X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com X-SpamCatcher-Score: 10 [X] Return-Path: Sender: To: lml Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:09:49 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from sccrmhc13.comcast.net ([204.127.200.83] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.1.4) with ESMTP id 1710037 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:00:14 -0500 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=204.127.200.83; envelope-from=bjburr@mwheli.com Received: from mountain0676a7 (c-24-10-172-111.hsd1.ut.comcast.net[24.10.172.111]) by comcast.net (sccrmhc13) with SMTP id <2006122403592801300of5aje>; Sun, 24 Dec 2006 03:59:28 +0000 From: "Bryan Burr" X-Original-To: "'Lancair Mailing List'" Subject: RE: [LML] D2 Update X-Original-Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:59:27 -0700 X-Original-Message-ID: <000a01c7270f$e88dfa80$0300a8c0@mountain0676a7> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000B_01C726D5.3C2F2280" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.2627 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 Importance: Normal In-Reply-To: This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C726D5.3C2F2280 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It is my assumption that the Garmin product is targeted to the entire retrofit market and experimental market. It only makes sense that they would have the G1000 (or variant) system be available to all types of aircraft not just new production. This would certainly explain why they would invest a lot of money in the product and not just target the experimental world. Bryan Burr N132BB D2 AV supporter, customer, friend, and lover of the CFS. -----Original Message----- From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Brent Regan Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 3:12 PM To: lml@lancaironline.net Subject: [LML] D2 Update I have reviewed the situation with Kirk (D2) and Gordon (CFS). Here is what I have learned. It is true that D2 has closed its doors. CFS has picked up new orders with Lancair, Epic and D2's other dealers. CFS has an agreement with Pinpoint Inertial to distribute their ADAHRS / GADAHRS. CFS is NOT responsible for commitments made by any of their dealers. CFS's official information release is copied below. CFS is committed to supporting their products. So what happened? In my opinion the tipping point came with the X-bow 42X problem. D2 could have told their customers that the 425 problems were a X-bow warranty issue but instead they took the high road and offered to replace the 425s with Pinpoints. One could imagine that this put a tremendous strain on cash flow. Kirk thought it was a risk worth taking but did not foresee two additional events. One was X-bow getting into the EFIS market (Advanced). This begs the question: If X-bow can make an ADAHRS for their own EFIS, why didn't they fix the 42Xs??? Second was Garmin's entry into the experimental market. This one is a real mystery. As Hamid pointed out to me, why would Garmin's least profitable division (avionics) enter the least profitable sector of that market (experimental)? I am unaware of any other certified aviation company that has made this retrograde market expansion. It is like being married to Cindy Crawford and then having an affair with Janet Reno. If I were a Garmin experimental customer I would be nervous that Garmin will wake up and gnaw their arm off to get out of the market as fast as possible. Remember the Starship? In the end it was D2's commitment to it's customers that was their undoing. D2's failure is a loss for everyone but their competitors. Ironically, D2's failure is also bad news for X-bow as all the customers that are holding 425's will be looking to X-bow to make them well. The good news is that it seems all the products that were distributed by D2 will still be available to builders through other distributors. I would also point out that the above is hearsay or the opinion of a confessed idiot and should not be taken seriously. The authorized information is copied below. Wishing you and yours the Merriest Christmas possible and a safe New Year with blue skies and cheap fuel. Regards Brent Regan CHELTON FLIGHT SYSTEMS AUTHORIZED INFORMATION RELEASE REGARDING Direct 2 Avionics <> December 22, 2006 NOTE: THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT CHELTON HAS AUTHORIZED RELATING TO DIRECT 2 AVIONICS SITUATION BY ANY EMPLOYEE OF CHELTON. THIS EXPLANATION IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ABOUT DIRECT 2 AVIONICS, ITS OWNERS OR EMPLOYEES, AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHELTON. ANY OTHER STATEMENT, SPECULATION, GOSSIP OR RUMOR REGARDING DIRECT 2 AVONICS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. <> STATEMENT: To Whom It May Concern: By now you have probably heard that DIRECT 2 AVIONICS ("D2A") had to close its business. Like you, we at Chelton Flight Systems were disappointed and concerned that D2A felt it had to take this action. D2A was an authorized, independently-owned distributor for Chelton. Chelton has no ownership or other relationship with D2A. Chelton has received various inquiries from persons who have alleged that they were told by D2A that parts for which they claimed to have paid D2A were "back ordered." Chelton currently has no purchase orders from D2A and there are no "back orders" to be filled. Chelton has also suspended taking any further purchase orders from D2A and has suspended D2A's status as an authorized distributor. Chelton regrets any inconvenience or financial loss the situation with D2A may have caused you. ------=_NextPart_000_000B_01C726D5.3C2F2280 Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

It is my assumption that the Garmin product is targeted to the entire retrofit = market and experimental market.  = It only makes sense that they would have the G1000 (or variant) system be = available to all types of aircraft not just new production.  This would certainly explain = why they would invest a lot of money in the product and not just target the = experimental world.

