Piper plays a new tune

摘要

The 1970s represents the high-water mark for general aviation in the United States - in several respects. Discounting the few years immediately following the Second World War, deliveries in the segment, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association trade body, peaked in the 1970s before beginning a precipitous decline. This fall can be attributed to any number of factors, ranging from a decrease in the number of active pilots to onerous product liability laws. And, at the tail end of that decade, manufacturers concentrated their efforts on fielding products at the upper end of the spectrum -so as gross numbers declined, the average cost of delivered aircraft skyrocketed. Cessna, Mooney and Piper all launched six-seat pressurised piston singles to capture sales at the high end of the general aviation market.