From: Fredmoreno@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.eaa11b06.253d5a0b@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 01:22:19 EDT
Subject: LPE Engine Comments
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Zak:

I am not an investor or promoter of the Eagle 540 engine project, but I have 
tracked it closely.  I did do a lot of due diligence on the LPE engines, 
company, and personnel in years past.  Based on the track record of several 
years ago, I can only caution that the research disclosed a lot of claims, 
paper, and puffery, but no verifiable proof and several highly incensed 
customers who were out a lot of money.  Solid facts proved hard to find.  I 
went on to other things.  Based on this track record, I would advise any  
prospective buyer to research carefully using independent sources not 
associated with the company, talk directly to the buyers of recent production 
hardware, and then await purchase of what you want by some one else followed 
by careful observation of the experience and outcome.  Only then would I part 
with money, and even then I would want to know a lot about the management and 
financial condition of the company, and get that warm fuzzy feeling 
(supported by verifiable facts) before I proceeded. 

I wish LPE well, and I hope that the many innovative designs described and 
promoted by the company are technical and commercial successes.  We need 
innovation in powerplant technology.  However, it appears that there have 
been rocky spots in the past which suggests that prospective buyers control 
their faith, hope and enthusiasm (the principal fuels of sport aviation) and 
be wary, objective, patient, and insist on directly verifiable facts before 
parting with hard earned money.  That is, unless you have some you are 
willing to risk.  

These comments are applicable to many sport aviation vendors.  Engine 
vendors, however, can cause very large holes in one's checkbook. 

Eyes kept wide open prevent mis-steps into mud holes.

Fred Moreno
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LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html