Bonanza Man wrote:How about the Cessna 210 market? Historically a lot higher premium than the Bonanza and there were a lot of both built.
The same scenarios apply...here are just a couple off the top of my head.
- The 210 models changed a lot during their run making many of the parts specific to a given model year as well as their line not being compatible with parts from other Cessna models. Some of the changes between year models include: Wings, gear, gear actuation, firewall forward, cabin...
- Cessna no longer produces nor supports the 210 line so parts are limited to used, new / old stock, or custom fabrication
- The total number of insurable 210's continues to decline each year.
- The 210 was often the first Cessna RG that Cessna pilots would transition up to...after many hours of Cessna flying and everything looking similar between a 172, 182, 206, and 210 pilots often just forgot to put the gear down as they never had to do it before. This helped contribute to the gear up issues on the model.
- The Bonanza has not changed their basic design much throughout its production run and many parts are not only compatible between given model years but also between the different models.
- Beech still manufactures new Bonanzas and continues to support the fleet with parts. Combine this with the previous statement and you have a large supply of parts and support available.
- The total number of insurable Bonanza's continues to increase each year.
- The Beechcraft line are primarily all RG aircraft and Beech was never a big player in the trainer market. For pilots transitioning into the Bonanza line the look and feel was completely different (unless they had time in a Musketeer) so there was not a sense of familiarity lulling the pilots into forgetting to lower the rollers.
Of course the number and severity of losses play into the premiums as well, just as they do with every other aircraft model.
