RV-12iS price check...wow, and not in a good way

[cluttonfred]

Just for fun, I went looking at the pricing for the Van's RV-12iS since I expected it to be their cheapest kit option. Wow, and not in a good way.

RV-12iS​

Fastener $595 <​

Empennage/Tail $3,500​

Wing $8,300​

Fuselage $8,400​

Finishing $13,500 [meaning other airframe components]​

[Airframe only $34,295]​

Avionics $17,300 – $26,345​

Powerplant $38,950 iS / $33,530 ULS​

Standard Kits – $85,125 – $99,590 typical​

Source: Kit Prices and Lead Times - Van's Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes​

Three things struck me:

1. Given Van's much large production volume than any other kit manufacturer, is over $34,000 really justified for a two-seat light sport aircraft airframe alone?
   
   
2. $17,300 is the low end price range for avionics?!? This is not the Space Shuttle. Half that should get VFR flight and engine instruments, a handheld radio, *and* transponder and ADSB-out if you need it, much less if you don't.
   
   
3. I have issues with Rotax engine pricing, but I'll leave that out here as that's not on Van's.

Are people really tripling the cost of the airframe when building something like an RV-12 as a kit?

 

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