Cost of gas is beginning to hurt

Matt Barrow wrote:
"Larry Stimely" wrote in message
...
Matt Barrow wrote:
"gatt" wrote in message
...
"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...

It is the oil companies that are doing the stiffing.
Bull **** in spades.

Oil Companies have averaged 12-15 cents profit on each gallon;
Meanwhile, quarter after quarter they're making the highest profits in
the
history of human civilization, while the national economy--not to
mention
GA itself--slowly bleed out due to high costs of transportation.
There are several industries with higher profit margins; they just don't
have the volume or the breath of market. Exxon pumped something like 250
billion gallons last year.

BTW, while the oil companies make 12-15 cents, take a look at the
government
take:

Federal rate of 18.4 cents/gallon and the states (Excise & Other) at 18
(Montana) to
64 cents (NY), 60.1 (Hawaii), California (60.0) per gallon.

The average tax on gas is 45.9 cent/gallon (Federal & State) as of last
fall (2005).

And don't give that BS about government using it for infrastructure; our
roads are deteriorating since half goes into the general funds and the
remainder goes largerly to politically connected pork projects.

So who is doing the bleeding?

Here's a dollar: buy a clue.
I think the future of general aviation belongs to diesel. I've been doing
a little research on the Thielert 172/182 and the economics of it are
compelling. You're talking about the difference between ~17.5 gph and
~11.5 gph on a 182...and the diesel has seventy percent fewer moving parts
in it.

There's also significant concern about the ongoing availability of 100LL.

So...all I have to do is sell my wife on the idea of buying a Thielert 172
with a glass panel.

Fat chance.

Any lowdown on something in the range of 300-350 HP?

Haven't heard anything. Right now I'm just trying to get my skills to
the point where I'm ready to solo, get the private ticket and find an
economical way to build some time.

I'm still very new at this. Give me some time.