What pilot wouldn’t want to own an Eclipse or Cirrus Vision SJ50? And who among us hasn’t lusted after a panoramic synthetic vision panel? But as all these innovative airplanes and avionics move the top end of the ownership “wow” curve upward, those of us with older, lower-tech airplanes are watching our market values diminish — and the faltering economy isn’t helping.
At the same time, retrofit avionics and other systems are offering increasing opportunities for enhancing our old birds’ capabilities. But at what cost? And at what return on investment? And unless you’re seriously planning to sell the airplane, who cares?
