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Posted for "Kevin Stallard" <Kevin@arilabs.net>:
I just have to pipe in here and second what Joe has to say about Lancair
and purchasing through them.
We *are* a cut throat bunch of folks. My dad was a pilot, and it's so
funny because he couldn't stand to spend more than $1.25 on his lunch
while he was traveling as an airline pilot. That and sprouts. He had
to have sprouts on his $1.25 sandwich. They are disgusting things. It
makes me laugh every time I think about it. He was so cheap, it just
cracks me up. The even funnier thing is that THEY ALL were that way.
Everyone he worked with was cheap too! You should have seen their
shared apartments they have. I remember asking my self...were these
grown ups or college students... You never would have believed they
made 100k plus salaries.
I became a pilot in 2003, but I realized one thing, that flying is
expensive, and if you get what you pay for. I used to really scorn at
the middle man and would used to always fall for that "cut the middle
man out" trick. Until I started to see what they have to offer. When
you finally realize that time is more precious than money, the middle
man saves you a ton of it.
So I say pony up and pay for it, quit groaning, get busy, build and fly
your rocket ship.
Being able to go to Lancair to get the things I need, I don't take for
granted. Have you guys seen what they do and keep track of? I think it
is amazing that they are able to do what they do. I just spent 3 weeks
in their builder program and got to see and understand just what they
have to do there.
Did you know that there is almost a shortage of Carbon Fiber? Do you
know what happens when a supplier stops producing something a company
relies on? It's not pretty, and they deal with it all the time.
Besides dealing with sometime cranky and customers that have set
unrealistic expectations of them, they get these kits out the door with
so few errors in the hundreds of parts that go with them, it is amazing
to me.
By the way, the only reason I didn't purchase an engine though them, was
because at the time, they didn't offer remanufactured engines, and I
really didn't have the extra 10k to spend on a new one.
The reason I didn't purchase the whole panel was because I really wanted
the experience in building my own, not because I was trying to save a
buck. I figure I'm going to spend a lot more of my time and money than
otherwise, but wanted to do the work myself. I am purchasing my
instruments through Lancair. Steve G is a good guy, I like working with
him.
Guys, you won't go wrong purchasing all your stuff through Lanciar.
And I have to say, guys, sometimes your expectations are really too
high. This is a *kit* aircraft after all is said and done, not a
certificated manufactured airplane. Take a look around, no one does
this better than Lancair.
I really enjoyed working with all the folks there, and appreciated their
support. Kim L., Tim O. Chris in the builders shop. They were all
great and work hard.
Finally, (this may sound over the top, but I mean it) I have to say
thanks to Joe for turning this company into a business and managing it
well. When I learned about the Legacy in 2001 or 2002, I knew this was
my bird. It takes so much to keep a company running, you just have no
idea.
I'm so glad they were there when I was ready to purchase one. NO ONE
has ANYTHING CLOSE to a Lancair. Did you see the article on Aero-News?
Many fast kit manufactures are already out of business. Lancair is
still there. Be patient with them and support them. You guys won't
waste your money going through them.
Just remember HOW COOL IT IS GOING TO BE to fly our birds. I don't have
words to express how much I look forward to LAUNCHING this rocket ship
of mine. It is going to be SO FAST, I can't get over it! It is going
to be such a benefit to my business on SO MANY levels. Business trips,
R&D, the list goes on.
Go Lancair, keep up the excellent work you do.
My wife wants me to build the minivan version next (ES-P). It'll be a
few more years, but we'll get there. After the Legacy has paid for
itself, we'll do the ES.
Kevin
L2K-291 and I just can't believe that it is actually sitting in my shop,
someone pinch me PLEASE! Hopefully it won't be there too long....
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