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Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:33:46 -0400
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Subject: Re:  Transfer of Ownership
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I bought my 320 kit in 1994 and have been slowly but steadily working on=
 it ever since.  I'm probably the nightmare customer for Lancair -- still=
 needing support after 15 years.  But they have not asked me to pay a fee=
 nor warned me that the next buyer needs to pay a license fee, endure an=
 aircraft inspection, nor obtain training before Lancair will sell them pa=
rts.  This was a big surprise to me.  On the other hand, as I have no inte=
ntion of ever selling my plane, I don't really care -- that's the next own=
er's problem.  And I suspect that a person paying close to a hundred grand=
 for my plane can pony up $300 the first time they need Lancair's help, al=
though I suspect that it will be a long time before they decide they can't=
 get serviced somewhere else.

I suppose that Lancair has a right to insist on money, company inspections=
 and training before they pick up the phone and give advice or sell spare=
 parts to new Lancair owners.  On the other hand, I think it's a horrible=
 business practice, and the customer base is going to find alternatives.=
  The Lancair Mail List provides excellent support for the older kits.  As=
 for parts, I stll maintain that for parts that are competitively priced,=
 we should buy from Lancair to help them stay in business.  The problem is=
, their parts prices have grown significantly and I can often find what I=
 need significantly cheaper from another source, so I do.  I rarely buy fr=
om Lancair anymore, although I occasionally do.  (I've also got almost eve=
rything I need so I don't buy many parts at all anymore.)

The one place where I agree with the motivation is to ensure that Lancair=
 aircraft are safe and the pilots are adequately trained.  We qall know th=
ere's a problem and I see LOBO as the main group trying to change this. =
 From Lancair's perspective, however, if you were selling a kit and the ow=
ners were getting killed due to inadequate training, what would you as the=
 company owner do to motivate owners to get the training?  Maybe something=
 like this.  Maybe something even better, such as have us pay a fee which=
 would be waived if we get training.  Food for thought?

As for inspections, we all heard about the catastrophe where a Lancair ins=
pector caused a plane to fall off its jacks and sustain significant damage=
.  That was inexcusable, but I only heard one story like that.  I'm curiou=
s as to whether this is a one-time event or do they really have a crew of=
 buffoons destroying all the planes they inspect?  I sincerely doubt that=
 they do -- most of the Lancair folks I've met are pretty good.  But stuff=
 happens, and if the company makes it right (did they?) what else can they=
 do?

As for myself, I intend to hire someone to inspect my plane and fly it for=
 the first time.  I'll call Lancair for recommendations when the time come=
s.  I've been planning that for a decade, so this isn't anything new.

Bottom line?  I think the fee is probably eaten up by them actually provid=
ing support, and is small potatoes, but is still grating.  I'd rather call=
 1-900 LANCAIR and pay for it on my phone bill.  (At least that way my wif=
e won't know, and besides, did I really pay for 15 years worth of answers=
 when I bought my kit?)  As for mandatory inspections and training, I thin=
k it is a draconian attempt aimed at a laudable goal -- better aircraft an=
d pilots.  But jeez, do they have to piss off the entire community to get=
 there?

Just some thoughts.

- Rob Wolf
Lancair 360 still in progress


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<font color=3D'black' size=3D'2' face=3D'arial'>
<div>I bought my 320 kit in 1994 and have been slowly but steadily working=
 on it ever since.&nbsp; I'm probably the nightmare customer for Lancair=
 -- still needing support after 15 years.&nbsp; But they have not asked me=
 to pay a fee nor warned me that the next buyer needs to pay a license fee=
, endure an aircraft inspection, nor obtain training before Lancair will=
 sell them parts.&nbsp; This was a big surprise to me.&nbsp; On the other=
 hand, as I have no intention of ever selling my plane, I don't really car=
e -- that's the next owner's problem.&nbsp; And I suspect that a person pa=
ying close to a hundred grand for my plane can pony up $300 the first time=
 they need Lancair's help, although I suspect that it will be a long time=
 before they decide they can't get serviced somewhere else.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>I suppose that Lancair has a right to insist on money, company inspec=
tions and training before they pick up the phone and give advice or sell=
 spare parts to new Lancair owners.&nbsp; On the other hand, I think it's=
 a horrible business practice, and the customer base is going to find alte=
rnatives.&nbsp; The Lancair Mail List provides excellent support for the=
 older kits.&nbsp; As for parts, I stll maintain that for parts that are=
 competitively priced, we should buy from Lancair to help them stay in bus=
iness.&nbsp; The problem is, their parts prices have grown significantly=
 and I can often find what I need significantly cheaper from another sourc=
e, so I do.&nbsp; I rarely buy from Lancair anymore, although I occasional=
ly do.&nbsp; (I've also got almost everything I need so I don't buy many=
 parts at all anymore.)</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>The one place where I agree with the motivation is to ensure that Lan=
cair aircraft are safe and the pilots are adequately trained.&nbsp; We qal=
l know there's a problem and I see LOBO as the main group trying to change=
 this.&nbsp; From Lancair's perspective, however, if you were selling a ki=
t and the owners were getting killed due to inadequate training, what woul=
d you as the company owner do to motivate owners to get the training?&nbsp=
; Maybe something like this.&nbsp; Maybe something even better, such as ha=
ve us pay a fee which would be waived if we get training.&nbsp; Food for=
 thought?</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>As for inspections, we all heard about the catastrophe where a Lancai=
r inspector caused a plane to fall off its jacks and sustain significant=
 damage.&nbsp; That was inexcusable, but I only heard one story like that.=
&nbsp; I'm curious as to whether this is a one-time event or do they reall=
y have a crew of buffoons destroying all the planes they inspect?&nbsp; I=
 sincerely doubt that they do -- most of the Lancair folks I've met are pr=
etty good.&nbsp; But stuff happens, and if the company makes it right (did=
 they?) what else can they do?</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>As for myself, I intend to hire someone to inspect my plane and fly=
 it for the first time.&nbsp; I'll call Lancair for recommendations when=
 the time comes.&nbsp; I've been planning that for a decade, so this isn't=
 anything new.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Bottom line?&nbsp; I think the fee is probably eaten up by them actua=
lly providing support, and is small potatoes, but is still grating.&nbsp;=
 I'd rather call 1-900 LANCAIR and pay for it on my phone bill.&nbsp; (At=
 least that way my wife won't know, and besides, did I really pay for 15=
 years worth of answers when I bought my kit?)&nbsp; As for mandatory insp=
ections and training, I think it is a draconian attempt aimed at a laudabl=
e goal -- better aircraft and pilots.&nbsp; But jeez, do they have to piss=
 off the entire community to get there?</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>Just some thoughts.</div>


<div>&nbsp;</div>


<div>- Rob Wolf</div>


<div>Lancair 360 still in progress</div>


<div><br>
&nbsp;</div>


<div style=3D"CLEAR: both"></div>
</font>

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