Message-ID: <003001c1c6da$329e7460$6401a8c0@lancair.com>
Reply-To: "Kirk Hammersmith" <kirkh@lancair.com>
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: "Kirk Hammersmith" <kirkh@lancair.com>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Fw: Trim Indicator
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 11:48:19 -0800
Organization: Lancair Avionics, Inc.
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> >I'm happy to report that Lancair Avionics is bending over backwards to
help
> >me with my panel problems.  Apparently my trim indicator is defective or
of
> >an ancient design.

 Let me address a few issues regarding the (now famous - thank you Walter)
Lancair Trim Indicator.
 First and foremost, Lancair Avionics was "bending over backwards" prior to
 Walter Dodson's post on the LML.  He contacted us regarding his problems
 Tuesday afternoon and posted his negative comments to this forum that very
 night without giving us any time to analyze the problems he spoke of!  We
 give 100% support to our customers (and even those of you who aren't LAI
 customers), I think even Dave Riggs will confirm that fact!  I believe I've
 personally given him expert advice and direction regarding his Sierra
Flight
 Systems that was installed by another shop.

 Initial "squawk" with a new instrument panel are to be expected.  The
panels
 produced by Lancair Avionics are tested twice before they ship, once by the
 technician and secondly by an independent QC tech.  I believe every
 reputable shop out there tests their panels.  However, not once have I
heard
 of a panel being plugged into an experimental aircraft that had zero
squawk!

 Secondly, the reason Lancair Avionics does not offer the trim indication
 system at a retail level has nothing to do with problems or reliability.
 The design of the indicator is of an exclusive nature and we are bound by
 dealer agreement.  This indicator design was developed for the Certified
 Lancair Columbia and modified for our application.  Additionally, we pass
 this indicator along to our customers far below our actual cost.  If we
 passed along the NRE fees and product cost, you wouldn't be able to justify
 it's cost. Why do we offer it to our customer (at a loss) in the panels we
 build?  It is a small thanks for doing business with us.  It esthetically
 enhances the appearance of the panels we produce and provides the pilot
with
 better trim indication than anything else available.

 Regarding Dave Riggs comments about "experimental" product manufacturers
 experimenting on all of us, I agree with him wholeheartedly!  Our customers
 DEPEND on us to monitor what is acceptable, reliable equipment and what is
 "vapor-wear".  This topic continues to baffle me!  I frequently talk with
 pilots/builders that want to install equipment that rivals that of a B-777.
 And they want it to be reliable, even though some of the equipment they are
 considering is brand new to market.  And they want it for $9600!  Give me a
 break.  I know first-hand what it takes to work with new products that are
 brought to market that are "experimental".  Sierra Flight Systems comes to
 mind first.  Had it not been for the numerous people behind this product,
 one of which chimes in from time to time on this list, to see this product
 through to the point it is now, LAI would not sell the system.  To prove
 this point, we absolutely will not recommend the Blue Mountain Aviation
 EFIS-One System to our customers.  Is it an inferior product?  I don't
know.
 I haven't seen it work properly yet.  We have given Greg at Blue Mountain
 every opportunity to deliver a working unit for us to install and test.  To
 his credit, he finally made it out to Redmond in January.  His product
 didn't work.  It never made it off the bench.  It is not my intent to put a
 dagger through Greg Richter;  he is working hard to deliver a neat,
 inexpensive EFIS system.  I hope he can get his EFIS to work well with the
 reliably we all expect.  I also hope he returns soon with something for us
 to test.

 A lot of you rely on us, and others working with these products, to sort
 through the "experimental" equipment before you spend your hard-earned $$
on
 something that appears to work well, only to be disappointed down the road.

 Kirk Hammersmith
 Lancair Avionics, Inc
 541.923.2244


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