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WHY
08-08-2011, 10:27 PM
Who manufactures the Snowbird gyros now ??

Tony
Gyro28866
08-09-2011, 03:42 AM
Call the Airport Manager (Chris Collins 618-242-7016) at Mt. Vernon, Illinois. The new owner is a personal friend of his, and Chris is trying to get him to bring the production operation to the airport.
The conversation I had recently with Chris, he stated he was hoping to have a Snowbird built and flying for the flyin on
AUGUST 27-28.
This Flyin is replacing the Shelbyville flyin.
Based on Chris's comments, I think that this facility will provide for a better flyin; lets hope.
I am really suprised that the St. Louis PRA Chapter has not advertised the change.
GyroCFI
08-09-2011, 04:18 AM
Fred Blair did buy most of the company from a guy in Washington, however the last time I talked to Fred he said that buyint Snobird cost him a divorce and he wasn't in a position to continue with the company. But that was in the winter so i'm not sure if he's turned it around yet or not...

He sure is a character though...
WHY
08-09-2011, 12:26 PM
Hi Don and David

Sorry to hear about Fred's domestic collision, that would for sure impact progress. Mt. Vernon Il. would sure be an ideal geographic location. I was looking at the one picture posted recently of the convention showing the single place Snowbird, looked like a well designed gyro (maybe a larger HS) but a real market competitor. With this economy I don't know how many designs can survive.

How big is Mt. Vernon and is it what you would call a "aviation friendly community" ??
In the past so many communities viewed airports as "wasted development property" because most have no idea of the value of a airport to a community for industrial growth.

Tony
gyroplanes
08-11-2011, 08:12 AM
The SnoBird's high thrust line and inadequate HS require it to have a complete redesign. The redesign would render the most valuable assets of the company nearly worthless (manuals, jigs, dies, etc.)
There were fatal PIO accidents in all models of the SnoBird. The most recent, in a two place, pretty well illustrated the need for a properly designed gyro. It left little room for conjecture. Sad, the SnoBird was my baby.
WHY
08-11-2011, 10:28 AM
HI Tom

Is that SnoBird single place that was shown in one picture at Mentone this year a "one of a kind" custom build, it had a droped keel and looked pretty sharp just would like to have seen a little bigger HS ?? Yes a re-design would do as you say.

Tony
GyroCFI
08-11-2011, 12:36 PM
I had a large HS that was a custom built by a fabrication shop when Snobird was out of Washington state. It was over 4 foot across and looked like it would do a great job. I was going to make a mold for it to offer it to current Snobird owners but I thought the market would be too small to ever make the investment back. It's now in the hands of some guys down in Baton Rouge who are putting it together again...
Gyro28866
08-11-2011, 12:52 PM
WHY
"How big is Mt. Vernon and is it what you would call a "aviation friendly community" ??"
Here is a lick to them:
http://www.mtvernonairport.com/
(618) 242-7016
The Airport Manager is: Chris Collins
I had a conversation with Chris and they are very experimental friendly and have a great interest in gyro's. The current owner of snowbird is in that area and Mr. Collins is trying to get Fred to bring the operation to the airfield.
Mr. Collins was telling me about a recent flyin, and had two accidents which resulted in the pilots being life flighted to St. Louis, and this has not dampened thier enthousiasm any. They have a new hangar for the upcoming flyin and a resturant on field and in the terminal building they have showers for the campers.
The flyin on AUG 27-28 sounds like it will be a blast!!!
WHY
08-11-2011, 02:15 PM
Hi David

Thanks for that Link, it sure does sound like the are "aviation " friendly and experimental friendly also that is REAL GOOD !! Hope things will work out for Fred so this could be profitable for him and all concerned.

And Don, glad to see someone is on the HS idea as well.

Tony
Chuck Roberg
08-11-2011, 05:03 PM
HI Tom

Is that SnoBird single place that was shown in one picture at Mentone this year a "one of a kind" custom build, it had a droped keel and looked pretty sharp just would like to have seen a little bigger HS ?? Yes a re-design would do as you say.

Tony

That was a design that Rick Marshal was experimenting with when he owned Snobird. He sold the company and it never went into production. Can't tell you if that design went with the sale of the company or not.