Recently there has been some discussion regarding a few Evolution issues and the idea of setting up a “blog” to discuss such issues. I found it amusing that I was reading what is, essentially, a blog, discussing the idea of setting up a blog, in order to discuss the issue under discussion. Speaking for Lancair, we encourage the discussion of concerns and having the ability to answer questions or correct what, in our view, may be misconceptions.

 

 Specifically addressing the postings by Dr. Katz regarding his door and the subsequent list of cautions and concerns by Jeff Edwards, I’d like contribute a few comments. After the prototype( 927LE), Andy Cruce’s was the first customer built kit to fly, The late Louis St. Martin’s was the second,  Jeff’s aircraft was the third Evo to fly and Dr. Katz was the fourth.  A great deal of small (and some large) improvements have been made to the kit between those and the currently-being-built kit number 47. I believe each of these early owners had built Lancairs before, understood the kit concept, and understood that there were still some things to be learned during real-world flying. At various times after these aircraft flew, issues arose and were addressed as quickly as possible. The first time anything happens it is an occurrence, but as Jeff pointed out to me, more than that can indicate a trend. We watched and reacted to issues that became trends. In some cases, like the shortfall in expected landing gear fatigue life, we made pre-emptory changes and provided new, re-designed parts before there were any failures in the customer fleet at no cost to all owners. Door structure and latch mechanisms have been re-designed and strengthened, the method of affixing the windows improved three times, hydraulic cylinders upgraded, avionics improved, and general structural changes made to improve durability. It is one of the great advantages of Experimental Category that we can act immediately with necessary changes without the bureaucracy’s delays. My point here is that when a problem is discussed, there should not be an assumption the issue was not dealt with or that the underlying cause still exists. We constantly make improvements in the kit parts, build-ability, and general design.

 

All Evolution owners should be receiving my periodic newsletters and these sometimes highlight these changes. In progress is the next issue, which contains a breakdown of kit serial number milestones on the window mount and door improvements, as well as comments on the 2 recent nose gear incidents.

We are always available to answer questions and concerns. Of course, the answers are not always what one might wish to hear, but they will always be honest. The suggestion that we do not care about or are ignoring a problem is ridiculous. No company can thrive with unhappy customers, but I assure you, even one unhappy one in a pool of fifty is one too many.

 

 

Doug Meyer

Director, Marketing and Sales

Lancair International

541-923-2244 x 120

541-390-7024 (cell)