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Miniature Aircraft Nitro/Gas Helicopters > How is the health of Miniature Aircraft as a company?
 
 
turboomni
Elite Veteran
Location: 63 Rambler Down By The Dumpster

I have heard rumors and hopefully BS about the future if Min Air. Parts are getting hard to get and Align's 90 nitro possibly taking the wind out of the their sails/sales. I am abit alarmed with what I am hearing and the speculation of their future. Any info on this?
I hope this is BS.

Setup is everything, All my heli's can fly better than I can pilot them
06-25-2008 04:48 AM
 
 
Eury
rrProfessor
Location: Ankeny, IA, USA.

Where'd you hear it? I haven't heard anything about it, or had any trouble getting MA parts or helis. Sounds like you're starting a rumor.


Nick Crego
Back off man, I'm a scientist.
06-25-2008 05:07 AM
 
 
jphilli
Senior Heliman
Location: Marietta, Ga.

Someone is BS'ing you. The heli world knows MA for its quality and it will in fact always be the alternative to Align's and others' junk.

Not sure where you get that parts are hard to get. I just crashed my Stratus a few months ago and the hardest parts to come by were a set of blades and a few pieces of electronics. If you need something from MA then just call them.
06-25-2008 05:09 AM
 
 
RappyTappy
Elite Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Have you not seen the new 90 MA is coming out, looks very cool. The frame set from skids to top bearing block is as small height wise as the 600N. MA machines have always been great flying machines.

I like the look they are bringing back kinda like the 99SE days, little bit wider and shorter




Chris
Xero G

Forever Brothers
Mickey Tylo
06-25-2008 05:17 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
AzHyper
Veteran
Location: Peoria, Az.

Competition is a good thing. Long live MinAir!
06-25-2008 05:21 AM
 
 
turboomni
Elite Veteran
Location: 63 Rambler Down By The Dumpster

[Sounds like you're starting a rumor.[/quote]

NO!!! Not trying to start a RUMOR!!!!!! Just a question is all. With the INVASION of Asian manufactured heli's there are fewer Americsn and European heli's being made.
Like I said I hope it is BS. I want a Spectra this winter and was just wondering how the company was doing was all. I guess you answered my question. Didn't mean to light a fuse

Setup is everything, All my heli's can fly better than I can pilot them
06-25-2008 05:35 AM
 
 
Tracy Tran
Senior Heliman
Location: Sugar Land, Texas 77478

I posted a question in the T rex 700 forum "T rex 700 or Stratus". I found out most people are supporting Stratus registered with runryder since 2002 and those are supporting T rex 700 registered with runryder in 2006. Why? Long live MinAir!
06-25-2008 05:36 AM
 
 
Long Nguyen K.
Senior Heliman
Location: SoCal, USA

Been to this hobby for 2 years and once ultimately in love with Align products but guys, after having seen some MA machines personally I think nobody can beat MA in term of material, machining and designing quality. We all love engineering don't we?

Long-live MA!

Long Nguyen
My SHAVER is cutting rice!
06-25-2008 05:45 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
turboomni
Elite Veteran
Location: 63 Rambler Down By The Dumpster

Quote 
, after having seen some MA machines personally I think nobody can beat MA in term of material, machining and designing quality

I agree totally,,but that wasn't the question. Many great American companies over the years have closed because they couldn't compete with overseas manufacturers,,usually because of price ,,not quality.... And that was my question,,how is Min Air doing?? Are sales good? Are they in the black?

Setup is everything, All my heli's can fly better than I can pilot them
06-25-2008 05:58 AM
 
 
jake26
Senior Heliman
Location: central cali

Well they havent put off the release of the ultimate 90 for 3 years so i would imagine the are doing well and are a reputable company lol!

fly it like u stole it
06-25-2008 06:20 AM
 
 
RappyTappy
Elite Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Min Air has been around since the 80's when the entire heli community had less than one major city of fliers now has. Not too long ago, everyone and their grandma was flying Fury's, the Stratus is a killer machine,,,I think they'll make it.

Chris
Xero G

Forever Brothers
Mickey Tylo
06-25-2008 06:32 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
dick smith
Senior Heliman
Location: perth

Im building a 21 year old xcell , even down here i havent had a problem obtaining parts or advice.Their website is brilliant in terms of information and stuff..... Thanks xcellgasman1
06-25-2008 09:22 AM
 
 
lfalsetto
Veteran
Location: COLORADO

One thing Min has going for them. Good people. They have a following like no one else. The quality of their machines is better than ever.
06-25-2008 01:50 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
turboomni
Elite Veteran
Location: 63 Rambler Down By The Dumpster

I too have had a great experience with them as they were very helpful in getting an old 1005 gasser back in the air. Great company and great products for sure.

