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Michael has hit it directly on the head -- it's all about getting more advertising; and in the case of Sporty's, more business volume.

Now I see AOPA's next project is heaping all the latest bells and whistles into a 1970-something Piper Archer. I'm a very supportive AOPA member, but I think this sort of trick is blatantly all about "bidnus." I've taken to heart some advice mentioned on this board that if you own an airplane that is more than 30 years old or so, you should set about restoring it -- not adding more equipment that is out of context to the year of manufacture. It's just not natural ...

I was disappointed that I didn't win the Cardinal. But that lasted about five seconds.

AOPA has taken a new tack on their give-away planes. They had many complaints about the aircraft and asked the members what they wanted. The conclusion the supposedly reached was that the members wanted an aircraft, like the Cardinal, that didn't require any additional ratings (like a multi-engine) for the winner to fly it. I think that is part of the reason they chose the Archer for this year's project.

I'm happy with Mary Lou.

Well said. The average pilot might have to immediately sell 50% interest in order to keep a new plane without breaking the bank. Besides, isn't there an old saying that goes something like "Don't fly anything that doesn't yet have the paint worn off the rudder pedals."?

Last year, I bought a ticket for the 140 the Dakota Museum raffled off and would have been thrilled to win it. A nicely restored older plane has character.

I wonder how AOPA values the plane for tax purposes. If they include all of the donated parts and labor, about $130,000 for the Cardinal, the average guy is just gonna have to sell the airplane to pay the taxes.

But if they use Vref, then maybe somebody who couldn't otherwise afford the plane can get lucky.

Reg

It's probably up to the IRS and/or the dept of revenue in your state as to the value of the plane for tax purposes. There might be an appraisal involved as it is newly restored and upgraded.

However, I'm not an accountant and I don't play one on TV either.

AOPA is a "not for profit" organization, right? Would they need or could they even use a tax write-off? Even if they did, what they could write-off would be far different from the market value of the airplane, which I think is what the new owners taxes would be based on, if anything. Regardless, I know I couldn't afford for anyone to give me just the data plate right now, if the state got wind of it!

Yeah, I just ran the numbers using Vref and a really cherry Cardinal. If I had won, I would not have been able to keep it.

Reg

ditto....but if I sold it I would be able to make LuluBelle's inside look as pretty as her outside.

Well, AOPA did offer the Cardinal as a software add-on for FLight Sim X. So, in one respect I do have the Cardinal.

And it's cheaper than the real thing.