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Will baby boomers save LSA industry?


deckofficer

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As this topic is about random thoughts, here is mine. I'm part of the aging baby boomer generation and this is a large population bubble. I have to think I'm not the only person who wants to retired to days filled with flying without the worry of passing medicals. I just hope the manufactures of LSA aircraft can hang in there for what I think will be better days. I do wish the FAA would remove the restriction of no in flight adjustable pitch prop because I believe Pipistrel won't be the only company offering green, efficient aircraft in the future and its hard to be efficient stuck in 2nd gear so to speak.  

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Bob, I believe adjustable props can be installed on LSA is if one elects to go experimental or currently owns a ELSA.  Here's a link to previous discussion on our forum.  If you do a search, you will find that just about everything dealing with LSA has been discussed here.  Gotta love this forum!

http://ctflier.com/index.php?/topic/1946-is-this-a-lsa-legal-inflight-adjustable-prop/

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Bob, I believe adjustable props can be installed on LSA is if one elects to go experimental with their current SLSA or currently owns a ELSA.

 

That is incorrect.

 

One can modify an E-LSA to one's heart's content, but mods that take it out of LSA limitations are NOT allowed.

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I think if PBOR2 is passed, it will be the death knell for LSA.  Companies are already teetering on the edge will be competing against 10,000's of legacy aircraft that most people are more comfortable with both in flight and maintenance.  With that said, I think PBOR2 is going to be so gutted by the time it becomes a law that pilots will have a maze to get through for medical so complex, they may just opt for LSA.  It's really sad watching how contorted our government has gotten during this bill making process  (political on both sides!)

 

And, sorry for popping on here after a long hiatus, just missed the old group so I thought I'd jump in.  

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I used to feel the same way about PBOR2 and its impact on Light Sport; but after examining the bill as it is currently, I don't anymore.  The restriction to folks who have had a medical within the last 10 years and the requirement for something very close to a 3rd class medical which the doctor must sign off on before flying under the act as well as the requirement to consent to the FAA linking it to your DOT records will dissuade a large segment of the pilot population from pursuing it...especially if they are eligible under Light Sport rules.  It's true there are a lot of older, cheaper aircraft available under the act that would hurt the propensity to purchase a Light Sport aircraft (and the low numbers of Light Sport aircraft available for instruction are one of the movement's biggest issues); but when compared to the cost of newer standard certificated aircraft, the cost of a new or used LSA isn't so bad, even if it is disappointing compared to what was hoped for.

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In Europe, aircraft sales are primarily LSA's (what they call ultralight). As opposed to the US. I think GA is in deep trouble in the US, in general. I just see much less interest in aviation, in general, from all age groups. I see much more interest in, self parking, self braking, and autonomous vehicles than anything else. From all age groups. My opinion.

 

Cheers

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The current fleet of GA aircraft is high time and most that I see have been poorly maintained over the last 10 or 15 yrs. every aircraft that I have owned required significant restoration to be reliable and safe at great cost. I can do all the work even major alterations, repairs and all avionics and it was still very costly. I now have a SW and what a difference in cost and labor. It's nice to have a plane that's not 40 yrs old. If you think LSA is expensive try a C-310 or an old V35 or even a 40 yr old 172 . I think LSA is here to stay even though IFR is not an option.

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The current fleet of GA aircraft is high time and most that I see have been poorly maintained over the last 10 or 15 yrs. every aircraft that I have owned required significant restoration to be reliable and safe at great cost. I can do all the work even major alterations, repairs and all avionics and it was still very costly. I now have a SW and what a difference in cost and labor. It's nice to have a plane that's not 40 yrs old. If you think LSA is expensive try a C-310 or an old V35 or even a 40 yr old 172 . I think LSA is here to stay even though IFR is not an option.

+1, although I'd add a Cirrus to your list.

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I think this whole topic tries to paint too broad of a stroke, and forgets how incredibly complex the various aircraft buyers' goals and opinions are. I have a medical, yet I much prefer flying N566FD over my Mooney.

 

If medicals were dropped tomorrow, the vast majority of the people who fly LSA because they have to would go towards other aircraft, but there's still a lot of people who fly LSA because they like them. These two don't necessarily overlap completely, and in fact, I would say nowhere near as much as one would expect.

 

There's people still building J3 cubs. People like them.

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I have agree with Anticept because I have a medical and considered many aircraft (GA and LSA) before finally deciding on a CTLS. This forum was a big influence on my decision as well. There are few others with such a large following and experts like Roger who are extremely generous with their time and expertise. I'm not sure that my decision would change even if the medical reform passes and I was again in the market for another plane.

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