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Beechcraft sold

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Jim Macklin

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Dec 21, 2006, 1:09:20 PM12/21/06
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Local radio announced today, Raytheon selling Beechcraft
Goldman-Sachs/ONEX group for about 3 billion dollars.

Jim Macklin

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Dec 21, 2006, 1:12:41 PM12/21/06
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Onex, partner buy company for $3.3 billion
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/16290414.htm
Union official says sale 'will be seamless'
Eagle staff and news services
Wichita-based Raytheon Aircraft, on the market since July,
was sold today for $3.3 billion to a partnership formed by
Onex and Goldman Sachs. The new company will be called
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. The deal is expected to close in the
first half of 2007. Raytheon Aircraft employs about 6,300
people in Wichita.
www.kansas.com Wichita Eagle newspaper source.


"Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm> wrote
in message news:v5Aih.157858$HO4.1...@newsfe06.phx...

Robert M. Gary

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Dec 21, 2006, 1:57:09 PM12/21/06
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Jim Macklin wrote:
> Local radio announced today, Raytheon selling Beechcraft
> Goldman-Sachs/ONEX group for about 3 billion dollars.

Gee who made that mistake? I'd like to see the King Air sales guy try
to talk a customer out of buying an Eclipse or why he should pay more
than a million for a Baron. Raytheon found a good time to sell.

-Robert

NW_Pilot

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Dec 21, 2006, 2:56:33 PM12/21/06
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"Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm> wrote in message
news:v5Aih.157858$HO4.1...@newsfe06.phx...
> Local radio announced today, Raytheon selling Beechcraft
> Goldman-Sachs/ONEX group for about 3 billion dollars.
>
>
>

Isint Raytheon in the middle of a strike right now????


Greg Farris

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Dec 21, 2006, 11:59:50 PM12/21/06
to
In article <MOCdneLWtO3XexfY...@comcast.com>,
use...@aircraft-nospam-delivery.net says...
Isn't Goldman Sachs' CEO the guy who was awarded a $53M year-end bonus
yesterday?

Jim Burns

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Dec 21, 2006, 3:21:45 PM12/21/06
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Yep, and doesn't "private equity fund" sound like a hedge fund??
Jim

"Greg Farris" <far...@nasa.org> wrote in message
news:emep44$2jbg$1...@biggoron.nerim.net...

john smith

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Dec 21, 2006, 4:13:01 PM12/21/06
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Is the sum of the parts worth more than the whole?

Jim Burns

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Dec 21, 2006, 4:18:30 PM12/21/06
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That would be a pretty good bet.
Jim

"john smith" <jsm...@net.net> wrote in message
news:458af8b8$0$5252$4c36...@roadrunner.com...

Greg Farris

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Dec 22, 2006, 1:32:31 AM12/22/06
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In article <-5OdnSX7vs8nZBfY...@wctc.net>,
jburns...@nospamuniontel.net says...

>
>
>That would be a pretty good bet.
>Jim


Wouldn't be the first time. . .
Could be a pretty sad end for an aircraft that has, in some ways, remained
the ultimate "pilot's airplane" for over 40 years now.

I know - time has run out for the venerable KingAir - but Good God what a
career!

Robert M. Gary

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Dec 21, 2006, 5:11:17 PM12/21/06
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Greg Farris wrote:
> In article <-5OdnSX7vs8nZBfY...@wctc.net>,
> jburns...@nospamuniontel.net says...
> >
> >
> >That would be a pretty good bet.
> >Jim
>
>
> Wouldn't be the first time. . .
> Could be a pretty sad end for an aircraft that has, in some ways, remained
> the ultimate "pilot's airplane" for over 40 years now.

Yep, too bad they're still building 40 year old airplanes. :)

-Robert

Robert M. Gary

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Dec 21, 2006, 5:13:10 PM12/21/06
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Jim Burns wrote:
> Yep, and doesn't "private equity fund" sound like a hedge fund??
> Jim

That would make sense. If I had been asked to do the business analysis
on the purchase I would likely have classified it was a pretty large
risk investment in the long term. Not too likely that they'll be able
to compete in the new era.

-Robert

Gig 601XL Builder

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Dec 21, 2006, 5:23:21 PM12/21/06
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"Robert M. Gary" <N70...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166739190.2...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on the
high end. The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to
being in the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they bought
Columbia and put their name on it.


Mxsmanic

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Dec 21, 2006, 6:13:49 PM12/21/06
to
"Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm> writes:

> Local radio announced today, Raytheon selling Beechcraft
> Goldman-Sachs/ONEX group for about 3 billion dollars.

Probably the beginning of the end.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 21, 2006, 6:14:57 PM12/21/06
to
Jim Burns writes:

> Yep, and doesn't "private equity fund" sound like a hedge fund??

Whenever a company buys another company for pure purposes of financial
gain, the company acquired usually suffers and often disappears. This
is probably very bad news for Beechcraft.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 21, 2006, 6:15:37 PM12/21/06
to
Robert M. Gary writes:

> Yep, too bad they're still building 40 year old airplanes.

They may not be for much longer with buyers like Onex.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 21, 2006, 6:16:17 PM12/21/06
to
Gig 601XL Builder writes:

> If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
> aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on the
> high end. The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to
> being in the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they bought
> Columbia and put their name on it.

The objective is probably to dismantle and liquidate the company.

Newps

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Dec 21, 2006, 6:44:10 PM12/21/06
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Mxsmanic wrote:

>
> The objective is probably to dismantle and liquidate the company.

You're an idiot. Why would someone spend all that money to liquidate
the company? They've already spent many, many times what the company
assets are worth buying it.

Robert M. Gary

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Dec 21, 2006, 7:18:41 PM12/21/06
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Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
> "Robert M. Gary" <N70...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1166739190.2...@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
> aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on the
> high end. The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to
> being in the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they bought
> Columbia and put their name on it.

Buying another company is usually a wise decision when you are already
so far behind. I've long come to the conclusion that most everyone who
invests in GA is not doing it for money. It just almost never makes any
business sense. I look at all the times Mooney has been sold. Someone
bought them. Yes, they make a fabulous product but what information do
they have that would suggest it would ever be profitable.

