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Picture me this...

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Describe ONE airplane you'd consider "inexpensive" and desirable. See notes below.

  • Open cockpit

    Votes: 14 21.9%
  • Closed cockpit

    Votes: 39 60.9%
  • Monoplane

    Votes: 41 64.1%
  • Biplane (including tandem biplane such as Flea, Quickie)

    Votes: 6 9.4%
  • Non-certified engine (Auto-conversion, HKS, Pegasus, etc.)

    Votes: 40 62.5%
  • Certified engine

    Votes: 5 7.8%
  • Sheet Metal

    Votes: 18 28.1%
  • Composite

    Votes: 6 9.4%
  • Tube (or wood) and fabric

    Votes: 27 42.2%
  • High wing (or shoulder, parasol)

    Votes: 26 40.6%
  • Low wing

    Votes: 20 31.3%
  • Maximum range: Long, cross-country

    Votes: 15 23.4%
  • Maximum range: Local airshows and $100 burgers

    Votes: 22 34.4%
  • Soaring (including motorgliders)

    Votes: 11 17.2%
  • Runways: Paved only

    Votes: 5 7.8%
  • Runways: Paved + Grass/Dirt

    Votes: 41 64.1%
  • Runways: STOL (VERY short/rough field)

    Votes: 12 18.8%
  • Single seat

    Votes: 26 40.6%
  • Two seat

    Votes: 32 50.0%
  • Four seat

    Votes: 3 4.7%
  • Open cockpit

    Votes: 14 21.9%
  • Closed cockpit

    Votes: 39 60.9%
  • Monoplane

    Votes: 41 64.1%
  • Biplane (including tandem biplane such as Flea, Quickie)

    Votes: 6 9.4%
  • Non-certified engine (Auto-conversion, HKS, Pegasus, etc.)

    Votes: 40 62.5%
  • Certified engine

    Votes: 5 7.8%
  • Sheet Metal

    Votes: 18 28.1%
  • Composite

    Votes: 6 9.4%
  • Tube (or wood) and fabric

    Votes: 27 42.2%
  • High wing (or shoulder, parasol)

    Votes: 26 40.6%
  • Low wing

    Votes: 20 31.3%
  • Maximum range: Long, cross-country

    Votes: 15 23.4%
  • Maximum range: Local airshows and $100 burgers

    Votes: 22 34.4%
  • Soaring (including motorgliders)

    Votes: 11 17.2%
  • Runways: Paved only

    Votes: 5 7.8%
  • Runways: Paved + Grass/Dirt

    Votes: 41 64.1%
  • Runways: STOL (VERY short/rough field)

    Votes: 12 18.8%
  • Single seat

    Votes: 26 40.6%
  • Two seat

    Votes: 32 50.0%
  • Four seat

    Votes: 3 4.7%

  • Total voters
    64
  • Poll closed .

Topaz

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
15,993
Location
Orange County, California
Out of the data I've gathered so far in my "inexpensive airplane" saga, another question has bubbled up out of the answers. So, with your indulgence, let's explore another aspect of the overall question.

A picture has started to emerge of the sort of use to which people want to put an "inexpensive airplane", what they do and don't expect of one, and even the sort of price range that people see as "inexpensive" in their own terms, whatever those might be. The funny thing is, there are several airplanes already on the market that might fit that definition, yet while these airplanes are popular to a point, the world is hardly beating a path to their door. My suspicion is that the "inexpensive" offerings out there really aren't the sort of airplane for which you're looking, are they?

So while it's a lame way to get an answer to this question (and I can't think of anything more clever until I've had more coffee!), I'd like to explore what your "inexpensive" airplane is, in your mind's eye. Let's pretend that, whatever it is, it's "doable" in the price range desired (a questionable presumption, but let's go with it).

So here are the "rules" on this poll:

  • Remember that this is an "inexpensive" airplane. If you want a supersonic 6-passenger stratospheric cruiser, might be best to skip this poll.
    .
  • This can be an airplane that's already on the market, or one from your mind's eye. Either is fine - I'm not trying to find out the "ideal inexpensive airplane" here. That's not the point of the exercise.
    .
  • Describe just ONE airplane - If there's five different airplanes you want, only describe the one you want the MOST. Be tough! :)
    .
  • Check as many boxes as you like, but realize that some are contradictory - you can't have an airplane that's BOTH a monoplane and a biplane, for example. Again, please describe ONE airplane.
    .
  • For the range and runway questions, check the answer that BEST applies to your use actual case, and please be realistic. A cross-country super-STOL machine isn't going to happen, especially in this price range, so be realistic about what you'd ACTUALLY use.

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out!
 
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