One of my first posts on this blog, back in April 2007, was about what I called the Plastic Revolution – how diesel engines, glass-cockpits and fiber fuselages were changing general aviation. If I took part in that as an early adopter, I was by far not a pioneer. The key dates of the plastic revolution started years before:

• December 2002 – The DA40 TDI got certified
• December 2004 – The DA42 get its IFR certification, with G1000
• 2004 – The first DA40 I flew was built
• March 2005 – The Cessna 172 with G1000 is certified
• January 2006 – My DA40 TDI familiarisation is completed

If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you already know what I made since that: the FADEC challenge (one year of flying TDI planes only, including renewal of my IFR rating), my training on G1000 which was the subject of many posts, and more than 50 hours flying DA40 and C172 with Thielert engines.

To achieve that, I had to go to Cannes, by the Cannes-Aviation FTO, which operates with Diamond planes only. That was not too far from Geneva, but it had some aspects of an exotic expedition. Flying in a new structure, away from home, in a different country, with only limited time.

If I was in the same position today, with the same projects, things would be much easier. Every second plane seem to be composite, or fitted with a glass-cockpit, or equipped with a diesel engine. Ok, that is may be a bit optimistic, but not that much. Replace plane by flying club or flying school, and that will become nearly true.

The reactions I get from other pilots when talking about modern general aviation also changed from “Wow, you’re lucky” and “I’d like to do that as well, but I don’t know how / where” to “Yes, my club has one / I know someone flying that” and “I also fly that / I planned my training this summer”.

Glass cockpits are now part of standard light aircraft equipment. Even Light Sport Aircrafts are delivered with modern avionics. Despite the financial problems by Thielert, diesel engines are spreading in Europe, where AVGAS price becomes really problematic.

From what I see nowadays, it seems clear that this revolution will not stop. More and more pilots will fly “plastic” aircraft as the fleet will evolve. This will take time, may be one or two decades, as the general aviation fleet evolves slowly, but I see nothing that can stop it now.

The plastic revolution is over, it’s now time for the plastic evolution.