-Robert, MBA, CFII

karl gruber

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Dec 21, 2006, 7:17:17 PM12/21/06
to

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote in message
news:12om2ao...@news.supernews.com...

> If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
> aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on the
> high end. The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to
> being in the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they
> bought Columbia and put their name on it.

I wouldn't bet on Eclipse EVER being built. Be prepared for their bankruptcy
soon. Just a personal hunch.

Karl
"Curator" N185KG


karl gruber

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Dec 21, 2006, 7:21:18 PM12/21/06
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"> Yep, too bad they're still building 40 year old airplanes. :)
>
> -Robert

Let's see.................name a NEW airplane you can fill all the tanks,
all 10 seats, 50 pounds of baggage for each PAX, and then go 5 hours at 310
Kts.

Karl
"Curator" N185KG


Robert M. Gary

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Dec 21, 2006, 7:22:05 PM12/21/06
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I don't know that to be true, is it? How many times earnings did it
sell for? Does anyone know earnings? Perhaps they were bought for the
dividend value of parts.

The whole thing is sad. The fact that Piper beat Beech to announce a
jet tells you something. With the King Air line up, it would have been
a shoe in to get attention by offering a jet. I tend to agree with
others that its likely too late at this point. Probably just another
example of a company that found a winning formula 30 years ago and
never had the courage to change with the times. We see it all the time,
companies run into the ground because they are afraid of change.

-Robert

Peter Dohm

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Dec 21, 2006, 7:40:00 PM12/21/06
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"Robert M. Gary" <N70...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166746925.0...@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
They had a rather bad exsperience with the Starship.

Peter


Newps

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Dec 21, 2006, 8:06:02 PM12/21/06
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Robert M. Gary wrote:
> Newps wrote:
>
>>Mxsmanic wrote:
>>
>>
>>>The objective is probably to dismantle and liquidate the company.
>>
>>You're an idiot. Why would someone spend all that money to liquidate
>>the company? They've already spent many, many times what the company
>>assets are worth buying it.
>
>
> I don't know that to be true, is it? How many times earnings did it
> sell for? Does anyone know earnings? Perhaps they were bought for the
> dividend value of parts.

It's a myth that any company is bought to simply liquidate it. Doesn't
happen. Never makes financial sense. What the buyer may do is sell the
units that are not core to the business. So take Raytheon as an
example. Is Beech a core business for them or does it simply drain
company resources?


>
> The whole thing is sad. The fact that Piper beat Beech to announce a
> jet tells you something.

Hello? Beech has had a jet for a long time. Or did you mean a newer
jet design?

Jay Honeck

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Dec 21, 2006, 8:30:50 PM12/21/06
to
> Local radio announced today, Raytheon selling Beechcraft
> Goldman-Sachs/ONEX group for about 3 billion dollars.

I wish it weren't true, but you know Beech has outlived its usefulness
when my response to this sale is a lackadaisical yawn.

They have come up with precisely zero new ideas since the StarShip,
over 20 years ago, and -- their contributions to aviation history
notwithstanding -- if Beech went out of business tomorrow, it would
mean...nothing.

IMO, Beech has been irrelevant to aviation for at least ten years --
almost as long as I've been a pilot.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Aluckyguess

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Dec 21, 2006, 9:29:21 PM12/21/06
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"Robert M. Gary" <N70...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166739077.4...@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Yes my instructor and I where just finishing a flight in my 61 BE35 (getting
my IFR rating). He looks over at me and goes this plane still holds its own
against all the new planes. The biggest difference GPS. I would still rather
have an aluminum plane over a composite, an if it was an A36 I would say its
better than a Cirrus.


The only thing Beechcraft needs to do is lower the price on the Bonanza and
the Baron and they would sell a bunch of them.
I have had quite a few flight in a King Air lately and its a nice solid
plane and you really feel safe in it, but I personally would buy something
else. The gas and upkeep on that thing is crazy.

JMHO


>
> -Robert
>


Aluckyguess

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Dec 21, 2006, 9:34:52 PM12/21/06
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"Robert M. Gary" <N70...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166746925.0...@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

I dont know if you had your choice would you take a new A36 or a SR22. I
know I would take the A36.
The planes are not outdated the outdating is the price. Maybe the new
company can fix that.
>


Aluckyguess

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Dec 21, 2006, 9:37:59 PM12/21/06
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"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:1166751050....@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

>> Local radio announced today, Raytheon selling Beechcraft
>> Goldman-Sachs/ONEX group for about 3 billion dollars.
>
> I wish it weren't true, but you know Beech has outlived its usefulness
> when my response to this sale is a lackadaisical yawn.
>
> They have come up with precisely zero new ideas since the StarShip,
> over 20 years ago, and -- their contributions to aviation history
> notwithstanding -- if Beech went out of business tomorrow, it would
> mean...nothing.
>
> IMO, Beech has been irrelevant to aviation for at least ten years --
> almost as long as I've been a pilot.

Have you flown a Beechcraft. They are the nicest GA aircfaft flying.

Peter Dohm

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Dec 21, 2006, 9:51:50 PM12/21/06
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"karl gruber" <removes...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:emf8dv$rv0$2...@aioe.org...
That seems to suggest that the King Air has some life remaining....

Peter


karl gruber

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Dec 21, 2006, 10:12:27 PM12/21/06
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"karl gruber" <removes...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:emf8dv$rv0$2...@aioe.org...
>
And as far as that goes, try to find a NEW airplane that will carry more,
further, faster, and into more un-improved strips than the 54 year old
Cessna Skywagon. Nada!

The Cirrus is nice, but it's kind of a "girly man" airplane.(With respects
to Arnold!)

Karl


Mxsmanic

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:13:04 AM12/22/06
to
Newps writes:

> You're an idiot.

It would be nice if I were.

> Why would someone spend all that money to liquidate
> the company?

First you milk the company for all its worth, then you carefully cut
it into pieces and sell it for prices that give you a substantial
return on your initial investment. That's the way holding companies
work.

Rest assured, companies like this care absolutely nothing about
aviation or the actual work of any of their acquisitions. All they
care about is money. If their acquisition doesn't make lots of money
quickly, they'll dump it, usually in chunks.

