No more AVGAS would mean no more flight training.

Could full motion sims solve this problem long term?

Boy, I leave y'all alone for one day and here comes the gloom and doom. The refineries are making a nice profit on AvGas. There will be a new fuel in 3-4 years (Avidyne years but still). Nothing to see here...move along.

Are they? Not sure I believe that. But even if the refineries are, the FBO's aren't. And if there were a way to have affordable, unleaded avgas we'd have it already. I couldn't care less what they can do for "not much more than we're paying now." It'll have to be cheaper, much cheaper, to have an effect.

Which is why I think the future belongs to Rotax and Pratt.

But I was pretty worried about Y2K, so here's hoping my prognosticating is as bad as always!

Cmon dude. Where are all these Rotax planes? There are 10's of thousands of trainer Cessnas sitting on ramps. Your suggestion will cost more than continuing AVGAS or sims. It's not gonna happen that suddenly everyone stocks up on ROTAX planes.

So....what's a Rotax TBO? 600-700 hrs?

A new Rotax 912 TBO is 2000 hours / 15 years.

now....that's nice.

too bad they don't have a 350HP version.....
A new Rotax 912 TBO is 2000 hours / 15 years.

100hp from 82 cu in. Wonder how a bigger design would fare?

I'm one of those optimists that thinks the best days of aviation are still ahead. Most of the 1st world countries have suffered since 2006 but we will come out of this like we always do. Business people want to make money and a plane is another tool in the tool box to make money.

I'm a big experimental fan. In fact, I've been looking around for something to do in my new, big garage and an airplane project might fit the bill nicely. I'm really interested in the RANS S-7, KitFox, and some others that would get into backwoods strips or maybe go on floats.

But when they get discouraged, homebuilders say things like this: Before I'm done, I will have spent $80,000 and a thousand hours' work on this Highlander. Other than the build experience (which I could've gotten with a boat or kitchen cabinets), what am I getting that I couldn't have gotten for the same money in a Super Cub? Or less money in a Maule?

Fellow experimental fans, what's the answer to that?

Don't build because you want to fly... Build because you want to build. The journey IS the destination. If you just want to FLY an experimental, find one for sale and buy it.

I will be building an EAB because I have dreamed of doing so since I was a 16-year-old... My girlfriend's dad was building a Sonerai IIL in his garage. He gave me a stack of EAA Experimenter and AOPA Pilot magazines that I literally wore out re-reading... I already have an extremely capable and comfortable plane to fly. The one I build will be to scratch that "gotta build it myself" itch!

Stuart,

You can also buy a flying/completed version of those E-AB planes if that's the model you really want. I don't have the ability to commit the time to building one, so I bought one.

When you buy a flying Experimental, you basically get all the labor for free and some additional discount off the actual costs of the build. You have to get a knowledgeable inspector to do the pre-buy.

First, it isn't necessary to spend all the big bucks on a homebuilt and be upside down in you project. I am doing it. Building is an enormous amount of work. Depending on the level of workmanship you want to achieve, plan on spending many more hours than those touted by some manufacturer. Just because some dude can build an airplane in 1,000 hours, it might take you 2,500. Plan accordingly.

The advantage of homebuilding is that after a part is done, you get to sit back and admire the work you have done. Pride in workmanship. Building is not for everyone (sometimes not me ) but it is very rewarding if you are so inclined.

Robert

So...we have the R182, it is a great traveling machine and stable when you need to shoot an approach. 152 kts, get you from point a to b quick enough. But, I cant put it on floats or skis or... Now I can get a cub, champ or pacer on floats, but then I need an A&P to switch from wheels to floats.

But, this has real appeal...http://www.bush-planes.com/Kitfox.html. I can keep it at the lake, fold the wings and drag it up to the shop for storage.

And one of the coolest factors (for me) is you can put this engine on it... http://www.rotecradialengines.com/0RotecR2800/R2800.htm. So can do stuff like this with a certified plane, unless you have loads of dough. Even then you are building an unknown. This is a known.

While I love my factory built plane, E-AB planes have breathed a lot of life into what I consider GA. I think there are two parts to GA that don't always get recognized. Us, and corporate. I like "us"...

It you want a real answer to this, ping Roger Johnson. He built a Long EZ from plans, blocks of foam, and rolls of fiberglass 30 years ago in the garage. He still has the plane and its awesome.

I am going to build, but it will be after my kids are all older and too cool for dad.