I had a conversation with a couple fellow pilots last week in which the topic of the rising popularity of experimentals was hashed about. The pros and cons, pitfalls and advantages - but the biggest thing that jumped out of the conversation was the pricing. An "average man" can afford to build an RV whereas we cannot all reach the same point of purchasing a certified aircraft of similar performance.
Case in point - this morning on Avweb Cessna announces the return of the Turbo-182. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/turbo-skylane-returns-to-textron-lineup/
Now look at the specs - 4 seats, 165 knot cruise, glass panel, nearly a thousand nm max range. Compare that to the RV10 - very similar. The turbo 182 will have a "base price" of $653,000 and you can build a nice RV10 today for $250,000 with a full glass panel. Compare that as well to a new Cirrus SR22T at $779,000, which is the market Cessna is trying to undercut at $653k. This is precisely why the experimental market in general, and Vans in particular, continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
Case in point - this morning on Avweb Cessna announces the return of the Turbo-182. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/turbo-skylane-returns-to-textron-lineup/
Now look at the specs - 4 seats, 165 knot cruise, glass panel, nearly a thousand nm max range. Compare that to the RV10 - very similar. The turbo 182 will have a "base price" of $653,000 and you can build a nice RV10 today for $250,000 with a full glass panel. Compare that as well to a new Cirrus SR22T at $779,000, which is the market Cessna is trying to undercut at $653k. This is precisely why the experimental market in general, and Vans in particular, continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
Last edited: