Hi all,
Tried to get a baby bushwheel today (just the tire). I called them and was told that the company was sold to Alaska Airframe somewhere in the Anchorage, AK vicinity.
Guess that will raise the prices even more for us here in the lower 48.

If it was going to sell, I think we can be relieved that this is who bought it.

firstbearhawk wrote:Hi all,
Tried to get a baby bushwheel today (just the tire). I called them and was told that the company was sold to Alaska Airframe somewhere in the Anchorage, AK vicinity.
Guess that will raise the prices even more for us here in the lower 48.

They must have made a pretty sweet offer. I figure that company was doing pretty good. being the only game in town. Not looking forward to replacement day.
Shit, Maule sells there parts reasonably. They should start up some competition. I can see it now, MBW. Has a nice ring to it.

Sidewinder wrote:

firstbearhawk wrote:Hi all,
Tried to get a baby bushwheel today (just the tire). I called them and was told that the company was sold to Alaska Airframe somewhere in the Anchorage, AK vicinity.
Guess that will raise the prices even more for us here in the lower 48.

They must have made a pretty sweet offer. I figure that company was doing pretty good. being the only game in town. Not looking forward to replacement day.
Shit, Maule sells there parts reasonably. They should start up some competition. I can see it now, MBW. Has a nice ring to it.

Yeah, I'm sure they were all getting rich

Every one of those tires is hand made, by the way. And I suspect there's a bit of fairly expensive machinery involved.

Most of all, I appreciate that these folks have gotten STCs for almost everything they make....not a common trait amongst aircraft modifiers. STCs are a PITA to acquire, and time and engineering to get those costs $$$$$.

And, how many tires a year constitute the market for these things? Pretty small production and demand, frankly.....this is the definition of a niche market.

Finally, for those who haven't been around here for long, the company and product actually originated in Alaska (hence the name Alaska Bushwheel) before Wup and Bill bought the outfit and moved it to Oregon. So, in essence, the company is simply going home. That said, Wup and Bill have VASTLY improved on the product and the range of equipment they make.

It's sad to see these good folks sell the business in many ways, but Airframes Alaska is a well founded, excellent business as well, and the addition of ABI to their line of products is a great move, and probably ensures that Bushwheels will be available for a long time into the future.

And, BTW this sale became public several months ago.

MTV

If I'm not mistaken the sale was in part due to some personal issues. Not about getting rich for sure. I pray for things to go well for them. Never met them in person. Have bought little from them. Like MTV said, not a huge market for the niche. But man is theyre service and products TOP notch!! Can't say enough good things about these folks. I am sad to for selfish reasons to see it go elsewhere and hope for our sake the next owners will be half as good to deal with.
Thank you for everything you've done for people like us AKB! Truely a class act! Dealing with y'all was like stepping back in time.
God bless you guys. Best wishes and prayers to y'all.

I have a BBW tailwheel tire (just the tire and a spacer if that's needed) I'd sell. Removed as I fly off a lot of pavement and I didn't want to wear out the BBW. Less than 10 hours on tire.

bumper

SOLD!!

Thanks BCP

I'm glad I bought a case of the Texas sourced ABW hot sauce a couple months ago, something tells me that product may be falling by the wayside?

The new owner, Airframe Alaska, is a class outfit locate on the Birchwood airport which is about 15 miles north of downtown Anchorage. They specialize in Supercub products and do a lot of cub restorations. We have one of their cubs on our airstrip here on the Nizina River and it is a beautiful airplane. I have bought parts from them in the past and have been quite happy with the products. Service at Airframes has always been good, but they will surely need to be up on their game to match that of Wup's Oregon crew. Below is one of their Cubs on 35" Alaskan Bush Wheels (..with breaks off Bumper). Its nice to see them back home in Alaska.

Nizina

Where are we going to get all of the sweet Maule products?

Nizina wrote: (..with breaks off Bumper). . . .

Nizina

Pricey lesson, that! All the money I ever saved by not having hull went swiftly down the potty.

Still smarts a bit.

That eve, after I was rescued, wife says what color is the new one going to be?

Some stuff is real important . . . a good woman is right up there!

bumper wrote:

Nizina wrote: (..with breaks off Bumper). . . .

Nizina

[/quote

Pricey lesson, that! All the money I ever saved by not having hull went swiftly down the potty.

Still smarts a bit.

That eve, after I was rescued, wife says what color is the new one going to be?

Some stuff is real important . . . a good woman is right up there!

Bumper

That is indeed a good woman. You and I have that in common. Below is a picture of my woman inspecting a 170B that I later bought in Fairbanks and years later did the equivalent of a "breaks on" landing with and with similar results as your potty project (although I was on skis). Expensive lesson, but much wiser...

So YOURE the one who bought the good doctor's airplane? I bought his floats.

That was a really nice 170.

MTV

Is that guy in the cub really running without brakes?

Zzz wrote:Is that guy in the cub really running without brakes?

I think he just didn't have brakes when he rolled onto the beach.

I believe it has to do something with the elusive and infamous members that belong to the flip flop flyers.

mountainmatt wrote:I believe it has to do something with the elusive and infamous members that belong to the flip flop flyers.

In which I'm glad to say. I'm only a half patch member of that club. Only got her up onto the nose, trying to show off by stopping in 3" of water and stop she did. Should have had some weight in the back. Reluctantly going to probably earn the other half one day by doing something stupid. Just a matter of time if you push it in this business.

bumper wrote:I have a BBW tailwheel tire (just the tire and a spacer if that's needed) I'd sell. Removed as I fly off a lot of pavement and I didn't want to wear out the BBW. Less than 10 hours on tire.

bumper

Sent you a PM on the BBW.

Ordered a set of 29" Airstreaks on Monday, arrived at the Post Office yesterday. Pretty damned good.

Yeah, bet all you AK guys are going to like having them up there now. I wonder how much shipping them down here is going to add to the cost.

Maybe MVRV6 can haul some down here for us on his annual homecoming.