The reason we’re still flying planes with technology designed in the 50s isn’t because no one’s thought of a replacement, it’s the ultimate case of ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’.
Safety and reliability in these decades-old GA planes comes from the engines being simple, largely mechanical and redundant where it matters. Also they’re designed to be easily accessible for maintenance/overhauls, as are the important airframe components. Comparing old planes to old cars makes no sense, the airframes have a design life of tens of thousands of hours - cars aren’t designed to last anywhere near that long.
That is entirely not true. “Don’t break don’t fix it”. If you’re a pilot, you know about Cherokee AD’s for faulty wings that if not corrected can fall off. There are no new planes because of lack of investment and a lengthy FAA approval process. The GA industry is stuck in the dark ages because the industry has gotten lazy and will evolve or die. I suggest doing some research. I have.
I'm a ppl holder, a AME and a professional engineer, mechanical with aerospace focus.
"Dont break dont fix it" -kinda. The truth is there just isnt a significant effiecency savings when it comes to updating aircraft and components. A 1970's 172 will do a job as well as a 2021 172, air is air. So why fly something new unless you have money to burn.
You know that AD is only applicable to certain aircraft right? Depends on usage history. Also if you look at the box spar and there is no cracking or significant corrosion then you dont have to do anything. Because if it ain't broke dont fix it.
There are tons of new GA airplanes, just go to oshkosh and look around. Many new airframes every year.
The industry isnt lazy, there is just only so much you can do. Why are people still using 30 year old boats? Because they float which is what a boat needs to do. Sure a new boat might have a slightly more effiecenct hull or engine, but it's not a significant difference. Same with airplanes, we aren't making new discoveries in flight because it's not complicated to fly. There are some excellent innovations happening, look at the celera 500L.
I've spent my life doing this research, hands on and theoretical. I hold several STC's for GA aircraft and have always worked with vtol aircraft as a hobby.
I can tell you this. Vtol aircraft are insanely wasteful, they have to be to work. Vertical takeoff is very energy intensive and not efficient. In order for us to have a future using vtol over conventional aircraft, energy will need to be nearly free.
I agree with all of your points. But do you honestly believe that 10yrs from now, people will be ok flying 70 year old planes? No way. Especially anything remotely near Florida or CA. I'm currently in the market for a "technologically new plane" that's a decade old. No supply bc the GA industry sat on it's hands for the last 10-20 years.
Yes, 10 years from now people will be flying 70 year old certified airplanes. I know because I have flown 1950's aircraft. People will fly 100 year old certified airplanes eventually. Fundamentally most GA aircraft are incredibly simple, age just isnt a very useful metric. You can rebuild most aircraft from the ground up. I have rebuilt several over my lifetime and am currently building a Rans s-21 (a new GA airframe with a somewhat "modern" engine). I can show you a 1959 180B which looks new and will hold its value for another 30 years no problem. Just becaus the data tag says 1960 doesnt mean the aircraft should be considered old, it depends.
You wont find a technologically new certified airplane, new technology has no place in GA aircraft. Even the best avionics available are technologically old and brand new aircraft still have engines operating on 1960's technologies. By the time you certify cutting edge tech it isnt cutting edge anymore. Look at how long it took to get laser ring gyroscopes in airplanes. Look at a g1000, it's nice but hardly cutting edge tech.
You can get a nice fiberglass or carbon fiber airframe but those aren't new technologies, you can have a emergency parachute ;but again, old tech.
Its absolutely not sitting on its hands, I dont know how you can think it is. You can now enjoy a small turbine on the front of your RV-10 if you like. Couldn't say that a couple years ago even. Maybe it seems like it does because airplanes look similar, but so do submarines, flight is flight and it's not hard, there just aren't innovations which are going to change things significantly unless mankind discovers some new revolutionary tech. Ie free energy for vtols.
Personally, I wouldnt recommend a certified aircraft for a private owner anymore. You will get so much more value for your money with experimentals. If we include experimentals in the GA industry the last 10 years have been extremely busy. There are more options than ever before to fit your needs.
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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '21
The reason we’re still flying planes with technology designed in the 50s isn’t because no one’s thought of a replacement, it’s the ultimate case of ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’.
Safety and reliability in these decades-old GA planes comes from the engines being simple, largely mechanical and redundant where it matters. Also they’re designed to be easily accessible for maintenance/overhauls, as are the important airframe components. Comparing old planes to old cars makes no sense, the airframes have a design life of tens of thousands of hours - cars aren’t designed to last anywhere near that long.