Not at all. I was trying to explain the company's policy as I understand it--they acquired the assets of the previous company and made the decision that it would not be economically feasible for them to support all the different incomplete versions of the plane then in existence. They wanted the planes all upgraded to at least the version 1.5 level. To facilitate doing that, they took a stick & carrot approach, providing owners with discounted pricing for upgrading and announcing that early versions could not receive full support after a specific date.

As you might imagine, that drove the price of the unsupported versions down to a range that was very attractive to some buyers. *If* those buyers had been able to 1) buy one of the very cheap unsupported Eclipse 500's and 2) upgrade it for the discounted price, they'd have wound up with a fully upgraded plane for well under the price the company was charging for its own upgraded plane. They could then sell the upgraded plane on the secondary market and make a good profit in short order. The company did not wish to facilitate that kind of self-competition, and therefore they priced the upgrades accordingly and set restrictions on resale of upgraded planes.

I've said many times that the inexpensive (unsupported) early aircraft are a terrific value for those who understand and can live with their limitations. But I do not think it would be appropriate for someone to buy an inexpensive Eclipse and then lament the fact that it cannot be upgraded for a reasonable price; that reality was known when the purchase was made.

Ken

I don't understand what you mean by that.

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My point exactly! They bought more than some office furniture, a few tools and computers. They bought the brand and the continuity that comes with it.

Very familiar. That was back when you could do a type rating to private pilot, commercial, OR ATP standards. This crash prompted change. Now all type ratings, regardless of what level certificate you hold are done to ATP standards. So, how is that accident relevant here? Let me answer that for you. It's not.

If a pilot can fly an aircraft to ATP standards, it doesn't matter how many hours in type they have. Who would you feel safer flying with? A pilot who is flying the jet to ATP standards after 3 flights or the guy who takes 20 hours in type and has to be 'nursed' through the checkride. (and there are plenty examples in the Eclipse pilot pool). I know what my answer is.

Very familiar. That was back when you could do a type rating to private pilot, commercial, OR ATP standards. This crash prompted change. Now all type ratings, regardless of what level certificate you hold are done to ATP standards. So, how is that accident relevant here? Let me answer that for you. It's not.

If a pilot can fly an aircraft to ATP standards, it doesn't matter how many hours in type they have. Who would you feel safer flying with? A pilot who is flying the jet to ATP standards after 3 flights or the guy who takes 20 hours in type and has to be 'nursed' through the checkride. (and there are plenty examples in the Eclipse pilot pool). I know what my answer is.

..

Mentoring is about a lot more than check ride performance. It's about safely and practically using the plane in real life. The recent mu2 crash is a fine example of where mentoring could have been useful. He was day vfr and only needed to fly to private standards - but couldn't. A second pilot might have helped.

Just like in the Corry Little Crash? The presence of a CFI doesn't always prevent accidents with pilots in unfamiliar aircraft..

Or the 4 Pilots in the Cockpit for Asiana's early splash @ KSFO?

Just like in the Corry Little Crash? The presence of a CFI doesn't always prevent accidents with pilots in unfamiliar aircraft..

Or the 4 Pilots in the Cockpit for Asiana's early splash @ KSFO?

Condoms aren't foolproof either, but they're still a good idea for the first few months with an unfamiliar ride

Are you familiar with the Thurman Munson crash?

Ken

You will hear a sucking sound from everyones investment going down the drain.

The instructor with Thurman Munson was not a jet instructor. It was either his CFII or multi instructor from prior planes.