I did not read anything in Ralph post to indicate he thought old was bad. I do agree that the experimentals have a great advantage over all certificated aircraft weather they are new or old. Yes they do have better performance per HP usually but the big advantage is in maintenance and updatability. The FAA is pushing people to experimentals by making field approvals impossible to get. Want a modern Subaru engine in you Ercoupe, forget it. Want it in your RV6, no problem. Why is the FAA so afraid of us making our old aircraft safer by using technology that was not available at the time it was made.
Kevin --- In [email protected], "Glen Davis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > If old was bad: > > Beech Staggerwings would not be selling for half a million dollars > > Tony Bennett would not be performing in Las Vegas! > > My Dad's 57 T-Bird would not be selling for 10 times the price it sold for new in 57 > > My home, a Brownstone built in 1889 would not be my retirement nest egg.....thank God! > > Additionally...my 1946 Ercoupe has nearly completed it's restoration. It may be old but it now has all digital engine instruments, a computer for engine functions, a digital tachometer, a color GPS, an electric artificial horizon that derives it's data from an internal GPS and accelerometer http://www.trutrakflightsystems.com/instruments.htm. I really like all this high tech stuff but my favorite instrument in the panel is the clock ....called a CDIA. It is a seven day, wind-up timepiece made by Waltham in the mid 1940's under military contract. CDIA stands for Civil Date Indicator, Aeronautical. CDIA clocks were the standard of many WWII US Navy aircraft, Including the Grumman and Eastern Aircraft TBF and TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the Consolidated PBY Catalina, Martin PBM Mariner and other famous aircraft. Fitting the 3 1/8" large instrument aperture, it is a sharp clock to give a modern panel that vintage feel. Produced by the Waltham Watch Company, the CDIA is a 37size mechanical movement powered by dual mainsprings. It is a variant of the rugged Waltham automobile clock produced during the 20's and 30's. > > Lastly, I'm 50 and my wife has not traded me in for two 25's....yet :) > > > Glen > ----- Original Message ----- > From: ght > To: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 2:32 PM > Subject: Re: [ercoupe-flyin] RE: Type Club > > > Ralph, > > Since you offered an opinion that distresses me, I > will offer one too. Of course, it is your prerogative > to have whichever plane(s)suit you and that is not > what this is about. > > My duties at work include computer tech support for my > department, responsibility for buying new hardware, > software, digital cameras, etc., so I am no stranger > to new technology and I do my best to keep current. > Nevertheless, not everything that is "old" is useless > and obsolete and not everything that is "new" is > necessarily the best solution for a need. Whether > we're talking about people or objects, I would really > like folks to stop the stereotypical thinking that old > is synonymous with bad and new is synonymous with > good. > > I know, I know. Friends tell me I beating a dead horse > by saying such things. But I know far too many "old" > people who have always lived full out and will > continue to do so 'til they're buried. And I know far > too many "young" people who spend their days under the > control of one addiction or another, doing nothing > positive for themselves or anyone else, to think that > the year a person was born is the primary driving > force. > > Spook > > > > > Glen > > > > Glen Davis > 917 297 1111 > www.ishootpictures.com > www.ercoupepilot.com >
