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Rob writes:
"so we know where Lance got the $$ to personal invest
more in the Bend company..now, how about a two seat something with a turbo prop williams TSX-2.... hmmm..."
I appreciate your viewpoint, Rob, but I respectfully disagree. I have said for many years that Lance should stop coming out with design after new design, and that he should finish the earlier projects in deference to the loyal buyers that have already spent money with him.
Look at all of the money that has been pounded down a rat hole in the form of new designs and abandoned projects.
In my own case, the manual was never fully completed in the five years that we spent building our LIV. But, new and promising designs seemed to take precedence over our needs.
To the new owner--stick to the core business. Don't try to be a pioneer. You know the old saying about how to tell a pioneer--the one with all the arrows sticking out...
Give the builders manuals with digital pictures if this has not already been done. Give them accessories that they would love to have--such as window bezels to aid in their interior finishing, to name one. Give them accessory sunshades that work. Give them instrument panels that open up for easy component replacement, perhaps modular three-part panels with the center module on tracks. Give them adjustable seats such as I have in my plane. Sell them fireproof carpet. Sell them Carbon Fiber oxygen tanks (mine weighs 12 lbs fully charged). Send them a new catalog once in a while... And when you make revisions to your manuals, highlight the change on the page so the builder can focus on what has changed.
In short don't try to redesign the wheel. Lance has done a wonderful job with his basic designs--it is just that the LIV and 320 are already complex planes with much improvement still to be done.
Make small improvements that will bring income to your company, while at the same time will facilitate the tedious tasks confronting your loyal builders that have already spent money.
New owner--I consider your new venture to be exciting. You start it off with a smart and loyal core of people that have been tremendously helpful to us early builders. Never have I seen such a great group of employees. Give them attainable goals that will make them feel successful, and you will succeed in your new endeavor.
David Jones, Pecatonica, Illinois
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