I guess they're hard up for money. I hadn't received an email from them in a couple of years, but last night I was sent an "Exclusive offer" for membership for only $45. I though that was the "Open Offer" rate that everyone gets.
For that money a nice C90 can be had.
Asking price looks in line with the couple others that are priced on Controller. But, IIRC they sold for $1.8-1.9 new didn't they?I thought you could get a nice one on Amphibs for that kind of money.
Doubtful. Their war chest is very big.
Maybe (not likely) they are gonna sell the Caravan, pocket most of the $, and buy something with a piston engine so they have a little more credibility with the 95% of GA pilots who can't afford a turbine.
What's the percentage of pilots that can't afford a piston single? Must be high also.
David
I guess they're hard up for money. I hadn't received an email from them in a couple of years, but last night I was sent an "Exclusive offer" for membership for only $45. I though that was the "Open Offer" rate that everyone gets.
Maybe Baker really is committed to cleaning house. The tipping point will be if the jet also goes up for sale and (gasp!) the doors to the secret board room swing open. That would probably get me to rejoin.
I don't understand why the AOPA takes so much flak from PILOTS regarding their use of aircraft for business. If the AOPA shouldn't have aircraft for business travel, who should?
I can understand someone lifting an eyebrow at the large jet, but the Caravan? Sounds like a smart choice to me.
When members of this (general aviation) organization need to travel for business or attend an event (say AirVenture, or SNF) with six, maybe eight employees, should they be taking the train? Flying Southwest?
Maybe when the opportunity arrises to promote GA and business travel, they should fly in a formation of five Stearmans?
Gimme a break. Sometimes I think we pilots are our own worst enemy.
They should fly Southwest ....
They are flying with your money, not their own. In theory they should fly what the average of their members fly. Reality is I don't care what TV ministers fly or what their brothers at AOPA fly cause I don't pay for either one.Of course. In fact everyone reading this board should fly Southwest. Or in a Warrior, Archer, or Cardinal (because those are the airplanes available to me to fly).
If you have a better airplane than I have then you are a rich plutocrat and should be torn down to my level!
They are flying with your money, not their own.
Yeah what about all that other GA stuff? AOPA flies a jet and represents the jet crowd. But I hear AOPA has a direct line to jesus and are going to send him to save GA.What's "real life GA"? Is it an LSA? A lunch flight in a 172? Aerobatics in a Citabria? Building a RV-10? Winning awards with a beautiful WACO?
AOPA represents a very diverse membership and the reality is business travel makes sense in a plane built for that purpose.
If they are attending a formation flying event, or say the Tangier Island Holly Run (google it), I doubt they arrive in a biz jet. But when leadership makes a trip to Oshkosh to discuss how the AOPA and the EAA can work together (as took place last month) I'm betting they flew the biz jet. As they should.
This whole "fat cats and their corporate jets" nonsense isn't surprising from clueless politicians (see Washington, DC, specifically the White House) but from fellow pilots? As I said before, we are often our own worst enemy.
What's "real life GA"? Is it an LSA? A lunch flight in a 172? Aerobatics in a Citabria? Building a RV-10? Winning awards with a beautiful WACO?
AOPA represents a very diverse membership and the reality is business travel makes sense in a plane built for that purpose.
If they are attending a formation flying event, or say the Tangier Island Holly Run (google it), I doubt they arrive in a biz jet. But when leadership makes a trip to Oshkosh to discuss how the AOPA and the EAA can work together (as took place last month) I'm betting they flew the biz jet. As they should.
This whole "fat cats and their corporate jets" nonsense isn't surprising from clueless politicians (see Washington, DC, specifically the White House) but from fellow pilots? As I said before, we are often our own worst enemy.
Well, it's a $2M airplane flying only about 4 or 5 hours per week. Looking on flighaware at its travels since May, the median flight duration is only an hour and twenty minutes. It is inconceivable to me that those numbers could describe a cost-effective operation.If the AOPA shouldn't have aircraft for business travel, who should? I can understand someone lifting an eyebrow at the large jet, but the Caravan? Sounds like a smart choice to me.
That's not an accident. Many members don't know that they have a jet, either. And few members know that they have over four years of dues, $70M or more, in their cash hoard.I never even knew AOPA had a Caravan...
No. You're thinking of Burger King or Sporty's. (No surprise, that's the way AOPA operates.) But AOPA is a 501(c)4. The IRS says that "the organization must be a community movement designed to accomplish community ends." It's the members' money.It isn't your/my money. AOPA dues are voluntary, it is "their" money.
They are flying with your money, not their own. In theory they should fly what the average of their members fly. Reality is I don't care what TV ministers fly or what their brothers at AOPA fly cause I don't pay for either one.
Then kwitcher bichin! I do pay and have no problem with them owning a Caravan if it is needed. Clearly they must not need it... or they may be just upgrading to a PC-12!
I never even knew AOPA had a Caravan...
I knew they had a jet, mostly because of all the complaining here. I don't have any opinion one way or another about it. On one hand they are an aviation organization, but on the other hand, even NBAA doesn't have a jet.That's not an accident. Many members don't know that they have a jet, either.
I don't care if they have airplanes. Never have. Seems like they'd be silly not to have airplanes and keep the O in their name. But I've already detailed in other threads why I find them very very weak as a O organization. The type clubs totally kick their asses there.
Interesting concept. You got me curious & I'm on holiday:How many memberships does the jet burn per hour?
I expect they are selling the caravan because it is not getting used enough. Perhaps it is better to just fly the jet on short hops even if those legs cost more than it would with a caravan. Just a business decision as I see it, not everything they do has to be motivated by elitism.
There are two different variations of the "O", here. Type clubs cater to the "O" that is in need of type specific information on the ownership and maintenance of that specific type.
AOPA and EAA and others cater to the "O" that is in need of advocacy with the government. Strength in numbers and such.