Tuesday, October 09, 2007

One-Stop Piston Shopping Coming in 2008

AMPT Associates and FLYING Developing Regional Shopping Events

Here's the teaser that accompanied the release:

October 9, 2007 (Duluth, MN) – Today AMPT Associates, Inc. officially launched Parade of Pistons™, an innovative series of regional aircraft expos specifically designed to help the piston aircraft consumer shop for new aircraft. FLYING magazine, the world’s most widely read aviation magazine, has shown their support by becoming the 2008 title sponsor to help make Parade of Pistons a success for both consumers and aircraft manufacturers.

Taking a page from the folks in sport and business aviation (LSA and NBAA folks, specifically), AMPT plans a series of regional events to provide side-by-side comparison shopping opportunities for pilots interested in buying a new plane -- complete with advisers representing aircraft finance, training, insurance and brokering. One stop covers it all, in theory. The AMPT folks also plan to produce a buyer's guide covering all the participating manufacturers...

Though no schedule is on the Web site, there is a way to sign up for more info as it becomes available. Check it out here: www.paradeofpistons.com

Meanwhile, don't be shy about sounding out with your opinions about such a series of shows...good idea? not likely to impact the market? or only a test of a new way to make a small fortune in aviation?

From my perspective, anything likely to contribute to the health and growth of general aviation, specifically, and aviation in general, is a good thing for us all -- even those many of us interested in buying an airplane but not in a position to buy new...used airplanes gotta come from somewhere and if that means others must sacrifice their finances to buy new, well, that's part of the cycle of flight.

Not that there's anything wrong with that new-plane stuff. If more of us could, more of us would -- guaranteed.

The organizers plan on events that draw piston planes across the reciprocating spectrum -- from the LSAs to piston twins, making the appeal as broad as possible. FLYING's sponsorship and AMPT's demonstrated expertise in aviation helps my expectations that this event will draw good crowds of "qualified" candidates -- and, hopefully, allow some of us not as qualified to enjoy one of their Parade of Planes. Don't we all enjoy indulging our fantasies about what we'd fly after winning the next multimillion-dollar lottery?

But my two cents aren't worth any more than any other pair of pennies...What do you think?

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