On Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:18:09 -0800, tommytoyz wrote:

Too bad the reputation has been needlessly sullied. I wonder how
stupid some people can be to let a ham handed mechanic fiddle like
that with a brand new aircraft.

Nobody is going to start pulling off the Mylar seals on their brand new
glider unless they are desperate.

From what we read in the other reports on RAS, this desperation came about
from the lack of response from the factory on the purchaser's perceived
shortcomings with the product.

Reputations are built on perceptions. The facts, with respect to the
airworthiness of the aircraft, and the failure, or otherwise of the
factory to meet their contractual obligations are not known to us, and
probably never will be. So we make our decisions based on what we do know.

I know of other glider manufacturers who have found themselves with
un-happy customers and reacted by making qualified personal and spare
parts available. Their reputations are still intact...


Ian