Setup is everything, All my heli's can fly better than I can pilot them
06-25-2008 02:09 PM
 
 
tadawson
Elite Veteran
Location: Lewisville, TX

Quote 
I posted a question in the T rex 700 forum "T rex 700 or Stratus". I found out most people are supporting Stratus registered with runryder since 2002 and those are supporting T rex 700 registered with runryder in 2006. Why?

If all the recent flyers have ever seen is cheap offshore crap, that becomes their standard of quality. It's most likely as simple as they have no clue whatsoever what else is out there, or how low in the food chain their favorite brands actually live . . .

- Tim

The more I touch electrics, the more I grow to hate them . . . .
06-25-2008 07:08 PM
 
 
xcell1600
Heliman
Location: Bensenville, IL

The demand for their machines has not decreased. I believe they focused their attention to a few segments of the market. Flyers who demand performance, technical support and quality.

They have abandoned the entry level market and pilots who are less demanding pilots.

So much has changed over the last several years in the retail hobby business. Major ticket items are purchased on line to save sales tax. The local store can not carry all spare parts for every machine. So they invest in the high volume niches (Trex 450 and Raptors)

It has been my experience that high level flyers and the informed hobbiest know more about new products and there release dates than the magazines and/or hobby shops.

I agree that US companies are at a disadvantage when it come to manufacturing costs. The companies that have gone out of business had no value proposition other than price. MA have done a great job of keeping their overhead low. Their core strenghts are product design, customer support and the desire to be a leader in helicoper performance. They have done a great job of outsourcing the actual mfg of the compenents to people who can do it more efficiently.

This may actually help with their survival b/c it will allwo them to be flexible and nimble.


I have been flying for almost 20 years. I wish my skill level would advance as far as my age! I have owned and flown all the major brands. I like the feel of the MA machine.

If you have a problem or question you can speak with people who are informed.

In my opinion they will be around a long time even if they only appeal to a niche of the market.
06-25-2008 07:21 PM
 
 
RappyTappy
Elite Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

Quote 
m building a 21 year old xcell

MA supports their older/discontinued helicopters like no other company on earth. It's really quite amazing and shows their dedication.

Chris
Xero G

Forever Brothers
Mickey Tylo
06-25-2008 07:33 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Bdmcobra
Senior Heliman
Location: Manassas, Virginia

I went to their factory in Florida in Jan. They were busy designing all kinds of new stuff. The first day I went there, they were very hush hush and were blocking the view of the shop in the back. I went there three days in a row because I was modifying my 60se into a 90 and needed their help and parts. On the third day, they realized I was not a spy, which has evidently been a problem, and they let me in the back. They are working hard and were designing canopies for models bigger than the new 450 electric. If anything, MA might be hurting cash wise now only because they are in the process of investing time and developing all kinds of new toys and trinckets for us to play with. It is my guess that they will be coming out with all kinds of new stuff in 2008-2009.

fly once a day to keep the insanity away
06-25-2008 07:45 PM
 
 
xcellgasman101
Elite Veteran
Location: WOODWARD, OKLA....

Miniature Aircraft will be here long after some of the other company's are long gone!!!! Long Live MA!!!

Quote 
Thanks xcellgasman1
Your Welcome!!! Dick Smith XGM/VGM

John Crotts
www.soonerhelicamproductions.com
06-25-2008 07:51 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
TomC
Veteran
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

I'm an electric guy and I love my 2 original Ion-x's. One is a double-staged and the other is a single staged. With only a few mods, these heli's have been very trouble-free over the last few years.

My only complaint is that even though they support +10-15 year old X-cell's they do no longer support the original (2004/5) single staged Ion-x parts (for example, MA124-110). I know that MA offers a reasonably priced Ion-x2 upgrade (w/belts) but this is not what all of us want imop.

I really hope that MA does well in the future. But, based on a few MA users (and ex-users)suggestions, I have bought a few used Ion-x's for parts over the last year so I should be ok for a few crashes!

I'm sure that their nitro and gasser heli's will go on for a long time to come. I'm not as confident about their 50-90 sized electric range right now though. Hope I'm wrong!

Cheers,
TomC

CX2 2s
Logo10- 3D 5s
Trex600 10s
2x Ion-x, 1x15s DS, 1x15s SS
06-26-2008 12:24 PM
 
 
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Miniature Aircraft Nitro/Gas Helicopters > How is the health of Miniature Aircraft as a company?
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