Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 04:51 AM - Re: Tru Trak DigiFlight II Auto Pilot (Kayberg@AOL.COM)
2. 07:15 AM - News Letter (flylightning)
3. 08:06 AM - Lightning newsletter (Jim Langley)
4. 08:25 AM - Lightning Newsletter for February 2009 (N1BZRich@aol.com)
5. 10:39 AM - Autopilot problems (Bob B.)
6. 12:44 PM - Re: Lightning Newsletter for February 2009 (Jim Langley)
7. 01:24 PM - Re: Lightning Newsletter for February 2009 (N1BZRich@aol.com)
8. 02:12 PM - Re: News Letter (n5pb@aol.com)
9. 02:26 PM - Auto Pilot (Lightning Aircraft Australia)
10. 05:56 PM - Cockpit checklist (n5pb@aol.com)
11. 06:26 PM - Tow Bar Adaptor-forLightning (n5pb@aol.com)
12. 06:37 PM - Re: Tow Bar Adaptor-forLightning (N1BZRich@aol.com)
Message 1
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| Subject: | Re: Tru Trak DigiFlight II Auto Pilot |
Gary, this is not an uncommon generic problem.
Experimental aviation is a rather small market. Innovation is king, but
because of the size and money involved, "the latest and greatest" design is
guaranteed to have problems.
You can have all the best intentions in the world, but limited sales and
limited capitol can make you dependant on single-source providers. Even if
you can find another vendor, it takes time to change over. For example, if the
current Lightning canopy provider decided to go out of business, it could
result in a shortage of canopies for at least 6 months as well as a huge
increase in their cost. All manufacturers in this experimental kit field are
vulnerable to vendor problems. No amount of "customer service" can make a
canopy.... or a digital display for that matter.
If the Tru Track vendor is having problems with their display, most likely
their only hope is to somehow help the vendor through their problems. That
will likely mean replacements as they fail. They probably know they will have
failures, but dont know which ones!! If you are answering the phone at Tru
Track, it is not a pleasant experience to take calls knowing there is a
problem, but also knowing there is a limited solution.
Wether you like it or not, the answer ""Well, if we didn't sell you the
product we would go out of business and you wouldn't have any service!!" is very
true. Continuing sales keeps money coming in that can pay for vendor
changes or design changes. By definition, if you change vendors you increase
your costs. There is a reason that Bendix King, Garmin or Narco costs more.
Their materials cost more, their vendors cost more and they have a lot more
design and "burn time" invested in their products.
We have been trained to expect great customer service. And if you are Home
Depot, Lowes or Wal-Mart you can supply it. But in the Experimental Aircraft
world, EVERYTHING IS EXPERIMENAL!!! Oh, we all hope that when we write a
check that is much bigger than we would like to spend that we are getting a
perfect airplane kit plus accessories. It is just not reality.
I understand you were just venting your frustrations......and I am venting
mine. We have been trained as consumers to have high expectations and low
loyalty. In the experimental aviation world, I think we need lower
expectations and higher loyalty. There were some real challenges in the early
days
of Lightning sales. But I and the others at Green Landings made a commitment
to both the design and the people behind it. We understood their struggles
because we had lived with them ourselves in marketing the SkyRanger. We had
experienced the total frustration of being at the mercy of a vendor. But we
all got through it.
The excellence of a design and the dedication of the people behind it can
prevail in the end.....assuming sales and capital are sufficient.
It sounds silly, but I think it is true. The best way to improve an
excellent but low volume product with a vendor problem is to get more people to
buy
the product!!
Doug koenigsberg
In a message dated 1/26/2009 1:43:03 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
pennington@q.com writes:
I'd like to provide everyone an update on the problems I've had with my Tru
Trak Auto Pilot.
This morning, I called Tru Trak and spoke with Lucas in their Tech Support
area. I explained that the latest failure happened Saturday morning when the
LCD display blanked out. His response was, "Yeah, we have had a lot of
problems with those displays. We have been looking for another company to outsource
to, but haven't had any luck." Then I said, "You're telling me that you
know the units are bad and you sell them to your customers anyway"? Lucas said,
"Well, if we didn't sell you the product we would go out of business and you
wouldn't have any service"! With an attitude like that, they should go out
of business! I ask Lucas where the units were made. China maybe? He said, "I
don't have any idea. We don't build them, we just sell them. As far as I
know, they are pieced out to various sources and then assembled somewhere else".
