According to me, the answer is a bit more complex. Up to these liability lawsuits, aircraft and aircraft parts were almost mass-produced, hence keeping costs low. And all things considered, airframes, which are very labour-intensive items, still come at a reasonable price. Engines and avionics don't.
Serge Vidal KR2 ZS-WEC Still impounded by Customs in Tunis (Sob!) -----Original Message----- From: krnet-boun...@mylist.net [mailto:krnet-boun...@mylist.net]On Behalf Of Bob Stone Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 7:42 PM To: KR builders and pilots Subject: Re: KR>assembly plant-REALLY DEEP Pockets Scott, You are correct about everything you said to General Locker except the reason for certified aircraft being so high in price. Part of the reason of course is inflation but the real reason is law suits against aircraft manufactures. When I learned to fly way back in 1973 I could have bought a Cesna Skyhawk equiped for VFR flight for about $28,000.00 Now the same aircraft is more that $125,000.00 and the price increase is to cover the cost of paying judgments. Many aircraft manufactures stopped producing small aircraft for about ten years because of the damages they were having to pay out. This is also the reason so many people who want an aircraft and want to save money are buying a kit, taking it to one of the many so called business that advertise they will help. The aircraft is built almost l00% by the business and the customer is listed as the builder. Since the owner is shown on all the paperwork as the builder, he can sue no one if he has a accident. Bob Stone, Harker Heights, Tx rsto...@hot.rr.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Cable" <s2cab...@yahoo.com> To: "KR builders and pilots" <kr...@mylist.net> Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 12:55 PM Subject: RE: KR>assembly plant-REALLY DEEP Pockets > Dear Gen. Locker, > I sure hope that you and your partner's pockets are > REALLY deep. > In case you were not aware: The KR Series aircraft are > homebuilt experimental category aircraft. > If you plan on selling completed aircraft as stated > earlier, the FAA would require you to certify this > aircraft per FAR23 for Utility Aircraft, and only use > certified aircraft components FAR 21-23. Or you could > spend the time and mega-bucks to go through the > process of certifying a VW or other automotive based > engine. (not likely). Also you will need to get > Import Airworthiness Approval: "This approval > (documentation) is required for airworthiness > certification of aircraft, engines, propellers, > materials, parts, and appliances imported into the > United States from any country that has a > bilateral agreement with the United States." > Type in qutes were copied directly from: > http://www2.faa.gov/certification/aircraft/ > > The reason why most General Aviation aircraft are so > expensive, is that they have completed a rigorous > certification process, and all of their components > have underwent a similar certification process. > > So if you would like to continue in this venture, > you are most certainly going to need to employ several > qualified Strength Engineers, several Quality Control > engineers, and several Liason engineers, for at least > 24 months just to get started. > It is certainly generous of you to offer the KR > community TYPE certification, thankfully,most KR > builders will be able to have their aircraft certified > as type by being able to prove similar build methods > and materials. Wow, no more experimental placards, > lower insurance..... > While you are at with those deep pockets, I'm an > Aerospace Design Engineer, have my MRB, and am also a > KR builder. If you're hiring, are you offering > benefits? I'll need 3 weeks paid vacation, full > medical and dental, 401k...Matching up to 7%? > > > ===== > Scott Cable > KR-2S # 735 > Linden, MI > s2cab...@yahoo.com > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software > http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html _______________________________________________ see KRnet list details at http://www.krnet.org/instructions.html
