Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 13:04:24 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1642253@logan.com>
From: "Kirk Hammersmith" <kirkh@lancair-kits.com>
Subject: lml%20Web%20Archive
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Regarding Calvin Watrich's comments:

>>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.  <<

I'm quite sure if you read back through my post I have only (fairly)
stated that we have had several opportunities to test the BMA product
and it has NOT worked successfully to this point in our test aircraft. 
The reason for my post for this list is ONLY to make those who care
aware of the results.  In fact, if I'm not mistaken (Calvin), you sell
the Blue Mountain equipment and are building panels including the BMA
system, correct?  Rather than insulting my comments regarding the
system, why not give everyone your own account of how well the system
flys??  I would be interested in hearing the results!

If I didn't want to see new products such as BMA surface, I wouldn't
get involved in testing various newcomers.  It takes a lot of time,
effort and $$ to evaluate new equipment.  We don't get paid to evaluate
these products, we do the testing to make sure what we are building is
SAFE!  

>>Should it be Lancair's policy to pick a company or
product and then make it impossible for another product to surface.<<

Who is making it imposible for another product to surface??  Many new
products are surfacing, and we are testing ALL of those that our
customers are asking for.  I only mentioned Chelton Fligh Systems
because we HAVE sucessfully tested their system and we have close to two
years track record of reliability with that product.  Because we've
"gone through" that system, many customers have purchased that system. 
As of this writing, we've built and delivered roughly 20 panels that
include the Chelton system.  Of those delivered, 8 are flying.  Don't
take my word for it....show up at OSH and talk with those pilots
yourself. Two of those aircraft have in excess of 300 hours flown with
the Chelton system and they are flawless!  Many others are about to be
delivered and flown.  However, Chelton is NOT the only EFIS system we
are working with.  Many new systems are coming to market, one of which
we will be showing at OSH.  

Yes, a lot of customers ask about BMA.  Is there a need for a low-cost
EFIS product?  Definetely!  Will I recommend a low-cost EFIS to a
customer/builder?  Yes, once we verify that it works as advertised and
I'm satisfied that if/when problems or bugs arise, the company has
enough behind them to take care of those problems with diligence.  That
has not been the case with BMA.

It is not my intention to offend anyone with my comments about our
experience with BMA.  If you like the product and are satisfied with
it's capabilities, nobody is preventing anyone from purchasing the
product.  In fact, here is where you go to buy it: 
www.bluemountainavionics.com 

I would like to retract a previous post I made referencing Harry
League's comments.  After reading his comment again, I realize his
comments were directed toward Calvin Watrichs post and he was only
encouraging Lancair Avionics to continue testing.  Thank you for your
comments Harry, we will continue to test not only the BMA system (if he
delivers it) as well as others that customers are asking for.

Kirk Hammersmith
Lancair Avionics, Inc.