Submitted by DuckR1 on March 25, 2011.

I'm as patriotic as the next guy, and a BIG part of me hates seeing a company like Cirrus going overseas.

BUT, I am excited about the possibilities of China officially entering the GA market and what that could mean for all of us as end users. Once they get their hands on the technology and put their resources into engineering and production, five years from now we might be able to purchase a new Cirrus for less than $100k. Perhaps a new crated Continental engine for less than $10k?

Indeed, China might be saving GA from EXTINCTION. A whole new era of affordable, safe, moderate performance aircraft may be just around the corner. Look what they did for the small electronics and automobile industry and tell me your not excited...?

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Submitted by spope on March 24, 2011.

"Fixed-wing general aviation aircraft" encompasses everything reported in the GAMA stats, so that covers Cessna Skycatchers to Gulfstream G550s. Cirrus delivers about 35% of all tricycle gear piston singles -- more than any other manufacturer, including Cessna. Last year, Cirrus delivered 264 airplanes worth about $150 million. The general aviation industry as a whole delived more than 2,000 airplanes worth $19.7 billion. The 1 percent figure referenced in the column obviously relates to dollars, since that's what's important.

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Submitted by zagorfly on March 26, 2011.

Learn to speak chinese! AS we did 20 years ago...
and then finally explain to Mr. Fuller the reason why he will not longer be bother by the drop out of young pilots from the US flying schools.
G.A. is still too expensive, China will help GA indeed.
FLAPA president.
Stefano Perer

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Submitted by FlightTekE on March 25, 2011.

While the Chinese government is not averse to profiting from the disposable income of Westerners, one should *never* forget that the Chinese Communist government *always* takes a long-term, strategic view in all of their international dealings. They want proven Western technology, which they will reverse engineer, re-manufacture and sell on the world market at prices that undercut all Western firms. More concerning, however, they will mine these technologies to enhance their own military capabilities. China plans to re-take Taiwan, and (following Sun Tzu's _Art of War_) they will do it with through coercion, intimidation and minimal military intervention. The Chinese government also plans to dominate the western pacific -- economically and politically. The Chinese government is patient, willing to wait decades as long as they get their way in the end. Their patience and American short-term thinking -- based on Quarterly Earnings Reports and two-year election cycles -- work in their favor. Their military leadership is on record as seeking any and all technologies that will allow them to neutralize any American advantage in naval and/or air power. And American capitalists are more than happy to oblige... as long as the price is right! Lastly, after China owns these general aviation assets and has mined American expertise to build up their own technological capacities, they will shift all production to mainland China shuttering the doors at all American facilities with zero compunction or concern for the American workers displaced or American communities affected. And in America that's OK -- as long as Executives and Shareholders get to cash out "in the black". "God Bless America" ( ... and God help us!)

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