> What makes flying sexy is the nerdiness, the skills involved, not shiny control surfaces.
Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom 2-meter transceivers are not more desirable than an iPhone, and an iPhone generates far more economic value. Yes, some of the "wonder of radio" is lost when communicating over modern cell networks.
Similarly, sexy, easy to use planes and the resulting influx of new pilots could result in an "eternal september" for the community. "Flying cars" sounds amazing to most, but they do represent a death of what aviation was before.
These objections are largely emotional... progress happens.
Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom 2-meter transceivers are not more desirable than an iPhone, and an iPhone generates far more economic value. Yes, some of the "wonder of radio" is lost when communicating over modern cell networks.
Similarly, sexy, easy to use planes and the resulting influx of new pilots could result in an "eternal september" for the community. "Flying cars" sounds amazing to most, but they do represent a death of what aviation was before.
These objections are largely emotional... progress happens.