I had an interesting conversation with Mike Nass yesterday (Clinton airport manager). Mike knows the guy who originally wrote the LSA spec for EAA. Mike asked him why the C150-152 was not included in the spec, and the answer was: "We don't want to grandfather in a whole class of airplanes that should have been retired 20 years ago. Our idea is to stimulate new production,new designs, new customers, new excitement, not just cater to the status quo."
Mike noted that the vast majority of new pilots he sees going through Clinton are of above average income, and do not consider it a hardship to pay $160K for a new 172, in fact, they would much rather do that than buy a nice used 172 for $60K.
Presumably, these are the types of customers for the 162 and other $100K LSA models.
I observe that GA seems to be splitting into two economic classes, that of those who have plenty of money for toys, and want new shiny ones. (This is a small group out of society at large, but still several hundred thousand potential pilots.)
The second group is us. People who you might call middle class, watching our budgets much more carefully, and happy for the opportunity to own and fly 30+ year old airplanes, even if they have original paint. Sadly, our group is endangered and probably ultimately headed for extinction. As the price of flying goes up and up, many of us will have to drop out. If most of the new pilots are in a higher economic strata, personal flying will become a smaller and much more exclusive hobby.
Sad. Won't happen today, or tomorrow, but I'll bet we're looking at a gradual decline that will take place over the next 20-30 years.
There will still be 150-152's in my opinion, but the one's left will be pampered collectables, like J3 cubs are today.
A cheery outlook from your resident pessimist.
