EAA is not in any way turning away
from its roots, but is instead expanding
yet again to provide members with
more, not less, information. Actually,
my life in aviation is pretty typical for
an EAA member. My father was trained
as an aeronautical engineer and had his
airframe and powerplant (A&P)
mechanic certificate while still in high
school—it was called an A&E back then,
with E for engine instead of P for powerplant. Airplane talk, building and
flying model airplanes, and studying
aviation history were a big part of
growing up.
I learned to fly when I was young
and bought a Cessna 140 that was built
in 1946, three years before I was born. I
was lucky enough to find a career in aviation through writing, but my airplane
ownership path was pretty typical, with
a variety of piston singles and then the
Baron as the years went by. Although I
never built an airplane or restored one,
my interest in all types of airplanes
never waned.
EAA is one of the bright spots in what
has been a dismal period for all of aviation. Membership is growing,
enthusiasm for AirVenture is stronger
than ever, and the association’s ability to
influence government in areas that interest us is demonstrated every year by the
top-level officials who spend time at
Oshkosh. I’m excited to contribute to an
organization that is on the move.
USED PISTON PRICES STABILIZE
Fletcher Aldredge, editor of the Vref
used aircraft value guide, reported in his
third quarter newsletter that prices of
used piston singles and twins appeared
to be stable, and down a comparatively
small amount following the market crash
of 2008. In fact, he found that the value
of an index of used piston singles was
actually up a percentage point or more in
the most recent quarter.
But it’s a totally different story for
turboprops, where some popular models
are off 30, 40, and even more than 50
percent in value from their pre-recession
highs. And the trend in used turbine airplane prices is still sinking, although at a
much slower pace.
