It is sad that in this small community that we are loosing the spirit of

experimental aviation.  The Prime Directive of the experimental aviation

category was set out for people to build, learn and enjoy their aircraft

at their own leisure.  Like everything it got bigger than the original
overseeing body thought.
In the certified market a company introducing a new product must spend
copious amounts of money, time, "networking (if you know what I mean
without actually saying it)", and trial and error.  However in
the experimental category one could essentially strap some wings to a
microwave oven and if a DAR OK's it because it is remotely possible that

this could work, he would allow a flight for testing.  Therefore
companies such as Garmin that wanted to supply to the certified market
introduced their product to the experimental market first.  This has now

become the standard.   There was huge success because the leader at that

time was King and their stuff hasn't changed in decades.  All of a
sudden there were avionics with color, graphics, etc. not just a red
digital number read out.
Since Mr. Hammersmith likes to use Sierra for his argument, lets take a
look at them.  When they "Gordon Pratt" first started he pioneered from
Dr. Green's idea and creation which was/is  Archangel.  As a side note,
because Dr. Green was the only one doing an inexpensive and new type of
EFIS with very limited technology as compared to the last few years, he
was and has been bashed by every one in the experimental and certified
market to date.  "It has never worked" is what has been said.  Then why
is everyone taking his philosophy, concepts and basic layout and trying
to it make better in their own way.  Einstein was famous for saying
"Anyone can look smart when standing on the shoulders of a genius".   My

hat goes off to Dr. Green for sticking it out. He is a true pioneer.
Now back to Sierra,  at first their product did not work as sold.
People were very angry, had spent allot of money, heard a lot of excuses

and delays.  For example, there items were to be delivered in March,
customers received in September after many broken promises.  The digital

autopilot that was promised, and a complete avionics system was bought
based on   this new and innovative autopilot that would be available
very shortly,  really hasn't surface and just recently was going to be
terminated. It appears that Sierra has worked out the problems and will
be able to satisfy their long past and future clients.  My hat goes off
to them for sticking it out.
As to Martin Elshier (I apologize if his name is spelled wrong) at
Airtronics, when Gordon was first getting ready to sell the product he
was referring people to Martin.  I personally spoke to Martin because of

Gordon's referral and Martin at the time was saying that although his
hat went off to Gordon, and that Gordon was a gifted and smart computer
programmer he didn't have allot of confidence it panning out because
there are so many parameters required.  He also said that people keep
calling
but to date Gordon has never brought him an actual working system.  The
only system he had seen and dealt with directly was Archangel and he had

nothing good to say about that.  As another side not East Coast didn't
say nice things about Archangel, at that time they never heard of
Sierra.  Gordon has been able to upset and disappointed a lot of people,

and companies but because of his perseverance and dedication he has been

able to pull it off.  If he were treated poorly to the degree of
Dr.Green, Sierra probably would not have been given the chance.  Hence
we should not treat Blue Mountain or others as Dr. Green  was treated.
Again because of the way Dr. Green was treated and unsupported by the
hierarchy, I commend Gordon for giving it a try knowing there were
vultures swarming waiting for him to screw up.  Mr. Hammersmith has no
right as an employee of a company to criticize yet another pioneer.
Kirk, it is easy to talk big when you are standing on the shoulders of
Lance Neubauer.  Should it be  Lancair's policy to pick a company or
product and then make it impossible for another product to surface.  If
this is the case, Glasair was before Lancair.   The Prime Directive
allowed Lancair to succeed.  I am sure Lancair  remembers what it was
like starting off., and when one of their high performance planes
crashes insurance companies  refuse to insure, and the success of the
Columbia.  That dam plane was promised at a  great price and 3 years
ago.   How can one comment on someone else's efforts if he has not
walked in the same shoes.
Lancair should be supporting the creation of new products.
As to the safety,  well everyone buys a second com, a second nav, and
these are TSO'ed, in certified aircraft.  Who would fly with just a
screen.  Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, etc all have 4-5 multi functional
displays (MFD's) and yet analogue mechanical standby Art. Horizon,
Airspeed, compass, etc.  Kirk seems to say that it is all Blue Mountain
or nothing. But the Sierra panels have back up analogue instrumentation.

The fact that Kirk is supposedly getting "so many calls" means that
there is an need / interest for alternative products, perhaps the
features of a interactive autopilot that can receive it's guidance
instruction from the sky and or the ground.  And if it does not work
today with the proper support someone like Greg Richter of Blue Mountain

will make it work tomorrow.
To sum up,  if you are going to criticize something and use other people

as a resource do not hypothesis on what you think they would say or
feel.  Pick up the phone and call them first.  Martin may have flown one

of these yesterday, who knows but only Blue Mountain and Martin.  We now

know that Lancair hasn't.  I am and hope, lot's of other's are offended
by a person using his employment position to negatively affect and hurt
people that make this group and category such that it is.  We are here
for the
love of aviation, the experimentation and education gained, with the end

result of having the ability to fly the aircraft / system we built with
our own hands in our so called garage and not to just make a buck.
This letter is not meant to insult anyone but to re-educate everyone
back to the prime directive.

Calvin Watrich