The future of aviation is the guy sitting at Atlanta airport right now getting bumped or delayed for 1000th time, receiving crap service and dealing with TSA. That guy wants to go to the dealership at the airport and see a Cirrus sitting there. It looks space age. It is the future.

The Cirrus has a damn "stick pusher" and a parachute. You can't crash that thing. It sells itself. That Cirrus is the future of travel in the United States. They will eventually sell a million of them. Cirrus will make it so you don't need a pilots license to fly. Just type in "Miami" and the plane does the rest. Guaranteeed, count on it.

Different target market..

How special. Next step is a drone.

Different target market..

Jason,

You're suppose to brew that tea...not smoke it.

Maybe true, but Airbus builds a highly automated "crash proof" aircraft. Still a lot of those have crashed do to various reasons.

Craig

Kinda like "being" with a fat girl....just don't let your friends see you.

Maybe true, but Airbus builds a highly automated "crash proof" aircraft. Still a lot of those have crashed do to various reasons.

Craig

These threads are always fascinating.

There are those who recognize the superior attraction to buyers that Cirrus has.
There are those that say, "Nothing flies like a Bonanza".
There are those who love the avionics and others who say that is what makes Cirrus pilots less competent.
There are always the shots at the parachute, as though it's something bad or for wimp pilots.

I think this should just be a celebration of all that Cirrus has done well for all of us (i.e., General Aviation), and we should all hope that they continue to be successful.

Now, if Beech can get their act together, they should try to figure out how to compete. So far, they've done a dismal job.

I have flown a newer Cirrus. They are great.

I am a stick and rudder pilot. While the Cirrus does not have the Beech feel, it sure as heck isn't a Cessna and I think they sold plenty of those. Judging by the arrivals I watch at OSH every year, equipment is not always the limiting factor.

My father built a Long EZ (in his garage by hand) 30 years ago. With no prior experience, the aircraft still looks and flies great today.

Don't hold up Beech because they don't use composites as they will soon enough. I see plenty of 30 year old metal planes corroded to unairworthy condition.

If Beech wants a winner, build a six place composite A36 retract with a chute and TKS that does 230KTAS, has a good UL, and a good range. Fire all of the current sales force and steal some Cirrus folks. Listen to them....and sell airplanes!

"If Beech wants a winner, build a six place composite A36 retract with a chute and TKS that does 230KTAS, has a good UL, and a good range. Fire all of the current sales force and steal some Cirrus folks. Listen to them....and sell airplanes!"

Beech will HAVE to build a composite to compete, it costs way too much money to continue building them with metal and by hand.

Guess what percentage of a Cirrus is hand built?

I'm with Jason on this one.

Although the "Salty Dogs" out there don't want to hear it, the future of aviation is most certainly going to be innovation. Especially if we can get the bureaucrats in the FAA to loosen their death grip on the draconian over regulation penchant they seem to be so fond of.

In the end, who cares if some young Gen Y'er wants to be an actual pilot as well as a virtual one. Who cares if he "push buttons there"?

If it increases our numbers in the GA world.
If it increases our avionic options.
If it increases situational awareness and safety.

If it does all of this, why would we poo poo it?

Just because I hand fly, my nearly 50 year old Bo, every time on every flight, doesn't mean that I wouldn't enjoy the comfort and safety of an affordable PFD, MFD, Autopilot equipped aircraft. I just can't justify the 10's of thousands of dollars currently required to get it there.

So, back to point, as much as many of you out there don't like hearing it, I think JC is spot on!

Define hand built.
Even Beech does not just use a human powered hammer and anvil to pound out the shapes and parts.

A better set of questions are:
How many hours to assemble the plane?
How many unique parts (think logistics)?
How many hours to manufacture parts?

Tim

"The inability and unwillingness to recognize and embrace change."

That's the definition of extinction.

Beech just needs to up their game.