The reason for this is that investment companies want high, short-term
returns. They don't care about the survival of a company or the
services or products it provides. Very often, the goal of short-term
profits conflicts with the goal of long-term prosperity and survival
and public service, and so the company is destroyed.

> They've already spent many, many times what the company
> assets are worth buying it.

Wait and see. I hope you're right, as I'd hate to see this company
disappear.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:15:43 AM12/22/06
to
Robert M. Gary writes:

> The whole thing is sad. The fact that Piper beat Beech to announce a
> jet tells you something. With the King Air line up, it would have been
> a shoe in to get attention by offering a jet. I tend to agree with
> others that its likely too late at this point. Probably just another
> example of a company that found a winning formula 30 years ago and
> never had the courage to change with the times. We see it all the time,
> companies run into the ground because they are afraid of change.

It may just be a pricing and marketing issue. Several of the aircraft
Beech produces are just as viable today as they were 40 years ago.
Not everyone wants a jet. Aviation is safety-oriented, and being
conservative is very safe. You may not have all the bells and
whistles, but you know exactly what you have, and what it can and
cannot do. Just look at the ancient engine designs in use--they are
probably inferior to modern engines, but they are a known quantity,
whereas introducing something completely new is risky in a domain
where a failure can easily kill people.

I rather like the idea of something so stable that it can continue for
decades and still fulfill its purpose admirably. I wish some other
domains (such as computers) were that way. It's simpler and more
economical.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:17:30 AM12/22/06
to
Newps writes:

> It's a myth that any company is bought to simply liquidate it.

It happens every day.

Companies like Onex just want to make money. They don't care how they
do it. They have no personal attachment to their acquisitions.
Either those acquisition start to generate high returns over the short
term, or they are taken apart and sold.

> Never makes financial sense.

Unfortunately it often does. It just doesn't make any other kind of
sense. But money is often all that matters.

> What the buyer may do is sell the units that are not core to the
> business.

That's just a euphemism for what really happens.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:18:06 AM12/22/06
to
Aluckyguess writes:

> I dont know if you had your choice would you take a new A36 or a SR22. I
> know I would take the A36.

So would I. The A36 is a known quantity, the SR22 is not. I don't
like to bet my life on unknowns.

Mxsmanic

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:19:29 AM12/22/06
to
Robert M. Gary writes:

> I've long come to the conclusion that most everyone who
> invests in GA is not doing it for money. It just almost never makes any
> business sense.

Probably, but the companies doing the buying in this case are well
known for their interest in money, and money alone, which is
worrisome.

> I look at all the times Mooney has been sold. Someone
> bought them. Yes, they make a fabulous product but what information do
> they have that would suggest it would ever be profitable.

Who has bought Mooney over the years?

Jay Honeck

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:28:00 AM12/22/06
to
> Have you flown a Beechcraft. They are the nicest GA aircfaft flying.

I've flown a Bonanza and a Baron. Very nice planes, indeed, but
stupidly over-priced. And (IMHO) the Light Sport Aircraft "CT" handles
even better, for 1/7th the cost, and the Cirrus SR-22 is better still.


Beech is a grand old name, and I will hate to see it go away -- but
they've been like a grand old uncle with Alzheimer's Disease. They've
been dead in every way for years, except in body.

Jim Macklin

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Dec 22, 2006, 12:41:40 AM12/22/06
to
Beech had jets 40 years ago with their importing Hawkers
from England. Then they bought the Mitsubishi Diamond and
moved production to Kansas. Then they bought the Hawker
company line of jets. They built the Premier One and that
was long before bankrupt Piper thought of a VLJ.

Beech may survive now that Raytheon is out. Raytheon was
more concerned with major defense contracts and recreational
boating.


"Robert M. Gary" <N70...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1166746925.0...@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

Doug Vetter

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Dec 22, 2006, 8:24:23 AM12/22/06
to
Jay Honeck wrote:
> I wish it weren't true, but you know Beech has outlived its usefulness
> when my response to this sale is a lackadaisical yawn.
>
> They have come up with precisely zero new ideas since the StarShip,
> over 20 years ago, and -- their contributions to aviation history
> notwithstanding -- if Beech went out of business tomorrow, it would
> mean...nothing.
>
> IMO, Beech has been irrelevant to aviation for at least ten years --
> almost as long as I've been a pilot.

I normally agree with you Jay, but this is probably the most
shortsighted thing I've ever heard you say in this forum.

I flew a 20 year old A36 recently and all I can say is the only thing
wrong with that airplane was the lack of glass (which they've solved in
the G36), a tendency to dutch roll in turbulence (easily correctable by
the use of a yaw damper) and the price for new copies. If I had the
coin, I'd buy a G36 or Baron over the new plastic airplanes, and a King
Air over a VLJ any day -- even if it cost me more to buy and to operate
on a long-term basis. They're that good.

As an instructor, I get to fly a lot of different airplanes and talk to
a lot of owners. I'm convinced that the only people who hate Beech
airplanes are those who haven't flown them.

-Doug

--------------------
Doug Vetter, ATP/CFI
dwv...@yahoo.com
http://www.dvatp.com
--------------------

Jay Honeck

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Dec 22, 2006, 8:32:03 AM12/22/06
to
> As an instructor, I get to fly a lot of different airplanes and talk to
> a lot of owners. I'm convinced that the only people who hate Beech
> airplanes are those who haven't flown them.

I didn't say I hated Beech -- far from it. Although none of their
birds fits my current mission, which requires lots of economical
lifting capacity and a wide CG range -- I would LOVE to own a Bonanza
some day.

What I said was that they have become irrelevant. They sell a tiny
number of aircraft each year (thanks to their outrageous pricing), and
the last new aircraft design to come out of Beech was....what? I
can't think of anything new since the Starship debacle of the early
1980s.

Since that occurred right after I graduated from college -- and I'm now
48 years old -- I think I'm safe in saying that Beech has become
irrelevant to aviation. If they went away tomorrow, we would all shed
a tear for the Beech line -- but it would have zero impact on general
aviation.

The same cannot be said, for example, of Cessna, Piper, Cirrus or
Columbia.

