I’ve known for a while now and was asked to keep it on the DL, but I think cat’s out of the bag.

For those who don’t know, Sean has sold either part, or all (not really sure,) of his biz (to include Airframes and Bushwheels,) to private equity. Transition is underway, and I’m not privy to what will be made where (presumably all will eventually be moved to KS under McFarlane,) but change is coming with the Vance Street Capitol acquisition.

For those that have been around for a while, we remember Bill bringing the tyre out of AK down to ID. There were the Wup years (shout out,) then the sale/move back to AK, the growing pains, the Palmer facility, the bunny boots, and now another sale. Curious as to your thoughts?

With the Arcline Investment Mgmt gobbling up companies like Hartzell and Skytec, and Vance Street buying Mcfarlane and now Airframes, things cant be good for the little guy...

When Bushwheels were mom n’ pop and reasonably priced, it was easy… but now with a private equity move, we will surely see a price spike… and with the new Grove/Desser 29/31” option, the big question will be how y’all choose to spend the hard earned cash. Thoughts???

I purchased my first set of ABW's from Bill in 2002 when he brought a load of deflated tires up to Fairbanks in the back of his truck. I am still running these same 31's. Now that I keep our Cub on floats, I run these under our 180H. No pavement, lots of Alaska gravel, no checks, no cord, look near new at nearing 24 years old. Only anecdotal data here, the present production does not appear to be matching the longevity of the original product. In my opinion, quality and purpose wins. It is undebatable the product has purpose, the question is, can the producing entity, whoever it may be, manufacture quality.

TR

Good riddance to Sean and his bunny boot models, McFarlane can't be worse.

Seems like Hartzell has been buying everything in sight, & more recently seems like McF is buying whatever Hartzell doesn't.
A little healthy competition is good for everyone, but it seems like Hartzell has a bit of a monopoly on exhaust & engine mount shops.
Someone posted elsewhere lumping Aircraft Spruce in with them-- I disagree, far as I can tell Spruce is a distributor.

hotrod180 wrote: lumping Aircraft Spruce in with them-- I disagree, far as I can tell Spruce is a distributor.

But they bought and dismantled Wag Aero, which made some cool stuff.

Any time a company with unique products is bought by a private equity firm, the primary edict from the top is "Profit is king". That has happened so many times now, and is happening a lot in aviation. I can understand why someone who has built a company and run it for many years may be looking to retire, and those $$$ waved in front of them by these equity firms is hard to pass up, and how many small time operators has the cash to buy something like Airframes?

Then again, I own stock in companies that manufacture tobacco products, because they make money, so who am I to preach?

asa wrote:Good riddance to Sean and his bunny boot models, McFarlane can't be worse.

Agreed.


I’m just a poser in NC. Not a guy who needs these tires to make a living. With the way things are going I see a set of Goodyear 26’s in my future when I wear these 29’s out I think.

Anybody remember when BW's could be had in different durometers? Man I sure do, what a great concept, just like race cars...

Of course like most people just starting out I just called em tundra tires Didn't matter.... I couldn't afford a set anyways. Until this cool old cat driving a Maule with a cowboy hat and boots offered me his hardly used set at an unbelievable steal. Was he just being being kind to the long haired wannabe flying north on wore out 8.50's or was he setting the bait for a life long customer?

His gamble paid, as life matured I ran through several renditions of all sizes they dreamt up. Although by then I mostly dealt with his son in law a super cool cat as well, he often offered up 'bro' deals, inside knowledge and was clearly a powerhouse in growing the company to coolness.

After that sale and move back to AK the mom and pops feel left, and so did a measure of intimate customer service, it wasn't terrible, it just wasn't like talking to a bro. Bill wasn't the OG BW guy of course, but he sure wasn't corporate America either.

People in the ag-av world have seen this happen with operations time and time again, the further up the money horsepower lane the operation travels, the further down the tubes the dream the started the whole thing goes. Not much new here, welcome to 'progress'

OTOH, had BW Bill not sold out and then the others, maybe all the coolness just fades away? We've all seen that happen before, and even recently as the Sedan drivers and wannabes can attest to.

Take care, Rob

asa wrote:bunny boot models

I emailed Alaska Gear Company to see if I could unsubscribe specifically from all the bunny boot emails. Never got a response

I was at Birchwood with a youth shooting group several years ago and walked over to the field to look around. I found a guy who had spoken with me by phone and helped me out so II stopped in to say hi to him.
Just around the corner I found an Alaska Bush Wheels shop. I couldn't afford them, didn't really need them but the folks there were really nice to talk to and explained how they were made and so on.

This sort of friendly customer interaction will be way more difficult with a bigger, less personal business model.

Too Bad

The only thing constant in life is change. I for one appreciate all the time, money and effort Sean into Airframes and Bushwheels. Without his efforts we may not even have Bushwheels anymore not to mention Keller Flaps, a 3 leaf tail spring that does not bend in one summer, Extended HD gear for Mauls, Lightweight 35 in Bushwheel rims, Aluminum struts, and countless other parts and pieces all with a STC. If you look at the product lines they all overlapped. Lots of pilots up here want Bunny Boots/Arctic level tents/sleds. I ran into him a few year ago coming back from a Hunt on the Brooks with his 3 place, he had that same tired by happy smile most cub drivers have. I am not excited about the price of most stuff but I don't see too many people wanting to put up with todays FAA rules, Tariffs, and general business BS standing in line to start a company and build a better mousetrap.
DENNY

The good news is most of the Airframes/Bushwheel staff all moved over with the new company.
DENNY

DENNY wrote:The only thing constant in life is change. I for one appreciate all the time, money and effort Sean into Airframes and Bushwheels. Without his efforts we may not even have Bushwheels anymore not to mention Keller Flaps, a 3 leaf tail spring that does not bend in one summer, Extended HD gear for Mauls, Lightweight 35 in Bushwheel rims, Aluminum struts, and countless other parts and pieces all with a STC. If you look at the product lines they all overlapped. Lots of pilots up here want Bunny Boots/Arctic level tents/sleds. I ran into him a few year ago coming back from a Hunt on the Brooks with his 3 place, he had that same tired by happy smile most cub drivers have. I am not excited about the price of most stuff but I don't see too many people wanting to put up with todays FAA rules, Tariffs, and general business BS standing in line to start a company and build a better mousetrap.
DENNY

It's true. He pushed for some innovation and much requested STCs on the stuff that helps our kind of airplanes. It takes a cash infusion to make that happen sometimes.

I say good luck to him. He developed niche products for a very limited market of titewads. The fact that his products were really good was why they sell. I have several friends with businesses that they have sweated over for years and are struggling to find an exit strategy. One comes along - grab it.
That said its hard to imagine that money guys without the passion will run it in a way I will like.