bi-polar, or am i nuts

[jchronic]

And to Ernie's earlier point, my use of the phrase "over a barrel" was a poor choice of words. I don't think that most suppliers are necessarily gouging us (pilots); the situation is simply a reflection of the economic realities of the market as it is.

Maintaining an inventory of scarce items for what is essentially a niche - and diminishing - market, i.e. Skymaster owners, isn't a robust business model or a formula for getting rich. With many/most parts either out of production or otherwise hard to find, as long as we want or need to keep our airplanes flying paying the price of admission is going to be a fact of life. And the suppliers are in business to try and make a profit, not to subsidize our avocation.

Joe

[SkyMac]

I strongly recommend the use of Ernies list of suppliers as a key starting point for parts, this along with other information that Ernie has taken the time to compile provides us all with relevant information, enabling choice.

Don should always be the first supplier you contact. He has been a source for a number of parts for my project.

Dave

[Ernie Martin]

I just updated the list last month (it's in the Purchasing Parts page of my "backup" Skymaster website at www.SkymasterUS.com).

Incidentally, at the bottom of the page is an annotated picture of the attendees of the 2004 Skymaster Fly-in, so you can put faces with names for some of the people who participate on this Message Board (e.g., Don Nieser).

Ernie

[Skymaster337B]

I'm blaming Obama for the higher cost of parts, avgas, and lower hull values....oh, but everyone will get free healthcare.