Microlighters

If you consider that a used Aquilla 582 that was manufactured at around the turn of the century (sounds real old eh!) sells at around 80K, what did the original owner pay for it seven years ago?

I don't think the Owner would have paid much more if it was bought new, The aircraft if it was looked after does go down in Value but with inflation and all that the price remains about the same. Kinda like a bad scale but it looks like that is how it works.

My 2 Zim $ could be totally wrong

If all maintenance is done a trike it is almost rebuilt overtime so it's almost always new - provided it has hours to back up the years. ie high hour high years vs low hour high years.

I hear ya .......
At the moment the trike market seems to be dead. Historically, is this the norm? In past years, have there beens times when demand outstrips supply, thus driving prices higher?

Byron wrote:I hear ya .......
At the moment the trike market seems to be dead. Historically, is this the norm? In past years, have there beens times when demand outstrips supply, thus driving prices higher?

Definitely not the norm. I recall one would have to enter onto a waiting list if you were buying from one of the local suppliers. Sometimes the waiting list was about 6 months.

Second hand market was also pretty bouyant - at times you would struggle to find anything being offered.

Its an investment in fun :D .......has been very quiet, but seems to be turning a bit again. Also seems to have been a lot of planes for sale in the last 8 weeks so good time to be buying, lots of choice and some nice planes available.

Byron wrote:At the moment the trike market seems to be dead.

Hi Byron,

For used trikes to sell –

The “price-gap” against new has to be widened as little or no pricing was evident on new trikes over the last 5-year period.

Roughly speaking, depreciation of used when little or no new trike pricing is taking place has to be –

• Year 1 - 25%
• Year 2 - 15%
• Year 3 - 10%

I remember looking at Aquilla years ago at the Virginia Air Show – was R 110 000. The next year they were R 175 000. Extremes like this would naturally flatten the depreciation curve of used trikes - but thank goodness, that was just a short dreadful spell in the SA economy.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

Maybe fixed wing microlightes are becoming more popular now that there are so many types available...

Maybe fixed wing microlightes are becoming more popular now that there are so many types available...

John Young wrote:I remember looking at Aquilla years ago at the Virginia Air Show – was R 110 000. The next year they were R 175 000. Extremes like this would naturally flatten the depreciation curve of used trikes - but thank goodness, that was just a short dreadful spell in the SA economy.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

Agreed there - the only issue was that when the exchange rate recovered - the pricing never really came down. I think it was dropped between R4-6k - which at end of the day could be attributed to the reduction in the cost of the motor.

"slump in the market"
High interest rates (and climbing) as well as the new credit act ... the market had to slow down. My guess is that it will slow more.
Car sales have fallen and there aint too many "for sale" boards on the pavements in our neighbourood anymore either.

skybound ® wrote:

John Young wrote:I remember looking at Aquilla years ago at the Virginia Air Show – was R 110 000. The next year they were R 175 000. Extremes like this would naturally flatten the depreciation curve of used trikes - but thank goodness, that was just a short dreadful spell in the SA economy.

Regards
John ZU-CIB

Agreed there - the only issue was that when the exchange rate recovered - the pricing never really came down. I think it was dropped between R4-6k - which at end of the day could be attributed to the reduction in the cost of the motor.

Well there are some trikes made in India which look pretty good and comply with Part 103 in the US! They around 70k and seen two seaters at 90k - with engine and wing, Rotax or Simonini

There's also another engine brand with the two seaters

It would be interesting to see what the build quality is like?

Well here's one site http://www.magictrikes.us

Another indian manufacturer I know of makes trikes very close to if not better than some local trikes - copied from russian military spec! Got a few clips on them and they look good. Fly good too. Uses the Russian X series of wings.