| I hate to see anyone trashed on the LML, let alone the owner of an airplane manufacturing company. One in which Lancair Owners depend on for so much. There have been times in the past that I thought about posting a frustration I would have with a manufacturer or supplier, but I chose to refrain and work it out without having any regrets for a hasty post that I would later regret. I have had my fair share of bumps in the road at Lancair, but I found the staff always willing to handle the situation, and on one occasion Joe asked me how things were going and I mentioned something that I did not think was happening the way I thought was best for me and to my surprise Joe immediately called a meeting with the entire management staff to figure out how to best deal with my issue and it was fixed right there and then. I was impressed with his grab the bull by the horns and deal with the situation attitude.
Kevin Kossi New York Legacy 55%
On Aug 17, 2006, at 1:22 PM, rtitsworth wrote: Mr D, I’ve learned a bit by reading your recent emails regarding the D and E models. Thanks for the posts and the shared knowledge. However… I’m also guessing you recognize the value of your plane/project is related to the popular/public opinion of Lancair in general. i.e. If people are (wrongly) lead to believe that Lancairs are poorly designed, not supported, and ran by self-centered snake-oil folks, then demand goes down along with the value of your project/investment (and along with the value of all the rest of our planes/projects). Occasionally, I’ve also been a bit frustrated with some of the support and/or follow-up available from Redmond myself. However, from your post, I can only assume you do not know Joe very well – otherwise you would just contact him directly, rather than posting an emotionally charged public email (I assume using all capitals in your email means “with emotion”). I’ve found him very fair to deal with – recognizing there is only so much he can do so satisfy each frustrated customer and keep the company healthy. I’m sure you realize what happens to the value of our little planes if Lancair falls on hard times (or ever ends up like Express). Joe and the folks at Redmond are not the enemy – they are part of your team – as are the rest of us with lots of time, energy, $ (and our lives) tied up in these plastic boxes. -10 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct ;-) Rick Titsworth, Detroit Cell: 313-506-5604
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Douglas Kay
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:00 AM
To: Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] Re: Walter "D" vs "E" models although it is unfortunate that you sometimes have to represent your employees, but one of your sales staff certainly did tell me in person that the D would not pressurize the plane. It was less than a year ago, and in fact that conflicting remark as well as it seemed that he took additional time to critisize the Diemech engine,, has made me delay the decision about the engine. If you don't want to be thought of as disingenious, I suggest you have a sales staff meeting and get everyone on the same page. When someone you employ speaks, certainly on issues such as this, the guidance must be coming from somewhere. On the other hand, your statement about "high temperatures" from the flow pack is WRONG. On this issue, I have some knowledge first hand. Flowpacks are used by manufactures because they don't want to bleed too much air from the turbine. You take just a small amount of bleed and a bunch of colder outside air, run it all though an intercooler and you have air that is not hot at all, and even better, the engine has plenty air left for power. Your EXE engine on the other hand, is pulling plenty of air from the turbine, (and yes,, this air is high temp) and my guess is that you have to run it through an intercooler (so much for your statement about cooler air),,, So, as you say, it is difficult and more expensive,,,, hmmmm.... I am quite certain now, that any of the EXE planes will be plenty slower than the D planes, just because of this issue. I have spoken to more than 4 EXE owners now, and I can tell you,, that the owners report poor to very poor support from Walter. Most of their problems seem to be installation issues and Walter does not support that..... According to a professional builder in the mid west,,, quote "there is nobody to go to for help". He was installing an EXE engine. One other builder I spoke to, used a FACTORY LANCAIR test pilot for his EXE powered plane, and YOUR pilot overtemped and oversped his engine. (I wonder how much support Walter is going to give for that). The TSLM clearly showed what the pilot did, and he is now afraid to fly the plane. How can he trust the engine? Lancair doesn't want to replace the engine, Walter doesn't want to replace it... Let me ask you this, since you were the one that brought up the issue of support,,,, Would you want to fly in this plane after you knew it was overtemped and oversped??? How do you think your customer feels???? Posted for "Joe Bartels" :
There are a lot of differences that would make one Lancair faster than
another. Sometimes it is the weight, sometimes it is the addition of de-ice
and sometimes it is weather conditions. True airspeed should be close with
either the "E" or "D" engines. I cannot speak to Mr. Cooke's aircraft as I
have never seen it.
If someone at Lancair told you that you could not pressurize your aircraft
with a "D" engine, they would be incorrect. It is just a good deal more
difficult and expensive as you would need a "flow-pack" to reduce the
exceedingly high temperatures that will come from the high pressure/low volume
air that the "D" engine produces from its bleed port.
Your comments about my being a liar are truly disturbing and unappreciated.
If you wish to buy a "D" engine from Diemach or anyone else, that is your
decision. If you wish to buy a factory remanufactured engine supported by
Walter at a discounted OEM price, ("D" or "E") your option is then limited to
purchasing it through us.
Joseph C. Bartels, CEO
Lancair International, Inc.
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