Dan Luke

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Dec 22, 2006, 9:04:42 AM12/22/06
to

"Jay Honeck" wrote:

>> Have you flown a Beechcraft. They are the nicest GA aircfaft flying.
>
> I've flown a Bonanza and a Baron. Very nice planes, indeed, but
> stupidly over-priced. And (IMHO) the Light Sport Aircraft "CT" handles
> even better, for 1/7th the cost, and the Cirrus SR-22 is better still.


You've gotta be kidding.

A Cirrus flies better than a Bo'? No way.

The Bo' is the sweetest-flying thing I've ever flown. The Cirrus is nice,
but nothing special.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM


Matt Barrow

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Dec 22, 2006, 9:32:31 AM12/22/06
to

"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:1166765279....@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>> Have you flown a Beechcraft. They are the nicest GA aircfaft flying.
>
> I've flown a Bonanza and a Baron. Very nice planes, indeed, but
> stupidly over-priced. And (IMHO) the Light Sport Aircraft "CT" handles
> even better, for 1/7th the cost, and the Cirrus SR-22 is better still.
>
Jay,

Wangle a flight in a Columbia 400!

Do it now! (We'll wait for you to get back to your computer...)


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO (MTJ)


TxSrv

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Dec 22, 2006, 9:35:08 AM12/22/06
to
> Mxsmanic wrote:
> ...

> First you milk the company for all its worth, then you carefully cut
> it into pieces and sell it for prices that give you a substantial
> return on your initial investment.
>

Ignoramus. First, you look up the net book value of Beechcraft's
assets and compare to $3 billion. E.g., Textron (only a fraction
of whose total business is GA aircraft including Cessna and its
jets) is only $3B at book. Were Beechcraft's aged plants to be
sold off netting relatively little, all that's left are the type
certificates, which alone can't be worth near $3B. The value of
this kind of business is as a going concern, and then look at the
historical GAMA shipment #'s and see their competition problems
on these old designs.

Now you're an expert also on business/finance, but admitting to
making only $647/month.

F--

Matt Barrow

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Dec 22, 2006, 9:35:55 AM12/22/06
to

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote in message
news:12om2ao...@news.supernews.com...
>
>
> If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
> aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on the
> high end.

Where do you see the BeechJet fitting in?

> The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to being in
> the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they bought
> Columbia and put their name on it.

The price of a 400 would rise by half a million bucks overnight.

Gig 601XL Builder

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Dec 22, 2006, 9:42:27 AM12/22/06
to

"karl gruber" <removes...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:emf8du$rv0$1...@aioe.org...

I just through Eclipse out because someone else mentioned it up thread and
VLJ would do. But if they are in trouble it would allow somebody like
Beechcraft to jump in and get all of their designs and tooling for pennies
on the dollar. Sounds like a perfect chance for a company that needs to get
into the market.


Stefan

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Dec 22, 2006, 10:23:38 AM12/22/06
to
karl gruber schrieb:

> Let's see.................name a NEW airplane you can fill all the tanks,
> all 10 seats, 50 pounds of baggage for each PAX, and then go 5 hours at 310
> Kts.

PC12

john smith

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Dec 22, 2006, 11:14:30 AM12/22/06
to
The WSJ has had several stories during the last couple months relating
how hedge funds have purchased viable companies, borrowed heavily,
siphoned off the loans and left the company in shambles.

Mxsmanic wrote:

>Jim Burns writes:
>
>
>
>>Yep, and doesn't "private equity fund" sound like a hedge fund??
>>
>>
>
>Whenever a company buys another company for pure purposes of financial
>gain, the company acquired usually suffers and often disappears. This
>is probably very bad news for Beechcraft.
>
>
>

john smith

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Dec 22, 2006, 11:19:51 AM12/22/06
to
I respectfully disagree.
Beech is probably the leader in GA when it comes to using carbon fiber.
They invented many of the practices and procedures when they developed
the Starship.
Their new corporate jets incorporate the technology they developed and
got certified, paving the way for others in the future.

Aluckyguess

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:27:42 AM12/22/06
to

"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:1166765279....@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>> Have you flown a Beechcraft. They are the nicest GA aircfaft flying.
>
> I've flown a Bonanza and a Baron. Very nice planes, indeed, but
> stupidly over-priced. And (IMHO) the Light Sport Aircraft "CT" handles
> even better, for 1/7th the cost, and the Cirrus SR-22 is better still.
>
>
> Beech is a grand old name, and I will hate to see it go away -- but
> they've been like a grand old uncle with Alzheimer's Disease. They've
> been dead in every way for years, except in body.
> --
The Cirrus needs the autopilot to fly straight and level.

Gig 601XL Builder

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:32:55 AM12/22/06
to

"Matt Barrow" <mbarrow@site_fill.com> wrote in message
news:458bed42$0$91106$815e...@news.qwest.net...

>
> "Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote in message
> news:12om2ao...@news.supernews.com...
>>
>>
>> If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
>> aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on the
>> high end.
>
> Where do you see the BeechJet fitting in?

Right about where it is now.

>
>> The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to being in
>> the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they bought
>> Columbia and put their name on it.
>
> The price of a 400 would rise by half a million bucks overnight.
>

There is no reason for this. Sure Beech has always been overpriced maybe the
new owners will be more market oriented.


Aluckyguess

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:47:11 AM12/22/06
to

If Beech re-opened up its lines again for the Sport, Sierra , Duchess, and a
few I missed. They would all be superior to anything else on the market.
Their only problem is price, now that's a biggy but maybe the new company
plans on fixing this.
If a G36 was 50k more than a SR22 and you were looking for a plane in that
class what would you buy. The problem is its 200k more. I believe the new
company can fix this. The new company may even put a parachute in it to
satisfy the spouse that is afraid .
Then you have the Baron, if you have money for fuel its the nicest small
twin their is bar none.


Robert M. Gary

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 12:52:22 PM12/22/06
to

Newps wrote:
> Robert M. Gary wrote:
> It's a myth that any company is bought to simply liquidate it. Doesn't
> happen. Never makes financial sense. What the buyer may do is sell the
> units that are not core to the business. So take Raytheon as an
> example. Is Beech a core business for them or does it simply drain
> company resources?

