Are you sure that they're making that much money on their kits? And how would you know that?

When I went into business for myself (guitar repairs) I figured I could undercut the market by a healthy margin and make a good living as the low-price guy in town that does good work. Boy was I wrong. Overhead was more than I anticipated, and I'm charging just about what the rest of the market is charging, just doing better work.

It seems to me that you're asking for feedback from the wrong pilot population. There are a lot of good reasons for people to go with an experimental plane: innovation, the ability to fully customize, because they want to play a part in building their dream, better performance at a price point, etc. I think many (if not most) on this board who would consider a plane in that class are buying for much different reasons. You need to find the market of pilots who would consider the Lancair or Epic and ask them these questions.

I'm curious to know why you believe the homebuilt market is going to explode, and what those actual numbers look like. Do the segments of the market that are experiencing such growth include a $1M airplane? I'd be surprised since the economy still isn't doing great and the pilot population is still shrinking. I'm not doubting you, but I really am curious to know what you know.

For the record, I will likely never have enough wealth to consider a plane like this, but I love seeing innovation, and I think the homebuilt market has the ability to influence the entire industry in ways that Cessna and Beechcraft and Piper just can't.

Based on your description, I would take a hard look. It would pay for itself in my case. What is the timeline?

Are you sure that they're making that much money on their kits? And how would you know that?

When I went into business for myself (guitar repairs) I figured I could undercut the market by a healthy margin and make a good living as the low-price guy in town that does good work. Boy was I wrong. Overhead was more than I anticipated, and I'm charging just about what the rest of the market is charging, just doing better work.

It seems to me that you're asking for feedback from the wrong pilot population. There are a lot of good reasons for people to go with an experimental plane: innovation, the ability to fully customize, because they want to play a part in building their dream, better performance at a price point, etc. I think many (if not most) on this board who would consider a plane in that class are buying for much different reasons. You need to find the market of pilots who would consider the Lancair or Epic and ask them these questions.

I'm curious to know why you believe the homebuilt market is going to explode, and what those actual numbers look like. Do the segments of the market that are experiencing such growth include a $1M airplane? I'd be surprised since the economy still isn't doing great and the pilot population is still shrinking. I'm not doubting you, but I really am curious to know what you know.

For the record, I will likely never have enough wealth to consider a plane like this, but I love seeing innovation, and I think the homebuilt market has the ability to influence the entire industry in ways that Cessna and Beechcraft and Piper just can't.

We don't have a definite timeline yet. We are still looking for a few more investors. Once we have the funding it will be 2 years of R&D to design, test and build a flying prototype.

As of right now, we are planning to give anyone that pre purchases their kit a 10% across the board discount (that includes engine, prop, etc). But we would not be pre selling any kits until we are well into the R&D process. We want to be sure we are going to be able to deliver the product.

We don't have a definite timeline yet. We are still looking for a few more investors. Once we have the funding it will be 2 years of R&D to design, test and build a flying prototype.

Gerry,

I write for Kitplanes, Twin & Turbine, and others. When you have a story to tell, let me know... And even more important, when you have an airplane to fly, I will write a pilot report...

2 years, why not 2 months... All you need is a big 3D printer, and a CAD file... Fill it up with resin, turn it on, and an airplane comes out. Bolt on an engine, and go flying... Nothing to it!

2 years, why not 2 months... All you need is a big 3D printer, and a CAD file... Fill it up with resin, turn it on, and an airplane comes out. Bolt on an engine, and go flying... Nothing to it!

2 years, why not 2 months... All you need is a big 3D printer, and a CAD file... Fill it up with resin, turn it on, and an airplane comes out. Bolt on an engine, and go flying... Nothing to it!

Gerry,

I write for Kitplanes, Twin & Turbine, and others. When you have a story to tell, let me know... And even more important, when you have an airplane to fly, I will write a pilot report...

Easily triple that for a realistic timeline, but, good luck to you. I look forward to seeing your innovation.

Well, this statement says a lot:


There's probably a lot more you are unaware of... and that is OK (I'm not trying to curb your enthusiasm for a new project).

You also say you have "inside information" at Lancair. The lawsuit for some kind of patent infringment (whether true or not because that is one of the ways companies stifle competition) will probably be interesting to watch.

As for Lancair leveraging their older, proprietary design-knowledge-base and making a 4-seat, composite, pressurized turbine in a couple years... that timeline is, in no way, related to a start-up designing their own, bigger airplane, building their own airplane from scratch, certifying that airplane with the FAA for the first time, testing that airplane in the appropriate envelopes and marketing it for production.

I applaud your enthusiasm, and I am not "shouting you down," but enthusiasm should be tempered with a realistic expectation and timeline in order to avoid frustration - especially from your investors - and promote success.

Expectation management is one of the most critical parts of any endeavor - and it is usually the most often overlooked. How many times do your weekend-projects turn into month-long projects?

Well, this statement says a lot:


There's probably a lot more you are unaware of... and that is OK (I'm not trying to curb your enthusiasm for a new project).

You also say you have "inside information" at Lancair. The lawsuit for some kind of patent infringment (whether true or not because that is one of the ways companies stifle competition) will probably be interesting to watch.

As for Lancair leveraging their older, proprietary design-knowledge-base and making a 4-seat, composite, pressurized turbine in a couple years... that timeline is, in no way, related to a start-up designing their own, bigger airplane, building their own airplane from scratch, certifying that airplane with the FAA for the first time, testing that airplane in the appropriate envelopes and marketing it for production.

I applaud your enthusiasm, and I am not "shouting you down," but enthusiasm should be tempered with a realistic expectation and timeline in order to avoid frustration and promote success.

Expectation management is one of the most critical parts of any endeavor - and it is usually the most often overlooked. How many times do your weekend-projects turn into month-long projects?

Well, in all seriousness, good luck! But, unless that engineer's name is Burt Rutan, I remain skeptical.

Gerry,

Don't get discouraged. There is plenty of room between the current pricing, and the cost to manufacture. If you build it, they will come.

The best thing Cirrus does is they understand who their customer is. Focus there. Forget chat boards, other than making connections. Unless someone is writing the checks, they are unlikely to compromise in their opinions and advice. We all know in real life every aircraft is a compromise.

If you build the airplane anywhere near your specs, at that price point, you can certify it and sell a ton of them in China. In fact, that is where I would be looking for investors. GA is about to go off over there.

Best,