X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:44:23 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from wind.imbris.com ([216.18.130.7] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.0.8) with ESMTPS id 997189 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:07:04 -0500 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=216.18.130.7; envelope-from=brent@regandesigns.com Received: from [192.168.1.100] (wireless-216-18-135-19.imbris.com [216.18.135.19]) (authenticated bits=0) by wind.imbris.com (8.12.11/8.12.11.S) with ESMTP id k1ON66sa083467 for ; Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:06:11 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from brent@regandesigns.com) X-Original-Message-ID: <43FF915C.7000103@regandesigns.com> X-Original-Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:06:04 -0800 From: Brent Regan User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2 (ax) X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Subject: Re: AHRS question Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="------------080006090308060309000903" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------080006090308060309000903 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From the horses mouth, the X-bow service letters are available on their site: http://www.xbow.com/Support/service_letters.htm According to X-bow BOTH the 420 (OP) and 425 (D2) are having problems. Ever since D2 first identified that the 425s were having problems I suspected the 420 would eventually manifest the same problems as I had inferred (but not verified) that the 425 and the 420 are very closely related. The difference being that the 425 was developed under an exclusive agreement between X-bow and D2 and that the 420 was engineered to remove the 5 in the part number and replace it with a zero, thus enabling X-bow to sell to D2 competitors. Reading between the lines of Dexter's letter it seems that OP has sold some 420s but few (any?) are flying, so the problem has been dormant. D2 has may times the number of fielded systems as OP and the X-bow problem only shows up over time. I strongly disagree with Dexter's (OP) spin that this is somehow a "business relationship that has gone publicly bad" problem. I know that X-bow has been struggling with technical problems on the 425 for months, working with D2 and some customers (like Dave Morss), and have fielded several "fixes" that didn't fix the problem. I have had several telephone conversations with Kirk to discuss the problem and have advised him on methods to diagnose and isolate the problem to be sure it was not due to wiring, EMI or other systemic effects. These conversations usually occurred with Kirk on site at the customers airplane. X-bow's fielded fixes have not, to date, cured the symptoms. Apparently they thought they had the problem fixed when they didn't. This position is stated in the latest version of the 425 service letter. OK, maybe, BUT, based on past performance I think it is reasonable to believe claims of success AFTER the flight testing has proven this as fact. Dexter should be thanking Kirk for holding X-bow's feet to the flames and insisting that the 425 work reliability. Rumors have been running hot and heavy, with a touch of absurdity, but a little logic helps to get to the bottom of things. The silliest one was that D2 wasn't paying X-bow 's invoices and that is why D2 was dropping X-bow, so D2 could buy new, more expensive GADAHRS and give them to their customers. Now THERE is an expensive way to save a buck. I have talked to both Kirk and Mike Horton (X-bow president) and it is my understanding that X-bow / D2 tensions increased over time as the problem remained unsolved. At some point, as leverage, D2 held payment on a few 425s until X-bow could deliver a fix. Deadlines were set and passed until, ultimately, D2 was forced to go to plan "B". I say plan "B" because plan "A" was for X-bow to fix the problem and have everyone happy and safe with a minimum of work and $$s. X-bow says they have the problem fixed and maybe they do, and maybe they don't. I hope for X-bow, OP and others that they do. The bad news for OP is that now they get to play the "Bad Cop" with X-bow. By getting in front of the problem, putting customer safety and satisfaction first and demonstrating a "whatever it takes to make it right" policy, Kirk and Peter of D2 are actually doing what others in the industry only claim. Anyone can talk the talk. It is refreshing to see someone walk the walk. As a customer do you want to have someone "feel your pain" or do you want them to DO something about it? I will point out that the certified X-bow 500 has not had the 420/425 problems. Please understand that my company has a business relationship with both Chelton and D2 so you should be skeptical about any conclusion I have drawn from the material listed above. Read it yourself and draw your own conclusions. Regards Brent Regan --------------080006090308060309000903 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From the horses mouth, the X-bow service letters are available on their site:

http://www.xbow.com/Support/service_letters.htm

According to X-bow BOTH the 420 (OP) and 425 (D2) are having problems. Ever since D2 first identified that the 425s were having problems I suspected the 420 would eventually manifest the same problems as I had inferred (but not verified) that the 425 and the 420 are very closely related. The difference being that the 425 was developed under an exclusive agreement between X-bow and D2 and that the 420 was engineered to remove the 5 in the part number and replace it with a zero, thus enabling X-bow to sell to D2 competitors.

Reading between the lines of Dexter's letter it seems that OP has sold some 420s but few (any?) are flying, so the problem has been dormant. D2 has may times the number of fielded systems as OP and the X-bow problem only shows up over time.

I strongly disagree with Dexter's (OP) spin that this is somehow a "business relationship that has gone publicly bad" problem. I know that X-bow has been struggling with technical problems on the 425 for months, working with D2 and some customers (like Dave Morss), and have fielded several "fixes" that didn't fix the problem. I have had several telephone conversations with Kirk to discuss the problem and have advised him on methods to diagnose and isolate the problem to be sure it was not due to wiring, EMI or other systemic effects. These conversations usually occurred with Kirk on site at the customers airplane.

X-bow's  fielded fixes have not, to date, cured  the symptoms. Apparently they thought they had the problem fixed when they didn't. This position is stated in the  latest version of the 425 service letter. OK, maybe, BUT, based on past performance I think it is reasonable to believe claims of success AFTER the flight testing has  proven this as fact.

Dexter should be thanking Kirk for holding X-bow's feet to the flames and insisting that the 425 work reliability. Rumors have been running hot  and heavy, with a touch of absurdity, but a little logic helps to get to the bottom of things.  The silliest one was that D2 wasn't paying  X-bow 's invoices and that is why D2 was dropping X-bow, so D2 could buy new, more expensive GADAHRS and give them to their customers. Now THERE is an expensive way to save a buck.

I have talked to both Kirk and Mike Horton (X-bow president) and it is my understanding that  X-bow / D2 tensions increased over time as the problem remained unsolved. At some point, as leverage, D2 held payment on a few 425s until X-bow could deliver a fix. Deadlines were set and passed until, ultimately, D2 was forced to go to plan "B".  I say plan "B" because plan "A" was for X-bow to fix the problem and have everyone happy and safe with a minimum of work and $$s. X-bow says they have the problem fixed and maybe they do, and maybe they don't. I hope for X-bow, OP and others that they do.  The bad news for OP is that now they get to play the "Bad Cop" with X-bow.

By getting in front of the problem, putting customer safety and satisfaction first and demonstrating a "whatever it takes to make it right" policy, Kirk and Peter of D2 are actually doing what others in the industry only claim. Anyone can talk the talk. It is refreshing to see someone walk the walk. As a customer do you want to have someone "feel your pain" or do you want them to DO something about it?

I will point out that the certified X-bow 500 has not had the 420/425 problems.

Please understand that my company has a business relationship with both Chelton and D2 so you should be skeptical about any conclusion I have drawn from the material listed above. Read it yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Regards
Brent Regan


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