It does, but not with companies large enough to understand finance. I
never implied they bought it to liquidate it, I suggested they may have
bought it for the dividend value of parts.

>
> >
> > The whole thing is sad. The fact that Piper beat Beech to announce a
> > jet tells you something.
>
>
>

> Hello? Beech has had a jet for a long time. Or did you mean a newer
> jet design?

Light Jet to compete with all the Baron and King Air sales they will
lose.

-Robert

Robert M. Gary

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 12:53:09 PM12/22/06
to

Sorry, my newsgroup ISP doesn't allow posts that long.

-Robert

Dan Luke

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 12:53:25 PM12/22/06
to

"Aluckyguess" wrote :

> The Cirrus needs the autopilot to fly straight and level.

Baloney.


Robert M. Gary

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 12:58:21 PM12/22/06
to

Mxsmanic wrote:
> Jim Burns writes:
>
> > Yep, and doesn't "private equity fund" sound like a hedge fund??
>
> Whenever a company buys another company for pure purposes of financial
> gain, the company acquired usually suffers and often disappears. This
> is probably very bad news for Beechcraft.

That's the old zero sum myth.

-Robert

Stefan

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 12:58:51 PM12/22/06
to
Aluckyguess schrieb:

> They would all be superior to anything else on the market.
> Their only problem is price,

It's pretty simple to build something superior when money isn't a factor.

Tom Conner

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 1:49:18 PM12/22/06
to
Many have commented that their planes are great, but the price is to high.
The implication is that they could lower their price, sell more planes, and
still make a profit.

Okay, why is their price so high compared to other manufacturers? The
technology is stable, the price of raw materials has to be equal to the cost
for other manufacturers, labor costs have to be near that of other
manufacturers, and insurance costs have to be near that of other
manufacturers. So, what makes their price so high?


Bob Noel

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 2:02:50 PM12/22/06
to
In article <12oo6si...@news.supernews.com>,
"Dan Luke" <c17...@dingdongsouth.net> wrote:

well, I would need one since I'm left-handed.

I know, I know, I'm in the minority here wrt side-sticks. But I
really don't like side-sticks.

Two things turned me off the Lancair ES: one was it was very
heavy in roll, and the other was the side-stick.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

john smith

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 2:24:26 PM12/22/06
to
Why are you comparing a six-place airplane to a four-place airplane?

Jim Macklin

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 2:18:58 PM12/22/06
to
Premier jet is an original Beech design.
Raytheon Aircraft Company
Beechcraft Premier IA ... 08/03/2006 -, Guardian LP
Services Places Order for Nine Beechcraft Premier IAs. .
08/03/2006 -, Hawker 850XP to Tour South ...
www.raytheonaircraft.com/ - 16k - Cached - Similar
pages
Beechcraft - www.raytheonaircraft.com/beechcraft/
Hawker - www.raytheonaircraft.com/hawker/
Pre-Owned Aircraft - www.raytheonaircraft.com/resale/
Charter -
www.raytheonaircraft.com/.../charter_overview.shtml
More results from www.raytheonaircraft.com »

Beechcraft Home
More than 70 years ago, Walter and Olive Ann Beech
founded Beech Aircraft ... Services Obtains STC for
Auxiliary Ground Heat on Beechcraft Premier I/IA ...
www.raytheonaircraft.com/beechcraft/ - 11k - Cached -
Similar pages

"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote in message

news:1166794323....@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...

Jim Macklin

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 2:13:43 PM12/22/06
to
Their designs require a lot of hand labor. When a mistake
is made on a sheet of aluminum, they start over, Cessna gets
engineering approval to "fix" the mistake. That means they
drive rivets in the holes that were drilled in the wrong
place or use Bondo [Cessna term- aerodynamic fairing
compound] to fix the problem.

Beech uses self-exciting alternators, even on something like
the Skipper. Their electrical systems are designed to a
higher standard.

Beech never tried to flood the market. Back in the heyday,
Cessna was building several thousand airplanes a year and
Beech was happy to sell 1/4 of Cessna production numbers.
After the market crash, Cessna collapsed and Beech kept on
at near the same number of complex and turboprop deliveries.

Raw materials that Beech uses are premium leather, Cessna
uses 2nd grade leather if they use leather at all.

"Tom Conner" <tco...@olopha.net> wrote in message
news:OMVih.2669$w91....@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...

Jim Macklin

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 2:23:50 PM12/22/06
to
Actually Beech has many new, state of the art plants and
composite robots for production work. They build a lot of
parts for the big iron makers. Their old plants are well
used. But if you look at just the BEC airport/plant complex
you'll see that there are more new buildings than old.

Raytheon Aircraft Company
Beechcraft Premier IA ... 08/03/2006 -, Guardian LP
Services Places Order for Nine Beechcraft Premier IAs. .
08/03/2006 -, Hawker 850XP to Tour South ...
www.raytheonaircraft.com/ - 16k - Cached - Similar
pages
Beechcraft - www.raytheonaircraft.com/beechcraft/
Hawker - www.raytheonaircraft.com/hawker/
Pre-Owned Aircraft - www.raytheonaircraft.com/resale/
Charter -
www.raytheonaircraft.com/.../charter_overview.shtml
More results from www.raytheonaircraft.com »

Beechcraft Home
More than 70 years ago, Walter and Olive Ann Beech
founded Beech Aircraft ... Services Obtains STC for
Auxiliary Ground Heat on Beechcraft Premier I/IA ...
www.raytheonaircraft.com/beechcraft/ - 11k - Cached -
Similar pages

"TxSrv" <n3...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:nLWdnXhozJyFcBbY...@comcast.com...

TxSrv

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 4:12:35 PM12/22/06
to
Jim Macklin wrote:
> Actually Beech has many new, state of the art plants and
> composite robots for production work. They build a lot of
> parts for the big iron makers. Their old plants are well
> used. But if you look at just the BEC airport/plant complex
> you'll see that there are more new buildings than old.
>

Except Raytheon's Annual Report says that a very % of their
manufacturing square footage is leased, so few buildings to sell,
except liquidate the stuff inside, which will bring a fraction of
cost. I was thus responding to someone's grandiose assumption
that the investors paid $3.3 billion cash for their entire
Aircraft Division just to be able to soon liquidate the hard
assets plus the type certificates/goodwill of always uncertain
future value.

