Express Aircraft of Olympia WA quits

x-posted to rah,rao,rap

Here's a news scoop for you all...

Express Aircraft Company, formerly Wheeler Express, has gone out of
business. Apparently TCM (Teledyne Continental Motors) was unable to
honor shipment of their "Full Authority Digital Engine Control" (FADEC)
IOF-550 engines which Express had banked on, promised out, and designed
around, which left them in dire straits.

Too bad...I have watched this company for a long time and the aircraft
is a real sleek, roomy, clean-lined 4-place composite that handles
exceptionally well.

Must be a kharmic thingy because two CEO's of the company have died in
separate crashes on maiden flights while testing out new models.

You heard it first here!!


Antonio

Here's a news scoop for you all...

Another one:

Amazingly, it's being reported that Commander Aircraft has found "new
investors" and is back up and running.

Ya just gotta wonder where these guys keep finding investors?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Here's a news scoop for you all...

Express Aircraft Company, formerly Wheeler Express, has gone out of
business. Apparently TCM (Teledyne Continental Motors) was unable to
honor shipment of their "Full Authority Digital Engine Control" (FADEC)
IOF-550 engines which Express had banked on, promised out, and designed
around, which left them in dire straits.

Too bad...I have watched this company for a long time and the aircraft
is a real sleek, roomy, clean-lined 4-place composite that handles
exceptionally well.

Must be a kharmic thingy because two CEO's of the company have died in
separate crashes on maiden flights while testing out new models.

You heard it first here!!


Antonio


No, didn't hear it first here but that is not important. The important thing
is that another very fine aircraft has been lost to our community. The Express
was an outstanding and beautiful aircraft that deserves to be continued. I
really hope that someone will step forward and continue the aircraft. Maybe
this is another one for Aircraft Spruce to pickup.


Bob Reed
www.kisbuild.r-a-reed-assoc.com (KIS Builders Site)
KIS Cruiser in progress...Slow but steady progress....

"Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advice,
pull down your pants and Slide on the Ice!"
(M.A.S.H. Sidney Freedman)

Wouldn't you love to listen to the spiel and hear the numbers they present?

Jay Honeck wrote:
Another one
Amazingly, it's being reported that Commander Aircraft has found "new
investors" and is back up and running
Ya just gotta wonder where these guys keep finding investors?

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
Here's a news scoop for you all...

Another one:

Amazingly, it's being reported that Commander Aircraft has found "new
investors" and is back up and running.

Ya just gotta wonder where these guys keep finding investors?

What's even more amazing to me is that they will find customers if they get
back into production. Would you buy a new Commander (or Mooney, for that
matter) knowing the shakey history of the company?
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

("Antonio dancingstar" wrote)
Here's a news scoop for you all...

Express Aircraft Company, formerly Wheeler Express, has gone out of
business. Apparently TCM (Teledyne Continental Motors) was unable to
honor shipment of their "Full Authority Digital Engine Control" (FADEC)
IOF-550 engines which Express had banked on, promised out, and designed
around, which left them in dire straits.

(specs and price $150,000 OBO)
http://www.express-aircraft.com/Aircraft%20Specs.htm

N511EA was registered in 1999 and has 731 hours total time since new.

Engine/HP Continental IO-550-N (310hp)

Prop Hartzell 3-Blade Constant Speed

Landing Gear Fixed Tricycle

Cabin Width (Front/Rear) ...46"/44"

Payload (with/140 gallons of fuel) ...935 lbs.

Cruise @ 75% ....175 kts TAS

Stall Speed Vs1 ...55 kts
Stall Speed Vs0 ...53 kts

Range @ 75% Power ...1,800 nm
Rate of Climb (Gross) ...1,200 fpm

Maximum Service Ceiling ....20,000 ft.

$150,000 (OBO) ...offer $85K and see what happens g.


Montblack

Why would you be less inclined to buy a new one than an old one?

Seems like you are in the same boat.

Besides, Cessna pulled the plug on building piston planes even when they had
money, what's the difference?


"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
Here's a news scoop for you all...

Another one:

Amazingly, it's being reported that Commander Aircraft has found "new
investors" and is back up and running.

Ya just gotta wonder where these guys keep finding investors?

What's even more amazing to me is that they will find customers if they
get
back into production. Would you buy a new Commander (or Mooney, for that
matter) knowing the shakey history of the company?
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

"Dude" wrote:

Why would you be less inclined to buy a new one than an old one?

The warranty might not be honored if the mfr. goes TU. A lot of the value
of a new airplane is in the warranty. Suppose you bought a new Commander,
the co. went bankrupt and it was discovered there was a metallurgical flaw
in the main wing spars on new models? That's a not-too-far-fetched scenario
that would leave you with a $half-million, non-airworthy hangar queen and no
recourse.

Seems like you are in the same boat.

Not really.

Besides, Cessna pulled the plug on building piston planes even when they
had
money, what's the difference?

Cessna was still a viable company; it did not cancel warranties on new
aircraft when it stopped production of piston a/c.
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

Dan,

I can see you point, but you are really stretching here IMO. First, Mooney
now has a quality level similar to that of Beech. Second, there are
financially sound manufacturers who have left buyers in similar situations
even without going TU.

So the plane needs a new spar, that does not make the plane worthless. I
suppose you are of the everything but Beech and Cessna is a cr*p sandwich
variety?

One day, barring a new design that is not forthcoming, those guys will pull
out of piston planes for good. If they don't manage to kill off our little
hobby (which they would do in a minute if they could sell more jets by doing
it), what do you plan to do?

Are you willing to buy a Cirrus, Diamond, or Lancair? People who keep up the
"nuth'n but a Cessna" attitude are just killing GA slowly. I see them
running all over the alphabet organizations, including AOPA. It's so
disappointing.


"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

"Dude" wrote:

Why would you be less inclined to buy a new one than an old one?

The warranty might not be honored if the mfr. goes TU. A lot of the value
of a new airplane is in the warranty. Suppose you bought a new Commander,
the co. went bankrupt and it was discovered there was a metallurgical flaw
in the main wing spars on new models? That's a not-too-far-fetched
scenario
that would leave you with a $half-million, non-airworthy hangar queen and
no
recourse.

Seems like you are in the same boat.

Not really.

Besides, Cessna pulled the plug on building piston planes even when they
had
money, what's the difference?

Cessna was still a viable company; it did not cancel warranties on new
aircraft when it stopped production of piston a/c.
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

And at least with Mooney you know that management knows how to handle
bankruptcy. Heck, they've done it a dozen times.

"Dude" wrote in message
...
Dan,

I can see you point, but you are really stretching here IMO. First,
Mooney
now has a quality level similar to that of Beech. Second, there are
financially sound manufacturers who have left buyers in similar situations
even without going TU.