4 seater?

[bexrbetter]

First I want to declare openly and honestly that I am a potential plane manufacturer and that's why I am interested to learn more opinions about the market place.

 

KGWilson mentioned in another thread ...

 

there has been a lot of interest since he emailed the Mk 2 sketch to various people. It has sort of gone viral in an aviation sense. It seems a number are making the trek to Taree to check the Cougar out..

May I ask opinions if that is due to it being the "Morgan Cougar" or that it's a light sports (affordable?) 4 seater? (or all of course!).

 

Please note I was not seeking opinions on the aircarft itself, just how it or any LS4 is a fit into the market place.

 

Thanks :-)

 

Mark.

 

 

[Spriteah]

Mark, A few quick points. Most members on this site would not be interested in a 4 seat sports plane because their certificate would not allow them to fly it. If you built a 4 seater your market is General Aviation. I can say at this time that all aviation is slow as are sales of aircraft.

 

The 'new' recreational license that CASA are implementing might increase sales of heavier planes but still a 2 seat restriction will apply.

 

Regards,

 

Jim Tatlock

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Thanks very much for your reply Jim.

 

I was just curious more than anything, any knowledge is good knowledge! ;-)

 

 

[rgmwa]

I think it would be very hard to create a viable new aircraft industry anywhere, but particularly in a limited market environment like Australia, especially if you had to start from scratch and develop a design first. This may be a long shot, but Vans recently commissioned a company in the US to begin manufacturing their RV-12 kits for sale as completed SLSA aircraft, starting with a batch of a dozen or so. There might be an opportunity to do something like that in Australia - going into commercial production by teaming with an established kit aircraft manufacturer. It might be an easier way into a tough business, but you would really need to do your homework and have access to plenty of capital and technical know-how. Good luck.

 

rgmwa

 

 

[damkia]

Thanks very much for your reply Jim.I was just curious more than anything, any knowledge is good knowledge! ;-)

Noting your posting location, are you thinking about Chinese manufacture of kits for sale in Australia? The biggest issue would be a suitable engine at a reasonable cost. The fuselage around it should be a do-able exercise.

If you were really interested in some sort of manufacturing exercise then a 120-130hp engine for the uncertified market (with certified version to follow) would be a good start. Turbodiesel (Jet A/Jet A1/domestic diesel compatible), +/- gear reduction, less than 90kg, even better...

 

People will howl me down when I say that there is no reason not to trust Chinese quality - most of your domestic electronics comes from China and has done for some years. They are capable of "building to a quality" as well as "building to a price".

 

 

[bexrbetter]

I think it would be very hard to create a viable new aircraft industry anywhere,

Hi rgmwa,

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

With Ian's gracious permission, I can mention that I am on a program to secure an Australian design, produce it in China and market it Internationally.

 

I am aware of a number of startups happening in China right now with French and American companies and have had various offers from them myself but I am desperately trying to do this with an Oz company so all profits come back to Oz.

 

I have been in contact with all the obvious major Oz manufacturers and some minor ones so do not require suggestions of who to approach for those kind enough to offer, thanks.

 

Good luck.

I hope that still applies after the above comments!!

 

I offer that my intentions are good for Oz, my children and grand children are Australian and I do car about their future.

 

 

[rgmwa]

Sounds like a serious plan. It would be great for Oz if you can make it work. We have some talented designers around the place.

 

rgmwa

 

 

[bexrbetter]

The biggest issue would be a suitable engine at a reasonable cost.If you were really interested in some sort of manufacturing exercise then a 120-130hp engine for the uncertified market (with certified version to follow) would be a good start.

It's already happening but I need do the proper thing by the forum as per rules of manufacturer's anouncements, I have been run off my feet in recent weeks and I just plumb forget to organise it. So with respect, you will have to wait a few days!

 

 

[bexrbetter]

Sounds like a serious plan. It would be great for Oz if you can make it work. We have some talented designers around the place.rgmwa

Thanks and yes there is some great talent in Oz, always has been,

 

I'm like everybody else, I don't want to see manufacturing going elsewhere, hell I wondered around many thriving workshops as a kid in the 60's and went with Dad to Repco for example when he would order special custom piston sets made in Tassie and other Repco stuff made by Repco so yeah, I'm sad to have seen the changes over the last 50 years.

 

But it's a fact of the World to what has been happening and what will happen over the next 10 years so if I can take an Oz manufacturer who makes say 4 or 5 planes a year currently and turn that into 40 or 50 sales overseas then at least you would think that more money is going to end up in the Oz pool helping someone somewhere - darn sight better than losing that manufacturer altogether and that's on the cards for some sadly.