I think most 40-50 year old planes, like mine, are basically the "Ship of Theseus." The panel and many of the parts no longer look anything like the original.
I don’t know that it’s “most” but it’s certainly not rare.
I think most 40-50 year old planes, like mine, are basically the "Ship of Theseus." The panel and many of the parts no longer look anything like the original.
But I’m agreeing with you on the larger point. It’s cheaper to buy a used aircraft and upgrade it than to buy the new one. All the more so if you can find one someone did for you.I’m not trying to equate the planes, I’m merely demonstrating why a buyer is likely to choose the older one with the resulting impact on the new airplane market. Many buyers of old aircraft don’t replace the entire panel like you do.
That's definitely the trend in commercial airline pricing.In the '70s, CGS to STL by airline for my wife and I plus our two children was twice as much as the club Cessna 172,
Today, the reverse is true, flying the Cessna is twice the airline fare, all costs included.
I think most 40-50 year old planes, like mine, are basically the "Ship of Theseus." The panel and many of the parts no longer look anything like the original.
If want to get technical you need to blame the Deregulation Act and Peoples Express. Regardless, the demise of recreational GA was more directly due to liability costs and the beginning of a decline in interest around the same time.So, we should blame all of GAs problems on Southwest, RyanAir and ValuJet.
50 years ago the best tech was added to new planes, same as today. And at the same price - whatever the market will bear. So that's a wash.It's kind of subjective, but overall I disagree. 50 years ago there was no GPS, ADSB, iPads, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, WiFi, noise cancelling headsets, flat panel displays, engine monitors, ballistic parachutes, LED lights, affordable and reliable 2 and 3-axis autopilots, etc. If you consider what GA was in 1974 to what it is now, I think it's astounding how far it has come.
50 years ago the best tech was added to new planes, same as today. And at the same price - whatever the market will bear. So that's a wash.
Comparing a ticket price by itself to what you'll spend in avgas is not going to give you the right answer in either direction. Unless you compare all the costs, you're only looking at part of the picture.Airline was $122 roundtrip non-stop (not counting car gas and parking) vs over $1,000 avgas (no FBO fees or parking/hangaring).
Because it's PoA.Why are we comparing a P2010 to a 182?
Both are 4 seat, ~140 kt planes. Why not?Why are we comparing a P2010 to a 182?
Imagine where we'd be if we only had a "Federal Automotive Administration". Crank starters and chrome tailfins!Fancy and beautiful, but still not as good as a 50+ year old Cessna 182. Other things in life (cars, homes, electronics...) have gotten soooo much better, but that does not apply to aviation.
What about the parts you can't see? The motor, in particular. Horizontally opposed, air-cooled, magneto-fired...I think most 40-50 year old planes, like mine, are basically the "Ship of Theseus." The panel and many of the parts no longer look anything like the original.
Because a better comparison would be a 50 year old 182P to a brand new 182T. If you want to deviate from the thread title, then you could also compare a brand new 182T to a brand new P2010.Both are 4 seat, ~140 kt planes. Why not?
So, over nearly 40 years, I have rebuilt wheel pants, new spinner, mostly all new plastic fairings, new windshield, all new interior plastic and interior, LED replacement lighting (for all but one light), wing tanks sealed 3 times, 2 sets of new fuel senders, new engine with all new parts and accessories, new starter, STC modified engine and new prop, and avionics went from Narco VORs and switching panel to LORAN to IFR-GPS, with ADS-B, autopilot, and EFIS (G5s) added. It seems like it never ends! All that's left that's original is the basic airframe. Flying it now is like cheating compared to what it was like when I got my IFR ticket in 1989.Agree! My '78 Skyhawk is going in sometime in the next two weeks for it's second avionics upgrade. I wonder upgrades will be available in 20 years???