X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:45:33 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from wind.imbris.com ([216.18.130.7] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.0.8) with ESMTPS id 1023502 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sun, 05 Mar 2006 13:14:10 -0500 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=216.18.130.7; envelope-from=brent@regandesigns.com Received: from [192.168.1.100] (wireless-216-18-135-19.imbris.com [216.18.135.19]) (authenticated bits=0) by wind.imbris.com (8.12.11/8.12.11.S) with ESMTP id k25IDBc6001624 for ; Sun, 5 Mar 2006 10:13:16 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from brent@regandesigns.com) X-Original-Message-ID: <440B2A33.6020707@regandesigns.com> X-Original-Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2006 10:13:07 -0800 From: Brent Regan User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax) X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Subject: Re: Pinpoint GADAHRS Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="------------040302050000090205080806" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------040302050000090205080806 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John writes: <<>> I haven't seen anything that rises to the level of "flaming", after all, X-bow themselves has acknowledged the existence of a problem on BOTH the 420 and 425. D2 decided, in the interest of the customer, not to wait to see if X-bow passes another promised solution delivery date without ...well...delivering a solution. Given the situation, everyone seems to behaving in an mature fashion. Kirk passes as a rational individual and, given the X-bow experience, I doubt he would trade one expensive problem for another, more expensive problem. I hope John is complying with the X-bow service letter and not flying IFR until his 420 is updated with the X-bow promised solution. Regarding testing, the Pinpoint site lists "DO160E compliant". There are testing requirements in DO160E that specify a broad selection of performance requirements, from electrical to vibration to temperature to EMI to moisture to (even) fungus. Compliance with the applicable sections and levels of DO160E is a requirement of certification. Broadly speaking, DO160E testing qualifies components and flight testing qualifies systems. DO160E compliance is a big step in the right direction towards system reliability. According to X-bow, the 420/425s will not pass all the applicable DO160E testing (fact, not flame). Regarding Pinpoint's apparent reluctance to having end users light up their switchboard, it's probably a good thing as they are likely a bunch of geeks that use terms like "Kalman filters" and "gravity vector". I think Chuck has it right. The practice of the component manufacturer not marketing directly to the end user, while not usual in the experimental aircraft world, IS common in the aerospace industry. When was the last time you dropped a dime on the Honeywell factory before buying a King radio from your avionics dealer? What would you ask Pinpoint that couldn't be easily answered by D2? The GADAHRS is a component in a system, and how the system works is what is important. The system integrators, D2, are the ones with the answers to the relevant questions. All said, I would still assume that everyone lies and I would test the integrated system in my airplane in flight before I put my life on the line in IMC. Regards Brent Regan --------------040302050000090205080806 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit John writes:
<<<I assume Direct To tested the 425ex before selling over 100 of them but that didn't prevent their having a problem that led them to publicly flame an established and reputable manufacturer.>>>

I haven't seen anything that rises to the level of "flaming", after all, X-bow themselves has acknowledged the existence of a problem on BOTH the 420 and 425. D2 decided, in the interest of the customer, not to wait to see if X-bow passes another promised solution delivery date without ...well...delivering a solution. Given the situation, everyone seems to behaving in an mature fashion. Kirk passes as a rational individual and, given the X-bow experience, I doubt he would trade one expensive problem for another, more expensive problem. I hope John is complying with the X-bow service letter and not flying IFR until his 420 is updated with the X-bow promised solution. Regarding testing, the Pinpoint site lists "DO160E compliant". There are testing requirements in DO160E that specify a broad selection of performance requirements, from electrical to vibration to temperature to EMI to moisture to (even) fungus. Compliance with the applicable sections and levels of DO160E is a requirement of certification. Broadly speaking, DO160E testing qualifies components and flight testing qualifies systems. DO160E compliance is a big step in the right direction towards system reliability. According to X-bow, the 420/425s will not pass all the applicable DO160E testing (fact, not flame). Regarding Pinpoint's apparent reluctance to having end users light up their switchboard, it's probably a good thing as they are likely a bunch of geeks that use terms like "Kalman filters" and "gravity vector". I think Chuck has it right. The practice of the component manufacturer not marketing directly to the end user, while not usual in the experimental aircraft world, IS common in the aerospace industry. When was the last time you dropped a dime on the Honeywell factory before buying a King radio from your avionics dealer? What would you ask Pinpoint that couldn't be easily answered by D2? The GADAHRS is a component in a system, and how the system works is what is important. The system integrators, D2, are the ones with the answers to the relevant questions. All said, I would still assume that everyone lies and I would test the integrated system in my airplane in flight before I put my life on the line in IMC. Regards Brent Regan
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