What the hell has happened to businesses in this country? They don't give a
rats ass about product quality or longevity and they care even less about the
customer! Their only concern is profit. Our country is currently in a
serious recession and I feel bad saying this, but, maybe it is a good thing. Maybe
it will weed out companies like Tru Trak and we can begin again. Maybe the
companies that survive will revert to old values from the 50's and 60's where
quality and customer service is paramount.
Thank you for allowing me to vent.
Gary Pennington
Message 2
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To group,
Pete and I have made I t home finally. We took off Sunday and ran in to
weather in northern florida. After flying from the east side of the state to
the west we stop in Tallahasse for the night. Back now and got to read the
news letter. As always a great an informative read, nice to here from
customer I haven't in a long time and good to see the aircraft out and
about.
The trip down was a leisure one. 11,500ft, revs at 2750 RPM 125knts TAS on
4gph. The trip home from TLH was @ 8,500ft 2850 RPM 132knts TAS and 4.8
gph. Not bad economy. Thought I would share.
nick
Message 3
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| Subject: | Lightning newsletter |
Newsletter is posted on site at the following address:
http://www.jimslightning.com/html/newsletters.html
Happy reading!
Jim!
Message 4
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| Subject: | Lightning Newsletter for February 2009 |
All,
The February 2009 Lightning Newsletter (Issue 2-2) is now posted at the
Lightning web site and at Jim Langley's web site.
_http://www.flylightning.net/Newsletters.htm_
(http://www.flylightning.net/Newsletters.htm)
_http://www.jimslightning.com/html/newsletters.html_
(http://www.jimslightning.com/html/newsletters.html)
Yes, it is early, but I was pushing to get it done so that Linda Mathias
and I could then concentrate on the LS-1 POH after the Sebring event (when
Nick is again available for questions). I had actually planned on going to
Sebring, as Carl and Pat Beatrice had offered a place to stay, but a mandatory
meeting came up that prevented me from flying down. I am somewhat involved
in a PBS television project called "Low and Slow over Virginia" which will be
a J3 Cub flying around VA with commentary on neat places to visit and area
history (with an emphasis on aviation history in VA). It will be kind of a
travel log for tourism and history lessons for schools. It will be shown on PBS
TV and in schools around Virginia. Besides the J3 stuff, the Virginia
Aviation Historical Society, that I am on the board of, is working on funding
help
at the moment. Donations accepted. :-) Busy time.
As always, any and all feedback is requested. Please.
Blue Skies,
Buz
**************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay
up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)
Message 5
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| Subject: | Autopilot problems |
Group,
I've been lurking here for some time, thinking about a Lightning in my
future.
I have had excellent experience with my Trio autopilot
http://www.trioavionics.com/
It is digitally referecnced like tru-trak, with more features.
Bob Belshe
Moraga, CA
Lancair 235/320
http://home.comcast.net/~rbelshe/
Message 6
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| Subject: | Re: Lightning Newsletter for February 2009 |
Buz:
You're a TV star... You're famous, or is that infamous?
On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 11:23 AM, <N1BZRich@aol.com> wrote:
> All,
> The February 2009 Lightning Newsletter (Issue 2-2) is now posted at the
> Lightning web site and at Jim Langley's web site.
> http://www.flylightning.net/Newsletters.htm
> http://www.jimslightning.com/html/newsletters.html
> Yes, it is early, but I was pushing to get it done so that Linda
> Mathias and I could then concentrate on the LS-1 POH after the Sebring event
> (when Nick is again available for questions). I had actually planned on
> going to Sebring, as Carl and Pat Beatrice had offered a place to stay, but
> a mandatory meeting came up that prevented me from flying down. I am
> somewhat involved in a PBS television project called "Low and Slow over
> Virginia" which will be a J3 Cub flying around VA with commentary on neat
> places to visit and area history (with an emphasis on aviation history in
> VA). It will be kind of a travel log for tourism and history lessons for
> schools. It will be shown on PBS TV and in schools around Virginia.
