Originally Posted by
E2CMaster
I know fuel got expensive, but I don't think AVGAS has really outpaced MOGAS in cost increase.
I asked one of them (via the evil facebook) this morning, and he said parts/overhauls going from "twice what it was on a car" to 10-20x what the equivalent part/service on a car was one of the reasons he now has his plane in a leaseback setup, and only flys 4-5 hours a month, tops.
No doubt airplane parts are outrageous. When I had a J3 Cub, I had to pay $98 for one inner tube! Later, I replaced the tires, with the original size tires, at $200 Each! My original steel fuel tank had a rust hole in it, so I had to buy a replacement... $400, for a 12 gallon aluminum tank!
I wanted to build an RV8, until I saw what a new Lycoming costs!
I paid less for my new Ford F150, 4x4 with a V8! And it's gone over 7 years and 100,000 miles with zero reliability issues.
When I asked some of my light plane dealer/FBO buds why airplane motors, most of which are still using air cooled, direct drive, 1940's technology, cost so much more than new auto engines, (10x the cost!) with the latest technology.
They said all the standard stuff: FAA Certification, Liability, Reliability, but also that there just isn't the production/sales volume of aircraft engines, like there is with car engines, to bring the cost/price down.
I know there are some auto-engine conversion kits out there, I'm really surprised someone like Honda or Toyota isn't making little 4cyl. airplane engines by now, kind of like the Rotax motors, which are well over $10,000.
Now I've lowered my sights to building something like this, powered by a half VW engine!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCgvRo5eXnk
Build the whole thing for less than the price of a new Harley, and it's a lot safer!
Don't want to pay for gas? Check out this electric plane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuBAC_kz50I