It's fun reading this thread from Europe with a 7 hr time delay.
Coming from a career in Fortune 500 automotive/engine/chassis work and now working for a large, PRIVATE, ultra successful agricultural manufacturer, this resonates with me on many levels.
One: Honda is entering a for them new world. They need to learn the subtleties of private aviation. Like someone said, you never know who you are talking to on a ramp. Could be Jason in flip-flops, every person is a prospect. Lots of FBO personnel needs to learn that one as well. The fact that Honda called Jason, tells me that they are paying attention and that they learned a valuable lesson. I am fairly certain that they are crafting new "point of contact" rules as we speak. Their marketing people already know this, but it needs to be passed on to the white coats and the rent-a-cops, etc. it will be interesting to see them learn. But learning they will.
Two: one of the many changes I had to learn about when transitioning from corporate America to successful private America, was that there is no stock price, there are no quarters. Sure we are just as accountable and have similar metrics, but the goals are much much longer term. essentially I need to beat the banks' interest rates. In other words, the owners will let me "invest" their capital in our business, as long as we perform. What an enlightened view. it instantly changes once's focus to long term, sustainable, etc.
Most Japanese companies I have dealt with over the years are just like that.
Watch out aviation world: Honda will get this figured out and they have very deep pockets.
As I was watching this poor, well meaning engineering dude from beechcraft getting his wings clipped, and then the hundreds of almost instant responses from BT, I put my marketing hat on and got to wondering: OK, you now have essentially a debt free company, with some working capital, what would you do?
Not really obvious. The Klapmeirs figured it out. Probably in spite of their market research. True entrepreneurs do think outside the box.
At the same time I am witnessing the general decline of GA in America and elsewhere. Sad to be in the air and be almost the only GA plane up there.
Interesting times....
End of early morning rant inVienna.

What a thread, Honda should give Jason a new Civic. Now can you see Jason in a Civic, will that thing fit in the back of my PC12?

All kidding aside, when I think of Honda there are no bad thoughts. They have a lot of great products and a reputation that's hard to beat.

Luc works for a company that was started, owned and run by pragmatic Iowa farmers and they have been incredibly successful...

The 30-something ruthless, high IQ, spoiled brat fund managers on Wall Street, that are telling nearly all of the fortune 500 company in America what their strategies are going to be should be sent out to Iowa to bale hay, pull calves, and pitch manure for a summer (yes I know, nobody does that anymore, but it is how I learned). And yes they could spend a week or two at Kinze learning how a company that takes the long view works too... We would all be better for it.

Haha! I like your style. Nobody has to a $%^&. Bet they piss their pants when they see a PC12 park by them again.

3 beers Jason

Two outstanding posts this morning from Luc and Doug.

I have a couple of Grandkids here for the weekend and I was going to have them read those two posts except they were busy texting one another

Back stateside, yay!
Immigration and customs as friendly and welcoming as ever.(don't know how to do green on my iPhone)
Read 1/2 of Follets book about the PanAm Clipper on the flight over.
Can't wait to go and see my Bo tomorrow.
BTW, we're hiring! We will even let you work on the farm if you have the need. However, good luck wrestling us from behind the wheel of our very large toys.
We even have some that run all by themselves.

I love America! Even more after visiting the homeland (Belgium) and the old CIS countries. Good business, but yuck.

Welcome home Luc.

But where were J's "security people" during all this????
I think two or three Fembots would do...

Thanks Dino!
So Jason, where were your Fembots?

I got to see a full size model of the Cirrus jet yesterday and snapped a couple pics. It has 7 seats, with 3 in the middle row. We sat in the cockpit and it has a fish-bowl kind of feel, lots of window and very spacious. The panel has a Star Trek feel to it, like you would only need to push a button now and then and recline back into your seat. The side stick makes it seem even more hands off. Looking up into that jet engine through the V-tail left an impression as well. My wife was totally on board until she learned the price.

A single engine jet is a joke. Too inefficient with a service ceiling of FL280 and the FAA will never certify one to fly higher than that.

+1 and the placement of the engine, rather stupid looking to me. The Diamond Jet looked more correct and it seems to be doomed now, when will they ever learn?

Cirrus Jet looks good.

+1

Of course it does...... It's a V-Tail!

I have been around The Jet quite a bit, and flew the photoship for much of Cirrus's marketing photos and video. The cabin is cavernous. Cirrus listens to their customers, and more importantly, their customers' spouses, and I think they have gotten the speed, comfort, seat, compromise right.

I asked Dale K if they could make their numbers, and he said they could if they had enough money to develop it. And they appear to have money now....

After sitting in it, I have one gripe. The windshield/door post is huge, and it is right where you would need/want to look in the pattern. I don't know if they plan to change it or not... It creates a huge blindspot.