[old-gregg]

I am not a pilot but I've been told by many that a large chunk of a new airplane price is the cost of certification which also provides a great incentive for manufacturers to design one product, get it certified, and sell it without major modifications for decades to avoid re-certifying it.

How did they manage to produce a $120K aircraft then? Is it not subject to the same certification requirements as the Cessna 172 which features similar specs but at 3x the price?

[azalemeth]

A Cessna 172 ironically is probably worth more than an average equivalent non-Cessna plane ironically because it's so ubiquitous that parts, experience, and understanding are everywhere. It's the Ford Focus of light aircraft, beloved by those learning to fly, and actually usually holds a premium as a result. I take your point though; but the real reason everything in aviation is so expensive is that it is traceable, documented, and with known MTBFs and characteristics -- all requirements that are completely and utterly written in blood.

[fransje26]

> Is it not subject to the same certification requirements as the Cessna 172 which features similar specs but at 3x the price?

Maybe the question should be, what exactly justifies an airplane first flown in 1955 being 3x the price..?

[GenerWork]

>a large chunk of a new airplane price is the cost of certification

That seems rather odd. Is this because unlike cars, the cost of certification is spread out among much fewer models, or for some other reason?

[dmoy]

The cost of certifying a new aircraft model is significantly higher than a car. It's like $25m for non-commercial aircraft? I forget the exact number but it's quite high.

It could be lower since this thing has only 1 passenger capacity

[chung8123]

I think it is under light sport so it is a different certification