Doug G. Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/February/10/Skycatcher.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 The fact Cessna is not going to sell the remaining airframes is new news. Too bad, and it amazes me how fast Cessna has dropped the 162 and RUN away from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug G. Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Sigh...ignore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Like the Beech with the Starship, it seems like the wise business choice would be to buy back any existing planes in customer's hands and scrap them. They have a liability and support problem with virtually no upside I can see. Maybe turn that scrap into a Citation or two and recover their entire investment in this fiasco. But what do I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Like the Beech with the Starship, it seems like the wise business choice would be to buy back any existing planes in customer's hands and scrap them. They have a liability and support problem with virtually no upside I can see. Maybe turn that scrap into a Citation or two and recover their entire investment in this fiasco. But what do I know. The starship was a little different in that there were known design deficiencies Beech wanted to just go away. I think Cessna, while not really wanting to support them, thinks the 162 is a basically good airplane. Blowing up all the spare parts won't relieve them of the support responsibility, and I doubt Cessna has the spare cash around to buy back 250+ airplanes...they are on pretty thin margins from what I understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug G. Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 It wasn't (isn't) a bad plane but it lacked a mission. It is a decent trainer, but not much beyond that. Obviously not enough. (At one time it looked like they were going to take it part 23 in order to add weight, but I don't think that would have saved it.) I wonder what will happen to the used prices now? I also wonder if the dealerships will continue to them for training/rental? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 I don't morn the airplane, but I am sad for the damage it did the Light Sport movement. There would have been many more CTSWs and Sportstars sold if it weren't for Cessna's heavy-handed marketing techniques. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 I don't morn the airplane, but I am sad for the damage it did the Light Sport movement. There would have been many more CTSWs and Sportstars sold if it weren't for Cessna's heavy-handed marketing techniques. Maybe that was the plan? Maybe they don't want LSA cutting into their small aircraft sales *tinfoil hat* /s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 At the Sebring Expo in 2008, I was at the display area with the Skycatcher. An older gentleman well passed 80 walked up and said that he was on the list for one at about number 500. He asked the salesman when he would take delivery. The salesman said in " maybe three years". I thought at the time, this guy may not have three years to wait and I may not either at 49. No guarantees! I ordered a new LS the next month. Now, six years and 500 hours later, I'm glad that I made that choice. Jim's right, Cessna promised the Light Sport Industry something that they truly were not committed to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EminiTrader Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 First plane I ever flew.. but won't miss it The school I am at ALWAYS has problems with that damn plane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Some things (even Cessna's and old cars) may be older technology, but there are lots of old things still around and still function well and fill a need. Old technology isn't always bad and you don't throw it in the trash before its time. If you you ever doubt that go look in the mirror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Old technology isn't always bad and you don't throw it in the trash before its time. I found it interesting that if you plot a timeline of aviation, the birth of the Beechcraft Bonanza, still being made, would place closer to the Wright Flyer than to the Cirrus it competes with! If you you ever doubt that go look in the mirror. Hey! I resemble that remark!! One suggestion: never look in the mirror with your reading glasses on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 One suggestion: never look in the mirror with your reading glasses on! Unless you are ugly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Unless you are ugly Especially if you are ugly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Interesting discussion on Pilot Prune on the subject http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/533789-skycatcher-discontinued.html Seems to be a bit of a dichotomy between US & Europe related to the reasons for LSA - I'm not sure I fully understand the issues around the US medical certifications which some on that forum are claiming is the main driver for LSA, but as far as I'm concerned it's the cost of ownership & operation that took me down this path, of course our fuel and bureacracy costs are significantly higher than in the US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted February 15, 2014 Report Share Posted February 15, 2014 Dan Johnson interview re: SkyCatcher and LSA in general Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.