Category Archives: airplanes

SkySmith Seminars Online!

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SkySmith Seminars Online!

The SUN ‘n FUN Home Edition 2020 is hosting one of  Scott SkySmith Seminars online.  SkySmith’s seminars were provided to SUN ‘n FUN by the Cessna Owners and Piper Owners groups (part of JP Media).

“The SUN ‘n FUN Home Edition 2020 is all the parts of the annual Aerospace Expo that attendees have come to know and love and a whole lot more”, says Greg Gibson, Chief Marketing Officer and Airshow Director. “The SUN ‘n FUN Home Edition is an overall experience that can be accessed via a web portal at FLYSnF.org right from our home page. Once you click into the Home Edition, you’ll have access to tons of online content including some things that you have never seen before!”

For access to the Cessna and Piper Owners SkySmith’s seminar click here.

 

AIRCRAFT ANNIVERSARIES AT EAA

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AIRCRAFT ANNIVERSARIES AT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2020 COVER A CENTURY OF FLIGHT

Aircraft commemorations at Oshkosh include wide spectrum of aircraft

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (April 8, 2020) — Aircraft across the entire spectrum of personal flight will be gathering this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh to celebrate anniversaries of some of the most remarkable airplanes of the past century. The annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is scheduled for July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The aircraft anniversary commemorations include airplanes that are part of EAA’s homebuilt community, as well as vintage airplanes, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, and more. Programs vary depending on the aircraft group, but at times include everything from special presentations to group parking along the AirVenture flightline.

“As we continue to plan for AirVenture this summer, one of the most remarkable events each year at Oshkosh is the gathering of aircraft arriving to celebrate historic anniversaries of specific aircraft models,” said EAA vice president Rick Larsen, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Sometimes those anniversaries include more than 100 airplanes while others may be an unmatched reunion of the few surviving examples of a particular type. However large or small the assembly, these moments again show how Oshkosh truly is the place for aviation’s annual family reunion.”

Among the aircraft already committed for anniversary reunions at AirVenture 2020 are:

  • 100 years: Stinson Aircraft Company
  • 85 years: Taylorcraft
  • 75 years: Aeronca Chief, Cessna 120 and 140, Pitts Special
  • 70 years: Cessna L-19 Birddog
  • 50 years: Skybolt and Bakeng Deuce, as well as the International Aerobatic Club (IAC)
  • 45 years: American Aerolights Eagle
  • 40 years: Kolb Aircraft
  • 25 years: Van’s RV-8 and AirCam

Additional anniversaries at Oshkosh will be announced as they are finalized by owner groups and type clubs.

About EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and EAA’s yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.eaa.org/airventure. EAA members receive the lowest prices on admission rates and all those age 18 and under are admitted free. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAA.

Time to buy an airplane?

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Buy an airplane?

If you are thinking you might buy an airplane, this may be a good time to get serious. Besides the fact that spring always seems to bring out more buyers it also seems like the market is “right” for buying an airplane. By “right” it appears that in today’s economy you can buy some airplane models and probably be able maintain their value or even make a few bucks over the next couple of years. I’m not saying buy new, but good used  popular models.

Anyway, I have been involved in the aviation market for a number of years. I can remember when buying an aircraft (especially a Cessna 172 or Cherokee Archer etc.) was almost a guarantee to make money. Used airplane prices were always going up.  Of course, there were years of high gas prices or high interest rates which had major impact on prices. And then the crash in the in the 2006 – 2007 area where prices went lower than 1995…

But, recently it looks good again.  I was researching aircraft prices for a recent Cessna Owners and Piper Owners Magazines article where I was discussing how to value your aircraft.  Personally, I like to use VREF as a pricing guide and included a recent graph in my story of the light single engine market prices.  See the graph below.

Take a look at the 3rd quarter of 2016. The single engine market started an uphill run and doesn’t look like it will slow down. It looks like if the economy keeps up the momentum, maybe we can get back to the peak prices we had back in 2000 – 2001.

buy an airplane

Of course don’t forget to get an insurance quote from SkySmith for the airplane you are thinking about buying! Click here to get a quote!