 

Bryan = Burr

N132BB

D2 AV supporter, customer, friend, = and lover of the CFS.

 

-----Origi= nal Message-----
From: Lancair Mailing = List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On = Behalf Of Brent Regan
Sent: Saturday, December = 23, 2006 3:12 PM
To: = lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] D2 = Update

 

I have reviewed the = situation with Kirk (D2) and Gordon (CFS). Here is what I have learned.

It is true that D2 has closed its doors. CFS has picked up new orders = with Lancair, Epic and D2's other dealers.

CFS has an agreement with Pinpoint Inertial to distribute their = ADAHRS  /  GADAHRS.

CFS is NOT responsible for commitments made by any of their dealers. = CFS's official information release is copied below.

CFS is committed to supporting their products.

So what happened? In my opinion the tipping point came with the X-bow = 42X problem. D2 could have told their customers that the 425 problems were a = X-bow warranty issue but instead they took the high road and offered to = replace the 425s with Pinpoints. One could imagine that this put a tremendous strain = on cash flow. Kirk thought it was a risk worth taking but did not foresee = two additional events. One was X-bow getting into the EFIS market = (Advanced).  This begs the question: If X-bow can make an ADAHRS for their own EFIS, = why didn't they fix the 42Xs???

Second was Garmin's entry into the experimental market. This one is a = real mystery. As Hamid pointed out to me, why would Garmin's least profitable division (avionics) enter the least profitable sector of that market (experimental)? I am unaware of any other certified aviation company = that has made this retrograde market expansion.  It is like being married to = Cindy Crawford and then having an affair with Janet Reno. If I were a Garmin experimental customer I would be nervous that Garmin will wake up and = gnaw their arm off to get out of the market as fast as possible.  = Remember the Starship?

In the end it was D2's commitment to it's customers that was their = undoing. D2's failure is a loss for everyone but their competitors. Ironically, = D2's failure is also bad news for X-bow as all the customers that are holding = 425's will be looking to X-bow to make them well.

The good news is that it seems all the products that were distributed by = D2 will still be available to builders through other distributors.  =

I would also point out that the above is hearsay or the opinion of a = confessed idiot and should not be taken seriously.

The authorized information is copied below.

Wishing you and yours the Merriest Christmas possible and a safe New = Year with blue skies and cheap fuel.

Regards
Brent Regan

CHELTON FLIGHT = SYSTEMS

AUTHORIZED INFORMATION RELEASE = REGARDING

Direct 2 Avionics

  <>  =

December 22, 2006

 

 

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT CHELTON HAS = AUTHORIZED RELATING TO DIRECT 2 AVIONICS SITUATION BY ANY EMPLOYEE OF CHELTON. =  THIS EXPLANATION IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE ABOUT = DIRECT 2 AVIONICS, ITS OWNERS OR EMPLOYEES, AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHELTON.  ANY OTHER STATEMENT, SPECULATION, GOSSIP OR RUMOR = REGARDING DIRECT 2 AVONICS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. =

  =

   

<><= /u1:p>

STATEMENT:<= o:p>

 

To Whom It May = Concern:

 

     = ;       By now you have probably heard that DIRECT 2 AVIONICS = (“D2A”) had to close its business.  Like you, we at Chelton Flight Systems were disappointed and concerned that D2A felt it had to take this = action.

 

D2A was an authorized, independently-owned distributor for Chelton.   = Chelton has no ownership or other relationship with D2A.  Chelton has = received various inquiries from persons who have alleged that they were told by = D2A that parts for which they claimed to have paid D2A were “back ordered.”  Chelton currently has no purchase orders from D2A = and there are no “back orders” to be filled.  Chelton has = also suspended taking any further purchase orders from D2A and has suspended D2A’s status as an authorized = distributor.

 

Chelton regrets any inconvenience or financial loss the situation = with D2A may have caused you.

 

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