F--

Roy Smith

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 4:37:43 PM12/22/06
to
In article <1166794323....@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote:

What on earth has Cessna or Piper done in the last 20 years? The 172
Cessna is selling today is the same airframe they were selling 20 years
ago, just with a glass panel, 13(!) fuel drains, and 100 lbs less useful
load. Same with Piper. I was in a brand new Archer a couple of years ago;
the biggest change they had managed to make was to move some of the
switches to an overhead panel which made the windshield smaller and reduced
forward/upward visibility. Made it look cool (like a miniature airliner),
but a net decrease in safety.

Cirrus, Katana, Columbia, and the like are the future of GA today.
Assuming there is any future left in GA :-(

TxSrv

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 4:53:10 PM12/22/06
to
Mxsmanic wrote:

> Whenever a company buys another company for pure purposes of financial
> gain, the company acquired usually suffers and often disappears. This
> is probably very bad news for Beechcraft.
>

What other sound reason is there to buy an ongoing business? For
the pure fun of it? Just to be able to say, we own a company
which makes actual airplanes which fly. Net profit (ROIC)...who
cares.

F--

Dave Stadt

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 5:10:31 PM12/22/06
to

"Aluckyguess" <n...@me.com> wrote in message
news:e_Tih.47$x4...@newsfe06.lga...


The G36 is worth $200K more than an SR22. I'd pay it in a heart beat. No
comparison.


Jose

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 5:19:21 PM12/22/06
to
> The 172
> Cessna is selling today is the same airframe they were selling 20 years
> ago, just with a glass panel, 13(!) fuel drains, and 100 lbs less useful
> load.

In all fairness, it picked up twenty knots.

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Blueskies

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 5:22:35 PM12/22/06
to

"Jim Macklin" <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm> wrote in message news:phWih.1945$jU....@newsfe10.phx...
: Premier jet is an original Beech design.


More of a clean sheet Hawker design don't you think? This new company (Hawker Beechcraft?) does a lot of fab work, and
the Premier contains a lot of composite (fuselage?) also...

Message has been deleted

Jim Macklin

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 5:07:39 PM12/22/06
to
Beech owns the buildings on the property they own. They do
lease space on the Salina airport and other locations.

"TxSrv" <n3...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:V7KdnVTyH96i1xHY...@comcast.com...

Matt Barrow

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 8:12:59 PM12/22/06
to

"Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote in message
news:12oo25l...@news.supernews.com...

>
> "Matt Barrow" <mbarrow@site_fill.com> wrote in message
> news:458bed42$0$91106$815e...@news.qwest.net...
>>
>> "Gig 601XL Builder" <wrDOTgiaconaATcox.net> wrote in message
>> news:12om2ao...@news.supernews.com...
>>>
>>>
>>> If Beechcraft want to compete they are going to have to come out with an
>>> aircraft to compete with the Cirrus on the low end and the Eclipse on
>>> the high end.
>>
>> Where do you see the BeechJet fitting in?
>
> Right about where it is now.

So the Eclipse and the BeechJet are both the "high end"?

>
>>
>>> The best way to do this is to buy someone already in or close to being
>>> in the market. The Beechcraft name is worth a lot think if they bought
>>> Columbia and put their name on it.
>>
>> The price of a 400 would rise by half a million bucks overnight.
>>
>
> There is no reason for this. Sure Beech has always been overpriced maybe
> the new owners will be more market oriented.

Yeah, _maybe_.

"Maybe" that's why they spent $3 billion for dying design/technology. :~)


Robert Dorsey

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 8:20:50 PM12/22/06
to
Ever hear the saying "quality, not quantity"?
I can think of a few low production, hand built, high dollar cars that
could be built quickly and for a lot less $ with savings passed to the
buyer causing the market to respond, but it seems they prefer not to
do that. Do you think maybe Ratheon wasn't interested in the
mass-production mindset? Do you think they may feel there are
individuals out there that would want "Hawker like" quality in a
single or twin recip?


On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:49:18 GMT, "Tom Conner" <tco...@olopha.net>
wrote:

Peter Dohm

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 9:26:03 PM12/22/06
to
"Bob Noel" <ihates...@netscape.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:ihatessppaamm-C8D...@news.isp.giganews.com...
You may be in the minority WRT side sticks, or you may not.

I used to think they were the coolest idea ever, at least if mounted on the
right, until I got tennis elbow a couple of times. I still haven't ever
tried a side stick; but I no longer have any desire for one because I now
see the value in being able to switch hands. BTW, I am also left handed
which would add another layer to the problem!

Peter


Roy Smith

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 9:27:56 PM12/22/06
to
In article <Hr0jh.4957$_X.4070@bigfe9>,
"Peter Dohm" <left...@bellsouth.net> wrote:

I suspect most of the modern side-stick designs are intended to be flown on
A/P most of the time. Click it on at rotation, click it off in the flare.

Peter Dohm

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 9:31:59 PM12/22/06
to
"B A R R Y" <Dwight...@dundermifflin.com> wrote in message
news:l8too21nc51j2lsds...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:24:23 -0500, Doug Vetter <dwv...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >> If I had the
> >coin, I'd buy a G36 or Baron over the new plastic airplanes, and a King
> >Air over a VLJ any day -- even if it cost me more to buy and to operate
> >on a long-term basis. They're that good.
>
> Lots of people WITH the money do as you would like. <G>
>
> It'll be interesting how the certified VLJ's truly compare to King
> Airs, when load, runway length, and true usability are compared.

Yes, excellent points.

Peter


Jay Honeck

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 10:13:58 PM12/22/06
to
> I suspect most of the modern side-stick designs are intended to be flown on
> A/P most of the time. Click it on at rotation, click it off in the flare.

That ain't flying.

Bob Noel

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 10:25:17 PM12/22/06
to
In article <Hr0jh.4957$_X.4070@bigfe9>, "Peter Dohm" <left...@bellsouth.net>
wrote:

> > I know, I know, I'm in the minority here wrt side-sticks. But I


> > really don't like side-sticks.
> >
> > Two things turned me off the Lancair ES: one was it was very
> > heavy in roll, and the other was the side-stick.

