bryancobb - 8/11/2010 11:34 AM
Here's some of the questions that are blocking me from buying one YESYERDAY!
Take a good look at the answers you've received so far ... "He's the greatest", "They're the best" etc. On this end I'm still waiting for a written response to my letter posted in March of this year. As for your assessment of the Mosquito series machines, suspicision has it you are correct, which is to say, it does appear to be a well designed, sturdy little aircraft, with a low per hour cost of operation.
As for your questions:
1) Is the company straight-up with customers about the cause of mechanical or safety problems?
The answer appears to be yes.
2) Does the company have the resources to chase down problems, notify owners, and come up with a fix?
I'm waiting for a reply from the Canadian government, one which may give me somewhat of an answer in that regard as well. The manufacturer presently offers essentially zero information in that regard, which is to say, he's playing his cards far too close to his chest at present, which in turn causes suspicision, i.e., will he be here tomorrow, next week, next year?
3) Are accidents compiled into an easy to access database with honest information that doesn't blame the builder?
While a review of the builder's logs clearly suggest that the indiviuals are indeed quite skilled mechanically, as you might expect it is reasonable to believe that the home builder is and will continue to be the primary suscpect for accidents in these type of machines; modifications made while building and or lack of proper rotorwing flight training in the first place. See the early "Larry Learns To Fly" videos as posted on YOUTUBE. A gutsy fellow that one but he did it appears to successfully teach himself the basics.
Save for the most recent accident, one regarding an XEL, (the second such Mosquito accident and both were XELs) this site appears to be mum in that regard and the source for data released so far regarding the most recent accident is the man's son, an individual who when you consider the circumstances, seems to be doing a rather decent job of it. That the accident in question was reported to FAA is at present, an unknown here. As of the other month, a check on my part with the FAA has shown that accidents regarding the Mosquito aircraft, if they have in fact occurred, not one has been reported, including the earlier and just noted XEL accident in which the pilot was also killed.
4) Does the company have a place for potential buyers to go, to gain knowledge and detailed info on how the helicopter and it's systems work, so he (me) can make an educated buy decision, or is everything secret?
I to would like to see things such as a copy of the Heigh Velocity Curve (the "Dead Man's Curve") for the AIR as well as the XE series aircraft. At present and to the best of my knowledge it is not posted here or for that matter, readily available from the builder.
5) If customers have an idea how to improve something, will the company listen and incorporate the changes?
Poking thru this website the answer here appears to be a definite YES. It clearly appears that the man is an engineer (not a marketing/salesman) by trade and understandably proud of his invention but he appears to be very secretive, so much so that you are expected to purchase on faith as opposed to simple, basic, hard facts.
6) Do people who own the Mos like it? feel like it's safe? feel like it's well-designed? feel like maintenance is not extensive or too frequent? feel like their Mos is holding up well?
I've yet to hear anyone who has purchased one, say anything bad about the design; save that it is cold to fly it in the Winter. Yes, it would be interesting to see a good faith posting of maintainance required for every ffity, one hundred, two hundred hours or so for these machines but at present that to is, if it is at all available, lacking. Perhaps you have to purchase a kit to find out.
7) Are build times and performance figures honest?
I've recently seen and had a "hands on examination" of a Mosquito AIR and I can suggest that the proposed build time for that particular machine, the Mosquito AIR, is indeed realistic.
All in all, as one who is also familiar with the Brantly B2 series aircraft, you may find the little Mosquito (be it the AIR or one of the XE class) while only a single seater, the cost per hour of operation will be far less than that which you have experienced with the Brantly, let alone a Hughes 300, an Enstrom or a Bell 47. My research so far suggests strongly that the Mosquito aircraft are indeed the "next step" beyond the R22; simpller, cheaper, as rugged as any that have come before it but keep in mind, with your rotorwing experience, the manufacturer of the Mosquito is by trade an engineer. While he may have some business experience, he appears to have very little experience in the area of marketing, something which in its own right just may be a good thing for the prospective consumer such as you and I. "Bells, whistles and chrome" don't make an airplane fly better but they do help in the sales effort.
Hope this was of some help.
tyc