More Sportplanes Hype

Well I just came across another piece of advertising masquerading as an
article in Private Pilot magazine.

The author goes up on a short hop in a Sting Sport, another plastic topy
ariplane from the Czech Republic and he's raving about it like it's the
biggest thing since sliced bread. He even managed to paraphrase the famous
Neil Armstrong quote about "small steps for man...giant steps for mankind."
Man oh man.

And this "giant step" of a sportplane has a price that starts at $89,900.

Just for comparison, you can go out an buy a fully certified American
Champion Citabria for $90,900. This is a real airplane with none of the
restrictions that apply to the toy sportplanes. It has a real Lycoming O-235
that has a TBO of 2400 hours. It has a gross weight of 1750 pounds, which is
500 pounds more than this plastic toy sportplane.

Yet this sportplane is supposed to be some kind of bargain? How is it that
American Champion can build a certified airplane in the US at the same price
as a sportplane, if building a small airplane is so expensive?

I rest my case. If anyone really thinks these sportplanes are a great deal
and not way overpriced I have nothing further to say.

Regards,

Gordon.