Shopping Unit"?

Should be AMU (Aviation Monetary Unit) rather than AU. But please don't tell my wife what it means because I am afraid to add up how many I now have in gliders, winches, power planes and hangars.

The cost of flying will expand to match your income.

On Friday, November 15, 2013 4:04:13 PM UTC-5, Tim Taylor wrote:
The cost of flying will expand to match your income.

Nonsense. The cost of flying will expand to EXCEED your income.

On Friday, November 15, 2013 3:23:30 PM UTC-5, Dave Nadler wrote:
My wife Renee and I were having a conversation over dinner, along the lines of "Joe had this amazing mishap that's going to cost him at least a few aviation units". No, I'm not going to tell you who "Joe" was, though it was indeed pretty amazing. But I digress... Renee is wise to the ways of glider bums. She laughs hysterically when people ask "So Dave, how many gliders do you have?", and I don't even need to get my friends to register them to avoid discovery, as one acquaintance does. Only rule here is they can't be parked on the lawn. But I digress... What is the origin of the "Aviation Unit" ? I've always believed it was to avoid wives finding out exactly how much we squander on our toys, though Renee suggests it may be to avoid realizing it ourselves as it might be truly painful. So, where did this start ? What's the earliest use of the term ? Professor Cochrane, bonus points for explaining how an Aviation Unit has avoided inflation, when by all rights it should be up to $10k by now ? Enquiring minds want to know. It's winter...

My definition was developed when I bought my PIK-20 in 1976. The monitary unit was defined as "a glider" and cost $17,000 at the time. Interestingly that was about what my salary was. Sold it in '83 for $18,000.
1985- ASW-20C - $23,000. Sold it in 1997 for $46,000.
1997- ASW-27- $72,000. Not gonna sell it anytime soon.
Today- New 15 meter glider, the unit of measure- about $125,000.
I managed over the years to keep my earnings right around 1 glider.
Not bad.
Don't think the new kids will be that lucky
FWIW
UH

Perhaps it is no coincidence to point out that the abbreviation for Aviation Unit (AU) is the same as the element designation for Gold (Au).

On Friday, November 15, 2013 12:23:30 PM UTC-8, Dave Nadler wrote:
My wife Renee and I were having a conversation over dinner, along the lines of "Joe had this amazing mishap that's going to cost him at least a few aviation units". No, I'm not going to tell you who "Joe" was, though it was indeed pretty amazing. But I digress... Renee is wise to the ways of glider bums. She laughs hysterically when people ask "So Dave, how many gliders do you have?", and I don't even need to get my friends to register them to avoid discovery, as one acquaintance does. Only rule here is they can't be parked on the lawn. But I digress...



What is the origin of the "Aviation Unit" ? I've always believed it was to avoid wives finding out exactly how much we squander on our toys, though Renee suggests it may be to avoid realizing it ourselves as it might be truly painful. So, where did this start ? What's the earliest use of the term ?



Professor Cochrane, bonus points for explaining how an Aviation Unit has avoided inflation, when by all rights it should be up to $10k by now ?



Enquiring minds want to know.



It's winter...