The Wichita Business Journal put together a slide show of the most popular general aviation aircraft in the the first quarter of 2018, based on recently released figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Check it out here to see an interesting collection of GA’s finest.
And yet, after the 18 years I’ve had my 185, will anything on that list match the 185’s performance. 1712# useful load, operate out of my 1400’ strip at 5400’ MSL, 6.5-7.0 hrs range. 150 MPH @ 10-12 GPH. 50-60 MPH approach speed. Full RNAV IFR.
There are others that can meet or exceed the 185 capabilities in a few areas, but none will match the total package for our requirements…not even the new, heavier, $750,000 206.
The 185 is not THE airplane for everyone, but it is for us. Reminds me of our capable, 4×4, manual transmission diesel pickup. Two good daily drivers.
It is understandable why the experimental market seems to be leading the way in kit sales versus over-regulated GA aircraft. My RV-7A cruises at 155 TAS on 7-7.5 GPH, is far less expensive to maintain and, with a full glass cockpit, ADSB IN/OUT and fully coupled A/P was built for around 65k using a mid-time O-360-A4M from a wind damaged 2002 Piper Archer. She still needs paint but flies great. I wouldn’t trade her for a Piper, Cessna or similar brand new airplane. It would be several steps backward.
Cirrus dominates GA for good reason. They have the best prop planes and will soon outsell all VLJ sales (Honda is WAY overpriced). Sadly Cirrus won’t be making a turboprop since their jet took so long and nearly killed the company to make and partly fills that niche too.
When the Federal Government bailed out the car companies several Senators told the CEOs that it wasn’t possible for the car companies to keep their fleets of private airplanes since they were getting taxpayer bailouts.
The next day the message was, car company or not, cancel airplane orders, sell your airplanes and lay your pilots and mechanics off.
Now the general economy is recovering but the government is still giving the signal, “if you want to travel, take the airlines or the bus.”
The student pilot starts are down, military pilot training is down. I’m glad Grumman is selling $60-100 million airplanes. I’m glad that new technology is making fast, slick GA airplanes. But a $200,000 CE 172 is hard to justify, a Beech Bonanza is a million dollars and has to compete with thousands of good used Bonanzas.
In a few years Google will probably offer a robot airliner, which brings the old joke back.
Pan Am’s first automated Moon flight, cabin announcement. “Welcome aboard Pan Am Flight 2024 to the Moon. This is our first automated Moon flight, but do not be worried, nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong…”
Impressive to see Cirrus aircraft capture top three spots regarding deliveries. Regretfully, the total number of general aviation sales is disappointing, to say the least. No easy answers but worth industry attention.