> I used to think they were the coolest idea ever, at least if mounted on the


> right, until I got tennis elbow a couple of times. I still haven't ever
> tried a side stick; but I no longer have any desire for one because I now
> see the value in being able to switch hands. BTW, I am also left handed
> which would add another layer to the problem!

I was told that the lancair owner is left-handed, which makes the design
more "interesting"

Jose

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 10:56:02 PM12/22/06
to
>> ...intended to be flown on A/P most of the time....
>
> That ain't flying.

Amen to that!

john smith

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:36:01 PM12/22/06
to
I would say that is an accurate statement.
I remember my first Bonanza checkout and preflight.
I was amazed at the Beech construction compared to the Cessnas and
Pipers I had been flying.
The Beech is solid in comparison.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:44:25 PM12/22/06
to
Robert Dorsey writes:

> Do you think maybe Ratheon wasn't interested in the
> mass-production mindset? Do you think they may feel there are
> individuals out there that would want "Hawker like" quality in a
> single or twin recip?

Maybe Raytheon _did_ want mass production, and that's why they
unloaded Beechcraft.

I prefer quality over quantity, although the upper limit on the former
is always imposed by my budget, unfortunately. I try to get the best
I can afford.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Aluckyguess

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:50:22 PM12/22/06
to

"Robert Dorsey" <be...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:180po21d3n4eluaha...@4ax.com...

> Ever hear the saying "quality, not quantity"?
> I can think of a few low production, hand built, high dollar cars that
> could be built quickly and for a lot less $ with savings passed to the
> buyer causing the market to respond, but it seems they prefer not to
> do that. Do you think maybe Ratheon wasn't interested in the
> mass-production mindset? Do you think they may feel there are
> individuals out there that would want "Hawker like" quality in a
> single or twin recip?
>
I would like to agree with you on this but at this point in time its all
about money in any big corporation.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:51:41 PM12/22/06
to
Robert M. Gary writes:

> Sorry, my newsgroup ISP doesn't allow posts that long.

Long lists of owners make me nervous.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:52:35 PM12/22/06
to
john smith writes:

> The WSJ has had several stories during the last couple months relating
> how hedge funds have purchased viable companies, borrowed heavily,
> siphoned off the loans and left the company in shambles.

LIke I said, making money is all that counts. These companies care
nothing about aviation.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:53:06 PM12/22/06
to
Robert M. Gary writes:

> That's the old zero sum myth.

No, it's the reality of recent years, and one reason why economies
aren't as stable as they use to be.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:54:04 PM12/22/06
to
TxSrv writes:

> What other sound reason is there to buy an ongoing business?

Interest in the business.

> For the pure fun of it? Just to be able to say, we own a company
> which makes actual airplanes which fly. Net profit (ROIC)...who
> cares.

Exactly. And some acquisitions are like that. But not with companies
like these. They have no romantic attachment to aviation, and if they
can gut Beechcraft to make more money faster, they will.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:55:12 PM12/22/06
to
Jay Honeck writes:

> > I suspect most of the modern side-stick designs are intended to be flown on
> > A/P most of the time. Click it on at rotation, click it off in the flare.
>
> That ain't flying.

It may be the closest approximation for a pilot or aircraft that can't
really get by otherwise.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:56:36 PM12/22/06
to
Doug Vetter writes:

> I'm convinced that the only people who hate Beech
> airplanes are those who haven't flown them.

Probably just sour grapes. I've seen _exactly_ the same dynamic with
respect to companies like Leica and Hasselblad. Those who can't
afford it insist that it's not worth the money. Those who actually
buy it know better.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 11:59:13 PM12/22/06
to
Jay Honeck writes:

> What I said was that they have become irrelevant. They sell a tiny
> number of aircraft each year (thanks to their outrageous pricing), and
> the last new aircraft design to come out of Beech was....what?

You seem to imply that not having new aircraft is bad. Aircraft are
not computers; you don't have to buy a new one every six months.
Designs that flew well seventy years ago will still fly well today;
the atmosphere of the planet has not changed. Why the desire to
continually spend more money and waste more resources fixing things
that aren't broken?

> Since that occurred right after I graduated from college -- and I'm now
> 48 years old -- I think I'm safe in saying that Beech has become
> irrelevant to aviation.

Just because it doesn't have new bells and whistles each year?

I've heard this in other domains, too (again in the case of Leica and
Hasselblad). Changing for the sake of change (or revenue) isn't
necessarily a good idea.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 12:00:18 AM12/23/06
to
Aluckyguess writes:

> I believe the new company can fix this.

The new company won't care. The idea is to make as much money as
possible as quickly as possible, and then sell the remains for scrap.

Mxsmanic

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 12:00:51 AM12/23/06
to
Stefan writes:

> It's pretty simple to build something superior when money isn't a factor.

That goes without saying. But the important thing in many cases is
that it's superior, not that it's expensive.

karl gruber

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 12:05:28 AM12/23/06
to

"Stefan" <stefan@mus._INVALID_.ch> wrote in message
news:f423$458c1cdc$54487375$31...@news.hispeed.ch...
> Aluckyguess schrieb:

>
>> They would all be superior to anything else on the market. Their only
>> problem is price,
>
> It's pretty simple to build something superior when money isn't a factor.

Over the years there's been one aviation saying about the big three that
holds true:

Cessna builds quantity
Beech builds quality
Piper builds junk

KG


Morgans

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 4:43:38 AM12/23/06
to

"Jose" <teac...@aol.nojunk.com> wrote in message
news:JRYih.34841$wc5....@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...

>> The 172 Cessna is selling today is the same airframe they were selling 20
>> years ago, just with a glass panel, 13(!) fuel drains, and 100 lbs less
>> useful load.
>
> In all fairness, it picked up twenty knots.

With increased fuel burn, to match!
--
Jim in NC

Montblack

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 4:22:17 AM12/23/06
to
("Robert M. Gary" wrote)
> The fact that Piper beat Beech to announce a jet tells you something.


