Problem: These are color slides taken of Cessna 152s during a tour at the Cessna Factory at Strother Field, Kansas in 1981. Cessna 152's were discontinued by Cessna, along with their entire single engine aircraft line in 1986 due to the lack of protection Cessna had in civil liability lawsuits arising over product liability. When the General Aviation Revitalization Act was passed in 1994, Cessna again started their single engine production line, but with several startling changes. The Cessna 152 would not return, and the NEW Cessna 172 had more than doubled in price!
Today, the price for a new 2022 CESSNA 172S SKYHAWK SP is almost $438,000.00!!!! In 1984 I had a chance to buy a slightly used Cessna 172 for $17,500. Would have been a great investment! This has spiraled out of control due to the financial protection Cessna has built into the cost of a new airplane, as this is their protection against civil lawsuits. Granted, today's general aviation aircraft have GPS, fuel injection and avionics that would have been science fiction in 1981, but is this where it should be? What can or should have been done to keep general aviation costs down? What legal actions are involved in this mess?
Please cite all sources