> Besides the J3 stuff, the Virginia Aviation Historical Society, that I am on
> the board of, is working on funding help at the moment. Donations
> accepted. :-) Busy time.
> As always, any and all feedback is requested. Please.
> Blue Skies,
> Buz
>
> ------------------------------
> From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay up-to-date
> with the latest news <http://aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023>.
>
> *
>
> *
>
>
Message 7
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| Subject: | Re: Lightning Newsletter for February 2009 |
In a message dated 1/27/2009 3:46:48 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
pequeajim@gmail.com writes:
You're a TV star... You're famous, or is that infamous?
No, they have a professional lined up for the filmed parts. I am just one
of the Cub owners that have offered a Cub and may or may not be involved in
the background work. No real details yet as the funding is still being worked
out, but this is a project that will take almost a year to produce.
Buz
**************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay
up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)
Message 8
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Nick,
Glad you got back safely.=C2- I'll see you thursday mid morning.
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: flylightning <info@flylightning.net>
Sent: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:14 am
Subject: Lightning-List: News Letter
To group,
=C2-
Pete and I have made I t home finally. We took off Sunday and ran in to weat
her in northern florida. After flying from the east side of the state to the
west we stop in Tallahasse for the night. Back now and got to read the news
letter. As always a great an informative read, nice to here from customer I
haven=99t in a long time and good to see the aircraft out and about.
The trip down was a leisure one. 11,500ft, =C2-revs at 2750 RPM 125knts TA
S on 4gph. The trip home from TLH was @ 8,500ft =C2-2850 RPM 132knts TAS a
nd 4.8 gph. Not bad economy. Thought I would share.
=C2-
nick
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Message 9
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We have used TRIO Auto Pilots in the Lightning Aircraft with very good
results.
Dennis & Angela Borchardt
Lightning Aircraft Australia
Message 10
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| Subject: | Cockpit checklist |
Folks,
I put a cockpit checklist together that I intend to use in my lightning.? Most
of the information came from the POH.?? If you want to modify it for your particular
plane feel free.? Any comments about it are also welcomed.
Thanks
Bear Bryant
-----Original Message-----
From: N1BZRich@aol.com
Sent: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:23 am
Subject: Lightning-List: Lightning Newsletter for February 2009
All,
????The February 2009?Lightning Newsletter (Issue 2-2) is now posted at the Lightning
web site and at Jim Langley's web site.?
http://www.flylightning.net/Newsletters.htm
http://www.jimslightning.com/html/newsletters.html
????Yes,?it is early, but I was pushing to get it done so that Linda Mathias and
I could then concentrate on the LS-1 POH after the Sebring event (when Nick
is again available for questions).? I had actually planned on going to Sebring,
as Carl and Pat Beatrice had offered a place to stay, but a mandatory meeting
came up that prevented me from flying down.? I am somewhat involved in a PBS
television project called "Low and Slow over Virginia" which will be a J3 Cub
flying around VA with commentary on neat places to visit and area history (with
an emphasis on aviation history in VA).? It will be kind of a travel log for
tourism and history lessons?for schools.? It will be shown on PBS TV and in
schools around Virginia.? Besides the J3 stuff,?the Virginia Aviation Historical
Society,?that I am on the board?of, is?working on funding help at the moment.?
Donations accepted.? :-)? ?Busy time.?
????As always, any and all feedback is requested.? Please.?
Blue Skies,
Buz
Message 11
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| Subject: | Tow Bar Adaptor-forLightning |
Has anyone attached a tow bar adaptor to the lightning? If so what did you use
to attach it and where. got Pics?
I think Nick said Linda and/or Jim miight have done this.
Thanks
Bear
Message 12
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| Subject: | Re: Tow Bar Adaptor-forLightning |
In a message dated 1/27/2009 9:28:23 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
n5pb@aol.com writes:
tow bar adaptor to the lightning?
Bear,
Check out the August 2008 Lightning Newsletter. The guys at Lightning
North Central, Neenah, Wisconsin, came up with a good and simple design some
time ago.
Buz
**************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay
up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)
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