Airplane prices are ridiculous

Mark writes:

I'm sure that there are MANY people who would own an
airplane today if they could get one for $24,900.

I disagree.

It's very simple to get a license to drive a car. It's very expensive and
complicated to get a license to fly an airplane. And the regulatory burden
doesn't stop with the initial certification--everything about aviation is
heavily regulated. Most people aren't anywhere near interested enough in
flying to deal with all that red tape. Even if aircraft were free, relatively
few people would be flying.

Agreed, with many going bankrupt but it isn't due
to lack of demand. (you know...supply/demand)

What is it due to, then?

Mark writes:

So why, relatively speaking, were planes so much cheaper
back in the 1970's? I don't think it was supply and demand
but I could be wrong.

Most things were cheaper in the 1970s, relatively speaking. As I recall,
American buying power peaked not long before the first oil crisis in 1973. It
has been drifting downwards ever since.

Maybe not but with globalization of the world economy I
wouldn't be suprised to see China step up to the plate and
fill this niche.

Private pilots are rare even in the countries with the strongest private
aviation sectors. I don't know if China has any private pilots at all. The
Chinese like huge markets, and I doubt that there is a huge market for any
kind of private aircraft today, inside or outside China.

Mxsmanic wrote:
Mark writes:

So why, relatively speaking, were planes so much cheaper
back in the 1970's? I don't think it was supply and demand
but I could be wrong.

Most things were cheaper in the 1970s, relatively speaking. As I recall,
American buying power peaked not long before the first oil crisis in 1973. It
has been drifting downwards ever since.

Maybe not but with globalization of the world economy I
wouldn't be suprised to see China step up to the plate and
fill this niche.

Private pilots are rare even in the countries with the strongest private
aviation sectors. I don't know if China has any private pilots at all. The
Chinese like huge markets, and I doubt that there is a huge market for any
kind of private aircraft today, inside or outside China.

The Chinese have only recently legalized private flying.

Last I heard there was only a small handfull of GA aircraft in China.



--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:26:28 -0700 (PDT), Mark wrote:

So why, relatively speaking, were planes so much cheaper
back in the 1970's?

*LOL* So were cars you moron.
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