From: AVIDWIZ@aol.com
Message-ID: <9f.1fafe6f3.2945ce99@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 03:38:49 EST
Subject: Lancair Association - Insurance  - de-ice etc.
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
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Gentlemen:

I see while I was gone for the weekend, this topic got very heated.  As a 
matter of clarification I purpose:

1) The association be open to all pilots.

2) The association be open to all models of Lancairs.

3) We seek to establish a basis for insuring ALL pilots in ALL models of 
Lancairs with the knowledge that lower time pilots just like un-proven 
designs such as the Turbine IVP will cost more until they have both proven 
themselves.   It is a fiscal reality we are not likely to avoid.

4) While I understand the lower time pilots desire to not be descriminated 
against, I would offer this thought.   These aircraft are extremely fast and 
not particularly forgiving.  Transitioning to any of the retractable lancairs 
for a pilot with less than 300-400 hrs complex/high performance time is going 
to be a challenge.   NOT Impossible...but a challenge.    For IVP's in 
particular the issues we face in the high altitude environment are equally 
daunting.  

I feel I can say this for I too am a med time pilot who is all too well aware 
that many of the IVP owners are retired military pilots, 747 Captains and 
even an SR-71 driver.  This tells me the caliber of pilots flying these 
aircraft many of whom I am hardly qualified to carry their chart cases with a 
comparably paltry 3000 hrs TT.   It also strikes me that NONE of these 
caliber of guys are suggesting we reduce training requirements are they???   
What do they know we don't???

Furthermore as many of you know, last year I had an engine failure at FL250 
in my old IVP which forced a cabin de-pressurization/dead stick landing.   I 
can say without a doubt had it not been for what I learned about rapid 
descent procedures while at flight safety for my King Air over the course of 
three years and the repeated drills both Charlie Kohler and Tony Durizzi put 
me through in the Lancair, I would probably be a crumpled blob of carbon 
fiber splattered all over the desert!   The training paid off and made me 
respect more than ever before how important it is to really take these 
aircraft seriously.

For any of you out there who want to get some time in a IVP, I will have mine 
back from the paint shop in early March based at KBUR and would be happy to 
fly with you so you can see first hand a real world example of the challenges 
this aircraft presents us with rather than the glossy "feel good" ride you 
get when they are trying to sell you a kit!    Try flying an ILS to minimums 
while juggling mutltiple ATC instructions in a congested Class B area and if 
you are not ready to sign up with somebody for the full boat training course 
I will be surprised!

UPDATE:
As of this writing we have had some 93 indications of interest in the 
association via email.   Clearly we are close to what we need to make this 
work.   I think if anyone needs any pursuasion as to the necessity for such a 
"Lobby Group" beyond just the insurance benefits, one must only look at what 
happened with the TKS De Ice system proven so successful on the Mooney and 
Bonanza.    

The Lancair Factory according to TKS was not willing to assist financially in 
converting this PROVEN SYSTEM over to our aircraft.   They were ONLY 
interested in how much of a mark-up they could make - according to TKS.   

Gentlemen,   it is time that a group is put together which is not motivated 
by profit but by concerns for safety.  Together we can search out refinements 
in our aircraft which will benefit everyone.   It comes as no surprise to me 
that the best speedbrakes, landing lights and perhaps even de-ice is not that 
which is touted by the factory.

On that topic, an earlier post indicated that TKS wanted 20 Lancair owners to 
committ before they would undergo the R&D to convert the system to our 
aircraft.  Their system is about $20,000.   If anyone out there is 
interested, I have my $20,000 check waiting to add to the pool.

Also two seperate sources are working on drafts of an inspection guideline so 
that is in the works.

More details as they become available.

Regards,

Dave Riggs

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