Yep, prices are going up everywhere. I'm sure they're doing what they can to keep prices down, but I imagine their part cost has increased substantially over the past couple of years. It hurts, but I want Van's to do what they feel they need to do to stay in business.
If you really want to feel bad, take a look at the increase in overall cost since early 2020.
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And it's slightly worse than it looks. The current avionics pricing appears to be off. (Their base is slightly low, and a Garmin IFR system can go up to $43,495). Additionally, in 2020 Van's included a propeller in the base pricing. But now they consider it optional, and provide a base price with no propeller!
By my calculations, a basic RV-12is (with "optional" propeller) starts at $103,050. If you add all the options, (including Garmin IFR and Rotax Care) this goes up to $134,965.
Dang that new power plant order form hurts by about $4,500!
Just remember, with airplanes, you're not spending money, you're just transferring from one account to another and converting one asset into another asset.
Look on the bright side. If Van's keeps raising their prices, in a few years you'll be able to look back at how much money you saved by buying your first three kits now instead of waiting.
Dang that new power plant order form hurts by about $4,500!
And then add sales tax and exorbitant freight costs…. “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money"
- Everett Dirksen, 1962
Yep, prices are going up everywhere. I'm sure they're doing what they can to keep prices down, but I imagine their part cost has increased substantially over the past couple of years. It hurts, but I want Van's to do what they feel they need to do to stay in business.