I spoke with Progressive Aerodyne Folks a few months back and got the feeling that anyone who might be able to replace Lake Aircraft in Composite Format will get the best market ever.
Best market wouldn't include an amphibian. Here's what AvWeb said about amphibs (in an article about the Lake) in 2013...
"The bad news for amphibian airplane owners and pilots is that, no matter how cleverly you design it, putting a boat hull on an airplane does not make for efficient aerodynamics. You also wind up with a complex airplane that has all the costs of maintaining a retractable landing gear and constant speed prop, plus the expenses of keeping a boat alive and well. There are those who assert that you should combine those costs and then square the sum to get an accurate number for owning an amphibian. Oh yes, and you get to own an airplane that can sink."
Lake Aircraft began in, what, 1959? And they built a little over a thousand airplanes?
The problem with multi purpose machines, especially airplanes, is they excel at nothing.
The history of aviation doesn't support the notion that a four place amphibian constitutes the "best market ever." Niche markets, yes. But you sure better have the better mousetrap.
