What GA needs

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote in message
ups.com...
This is a follow-on to the various discussions on the future of GA.

Why aren't the kids who grew up with cell phones and iPods not
interested in aviation?

One key factor is the antiquated airplanes we fly. If we could only
drive a1975 Chevy Nova or something similar, with bolted down wooden
panels and foggy instruments, I doubt many teenagers would be earger
to get their drivers license.

The second aspect is the fascination pilots seem to have with war
equipment, and the yearning for the 'good ol days'. Many pilots look
at a WW2 airplane like a B17 as if it were a technological marvel.
That may be true, but it just doesn't connect with the new generation.
Even though I am not from the iPod generation, I too found this
fascination with war equipment rather strange. Perhaps it is because
no one in my anscestry participated in the war.

How many kids do you see hanging around at antique car shows? Airports
are not too far from being an antique museum.

Aviation technology has marched on in great strides in the past 50
years. But almost all of the modernization has occured due to the
advancement in electronics. This is the only aspect that keeps some of
us still interested in aviation. That includes VOR, GPS, satellite
weather, flight planning tools, electronic charts, glass panels etc..
The mechanical aspects have been stagnant. All these modern
electronics are still housed in ancient aluminum panels that are
riveted togother. They creak and vibrate, and the engines consume
leaded fuel and puff out smoke and oil, and have frightening gas
mileage.

In order to appeal to the next generation, this is what I think we
need:
- a small turbine engine suitable for GA aircraft with fewer moving
parts and smoother operation
- gas mileage comparable to an SUV
- a fully composite airframe
- molded aesthetic interiors
- cost about 2-3x the price of a luxury car

The list is very ambitious, but we are on the right path with LSA.
What is still seriously lacking is the powerplant.
I would really like to see is a small turbine engine. I don't mean
salvaged APUs. It has to be something that is designed from the bottom
up as a GA powerplant.

Any comments?


Thanks for jump-starting this discussion again.

Comments, not in any particular order:
1. When I started attending fly-ins, the first impression was the decrepit
state of the airport facilities. Most of the buildings/hangers were built
in the 1930s through 1950s, and many of them look like they haven't been
painted since.

2. Since I've since gotten used to the facilities, the next impression is
the demographics: a bunch of grumpy old men. I have no doubt that when
these same individuals are talking cars, they talk about how the 1958 Chevy
ruined the automobile, or when talking politics, how Kennedy was a traitor
and deserved to be assissinated.

3. I wish LSAs hadn't been prohibited from using turbines, even if a good
one to use isn't available now.

4. I just put up a longwire antenna for my shortwave, I still think being
able to hear news from a long was away is a pretty cool thing; basically,
ZERO kids do. But a subset do find the technical aspects of propogation
interesting. Ham radio and shortware used to be exotic, they aren't
anymore. When long distance phone calls were $5 for 3 minutes, long
distance was exotic, it isn't anymore. Aviation isn't exotic anymore, but
pitching the personal achievement aspect of it will get (some) kids
interested. I'm not sure pitching the "utility" of GA works, anymore the
pitching the utility of a $20,000 bass boat does, while Safeway is having a
seafood sale this week.

5. As for your specific points, I think a small turbine is always going to
cost more that a piston engine, we are there on mileage, composites,
interiors, and pretty close to there on price.