Liability as well. Aircraft used to be cheaper (in real terms). At some point the law changed so that aircraft manufacturers could be sued if someone died in a

Liability as well. Aircraft used to be cheaper (in real terms). At some point the law changed so that aircraft manufacturers could be sued if someone died in a crash. I don't remember the specifics, but this caused several companies to go out of business and others to raise their prices. Edit: probably the manufacturer could always be sued, but the change made it easier. I can't remember the specifics.