Piper announces it will sell the HondaJet, then Piper announces they will
come out with their own jet.

That one had me scratching my head.


Montblack


TxSrv

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:18:44 AM12/23/06
to
Mxsmanic wrote:
>
> The new company won't care. The idea is to make as much money as
> possible as quickly as possible, and then sell the remains for scrap.

Raytheon's aircraft subsidiary was making $200 million, or a
lousy 6% on the $3.3 billion to purchase it. Only a moron would
think this is a way to make a quick buck. Like raise prices for
more profit to get a decent return, and that won't reduce market
share, and still later sell it all off for more than $3.3
billion. Or much less as "scrap," to use your idiotic reference.

F--

TxSrv

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:19:39 AM12/23/06
to
Mxsmanic wrote:
> TxSrv writes:
>...

>> For the pure fun of it? Just to be able to say, we own a company
>> which makes actual airplanes which fly. Net profit (ROIC)...who
>> cares.
>
> Exactly. And some acquisitions are like that. But not with companies
> like these. They have no romantic attachment to aviation, and if they
> can gut Beechcraft to make more money faster, they will.

Hey moron, investors in big companies here are not romantic about
their company's products. Raytheon, present owner of Beech, is a
Fortune 500 company. However, if some aviation-romantic
individual or group thereof came along with $3.4 billion cash, I
imagine Raytheon would have sold to them.

F--

Jay Honeck

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:19:29 AM12/23/06
to
> Cessna builds quantity
> Beech builds quality
> Piper builds junk

Ah, the old Ford vs Chevy argument again. Sound and fury,
signifying...nothing.

I'm only a datapoint of one, but having owned two Pipers, and flown the
pants off both of them, I can say that I am more than satisfied with
their quality of construction.

To put it all in perspective, would you put your family into a 1974
Ford Galaxie 500 and drive it to California from Iowa? Probably not.
But my Pathfinder, built the same year, is as good (and some ways
better than) new, and we make the equivalent of that flight several
times per year. If that's not quality construction, I don't know what
is.

All the aircraft manufacturers build a quality product -- they have to,
by law -- and Beech has been especially quality-conscious. Where they
have failed is in innovation and cost control. In the end, it doesn't
matter how fantastic your product is, if no one buys it -- and I
sincerely hope that the new owners are able to address this problem.

Jay Honeck

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:26:48 AM12/23/06
to
> What on earth has Cessna or Piper done in the last 20 years?

I agree, they've been late to the game -- but at least they're starting
to get the hang of it.

Cessna is especially exciting, with their new LSA and composite planes.
Piper is shaking itself out of its old union mentality, and actually
looking at new things -- like jets. (When I heard Chuck Suma, Piper's
old CEO, making fun of Cirrus' "plastic planes" at the Cherokee Pilots
Association dinner in 2005, I knew he was history. 3 months later, he
got the axe.)

Raytheon/Beech still hasn't figured it out. Maybe the new owners will?


> Cirrus, Katana, Columbia, and the like are the future of GA today.

No argument there -- although it may not be too late for Piper/Cessna
to recover. The fact that they've survived is a sign of underlying
strength.

> Assuming there is any future left in GA :-(

Whether GA itself survives is a political, not economic, decision. If
the political class decides to tax it out of existence, as they've done
in Europe, GA will die.

Matt Barrow

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:45:02 AM12/23/06
to

"Peter Dohm" <left...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:fx0jh.4958$_X.4839@bigfe9...

Of course, if your mission is distance and speed, not load ...

BTW, an Eclipse 500 at SL will TO in 2297 feet, a King Air C90GT in 2392
feet. The E500 has an IFR range with four occupants of 1,300 nm, the King
Air has 931nm range. For landing, 2155' vs. 2355'.

In the six years I've had my B36-TN, I've had five of six seats filled maybe
ten times, and that was the whole family, nine of those times. Last August,
my wife and I became "empty nesters".


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO (MTJ)

Matt Barrow

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:48:20 AM12/23/06
to

"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:1166879969.5...@i12g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>> Cessna builds quantity
>> Beech builds quality
>> Piper builds junk
>
> Ah, the old Ford vs Chevy argument again. Sound and fury,
> signifying...nothing.
>
> I'm only a datapoint of one, but having owned two Pipers, and flown the
> pants off both of them, I can say that I am more than satisfied with
> their quality of construction.
>
> To put it all in perspective, would you put your family into a 1974
> Ford Galaxie 500 and drive it to California from Iowa? Probably not.
> But my Pathfinder, built the same year, is as good (and some ways
> better than) new, and we make the equivalent of that flight several
> times per year. If that's not quality construction, I don't know what
> is.

Jay, about 98% of the cars built in 1973 are no longer on the road. What
percent of SE aircraft are still flying (more or less)?

Thank Gawd that Ford doesn't make aircraft!! :~) (at least since the
Tri-Motor...)


Matt Barrow

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 8:51:34 AM12/23/06
to

"Jay Honeck" <jjho...@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:1166880408....@48g2000cwx.googlegroups.com...

>> What on earth has Cessna or Piper done in the last 20 years?
>
> I agree, they've been late to the game -- but at least they're starting
> to get the hang of it.
>
> Cessna is especially exciting, with their new LSA and composite planes.
> Piper is shaking itself out of its old union mentality, and actually
> looking at new things -- like jets. (When I heard Chuck Suma, Piper's
> old CEO, making fun of Cirrus' "plastic planes" at the Cherokee Pilots
> Association dinner in 2005, I knew he was history. 3 months later, he
> got the axe.)
>
> Raytheon/Beech still hasn't figured it out. Maybe the new owners will?
>
>
>> Cirrus, Katana, Columbia, and the like are the future of GA today.
>
> No argument there -- although it may not be too late for Piper/Cessna
> to recover. The fact that they've survived is a sign of underlying
> strength.

How much $$$ is Cessna making on Citations? On SEs? What's their backorder
on the Citation X?

Message has been deleted

Jose

unread,
Dec 23, 2006, 9:37:07 AM12/23/06
to
>> In all fairness, it picked up twenty knots.
> With increased fuel burn, to match!

That's what fuel is for. Nothing is free. :)

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