Delete- It's just not worth it

EZFlap,

I think what Z said is what a lot of us have been thinking for some time, but have not brought up. We all enjoy your input, feel you are quite knowledgable on many things aviation, but less commercial may be in order. I am sure you have a great product and so do I (eat more corn flakes). We look forward to your continued posts. Steve

I used to race a 61 Mini Cooper in some local events many years ago. I had old WWll Aircraft belts in it. I liked being held in place so your not hanging on the steering wheel. That is one reason I bought the cheap harnesses for my plane. I do agree with Bill that his flap handle has some merit and I would like to see/try one out.

Bill, before everyone starts riding you like a cheap mule, you might want to pass up some of these threads. I had a friend that started selling Insurance and after a while no one would talk to him because everything you said pertained to how much insurance you needed. I want to see your handle in real life and I am still waiting for the 50% off sale .

Jerry

OK Jerry, thanks for the advice. Let me know any time you're anywhere near the LA area and we'll go fly my old 172.

1SeventyZ wrote:I know you have a product to sell, and you do it a little with every post, but it's starting stink a little when you start discouraging inertial reel systems to do so. Flaps aren't the only reason to lean forward.

All I can say is AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!! Well said Zane. I'm also starting to get sick of the same arguments ad infinitem.

As to the BAS system, I agree totally with MTV....maybe that's because he and I have seen that and done that.....it sure saved me from face-planting the panel when I wrecked the Buzzard 2 years ago. I swore then and I still swear from experience that I will NOT own a Cessna without having the BAS harnesses installed. My first Cessna had a johnson bar. My 182 has the lever. I still mandate the BAS setup in my birds.....end of story. Those that don't, it's their butt, not mine to worry about.

EZFlap wrote:My point is that an inertia reel does not solve the flap control location issue. Cessna did not put the flap control at the correct location and neither does BAS.

....

Now I come along, with an equally valid invention that solves a separate issue. The airplanes were built with the flap handle in the wrong location and it forced everyone to go bobbing for apples to reach the flap handle... with or without ANY and EVERY type of shoulder harness or none at all. Just like the BAS unit, the GPS, the memory foam seat cushion, and the "Flight Boss" organizer... people have been flying without a flap handle extension for years.

But when I offer the product for sale, nobody wants to give me the same fair shake. Nobody slammed the BAS people half to friggin' death saying "I've been flying this airplane for 75 years without your gadget installed!!!" Nobody slammed the the GPS manufacturers to the point of insantiy, even though we'd all been flying on charts and E6B's for years.

....

But still, many of the people here on these internet forums treat me like I'm selling "as seen on TV" junk that doesn't do what it's advertised to do. The same people who wring their hands over the death of general aviation and the general decline of innovations in aviation won't support the guy who comes up with something new and useful. That's what stinks.

As you point out, they are two separate issues!!! Treat them as two separate issues. When talking about flap operation difficulties and design, wade in there and hawk your product to the best of your ability. When talking about belts and harnesses, quit trying to still hawk your product to the max.... Read your own post where you state they are two separate issues and follow the logic of your own statement where you acknowledge they are separate issues.

EZFlap, sometimes you remind me of the telemarketers in the days before the do-not-call legislation. That is a bad thing. I loved your staunch, yet civil, defense of your extremely unconventional suggestion of a theoretical canyon hammerhead. That was a good thing. Can I get one without the other?

Zane, I submit that it is past time to tweak the rules a little. Just as you require political jokes and opinions to be posted in hot air, there should be a dedicated forum category for advertisements. Any post that's trying to sell us something should immediately get moved there. I can't be the only one that would like to skip the commercials.

It's a grey area. I welcome the candid discussion from people in the industry, like Wup Winn, Matt Sharp, Steve's Aircraft, et al. I think it's a great value to have professionals and representatives from these companies contributing and providing insight on their products and services. It's free advertising but they are providing us with valuable information and advice as well.

There is a threshold, however, where overselling obeys the law of diminishing returns. I understand the need to flap, I have done more than anyone here, but there is an also an art to pimping your wares without engaging in argument. I think EZ Flap has been a good sport about a lot of this, he took quit a lashing in the Hammerhead thread and his original STC thread. I think it says much about one's character to refrain from personal insults against that stuff. It's hard to have strong opinions and hold your tongue. I learned that in Hot Air last year and took a good lesson from it. But the customer, even potential ones, are always right.

Currently there is no competition for advertisement in our forum, so I won't be enforcing any policies. But with the coming new website, there will be banner advertising, and new rules about ads and promotion in the forum.

Sorry you guys feel so slighted, Please accept my apology for that. Zane, thanks for the kind words at a time when it would have been easier to throw stones.

Fly safe folks.

Bill

Back to Shoulder Harnesses. Just like everything, some products are better in some respects than others. I doubt you will see many BAS Systems in acrobatic or competition planes but for all out private use they are probally the best for comfort and safety. Whether you have fixed Harnesses or Reels, both will do the same thing in a crash.

Unfortunately for me, money matters and I opted for the ones from Aircraft Spruce. They cost about $750 less than the BAS. I just wanted harnesses in before I put in the headliner so I got the cheap ones. If money wasnt involved I would have the BAS in my plane.

I plan to buy one of Bills's Flap handels when I can. Not just because I won't have to loosen the straps when I use the flaps. I have had 2 back surgerys and that handle gets farther away every year, doesn't matter if I'm using the shoulder harnesses or not.

As for Bill trying to sell his product. The guy is just trying to make a buck. You guy have the choice whether to read his posts or not. I find the discussions that follow his posts very entertaining. That's one thing I like about this forum is the heated discussions and that people here can say stuff here that would be thrown off a lot of fourms. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth and probably not worth that.

Jerry

EZFlap wrote:Sorry you guys feel so slighted, Please accept my apology for that. Zane, thanks for the kind words at a time when it would have been easier to throw stones.

Fly safe folks.

Bill

Bill,
Please send advertisement funds to Terry in Amity, OR 97101
I will take that money and spend it on BCP tee-shirts for us all.