Thanks for this context. I'm not a pilot but I can absolutely relate to the joy such a machine could give.
I'd like to ask one thing further: Do you think the existence of these older cheaper planes is holding back the development of upstart companies aiming for a price point that's closer to the Cessna 172 than the SR22? If leaded fuel engines were banned by the FAA today, would that create an opportunity for new entries, maybe with EV/hybrid engines? Or are there fundamentally different manufacturing economics to safely put something like that up in the air at that price point today?
There are already alternative engines in wide use (particularly on ultralights and light-sport aircraft) that can run on regular, unleaded gasoline, like the Rotax 912[0]. The issue, as others have pointed out, is getting these newer engines certified for use on existing, older planes. This would require extensive testing to get a Supplemental Type Certificate (“STC”) to allow the engine to be installed on a certified aircraft (think anything manufactured, like a Cessna 172 or Piper Cub.)
> Do you think the existence of these older cheaper planes is holding back the development of upstart companies aiming for a price point that's closer to the Cessna 172 than the SR22?
Things in aviation are incredibly expensive because of how much it costs to have things certified by the FAA for safety and reliability. I'm no legal expert but I don't think an upstart company has much wiggle room to get around that if they want to legally sell their aircraft in the US. As an example Cessna 172s are still made and AFAIK the modern ones haven't required leaded fuel for some time. A 172 is just about the most basic small airplane you can get but today a new one costs as much as a house, about $400k.
I'd like to ask one thing further: Do you think the existence of these older cheaper planes is holding back the development of upstart companies aiming for a price point that's closer to the Cessna 172 than the SR22? If leaded fuel engines were banned by the FAA today, would that create an opportunity for new entries, maybe with EV/hybrid engines? Or are there fundamentally different manufacturing economics to safely put something like that up in the air at that price point today?