New Brantleys?

[Contrail]

Hello Folks,

Another new member after hovering the site for some time.

Are new B2s still being built ?

Thanks.

[Swedekap]

Yes. They are made in Vernon, TX. Brantly's website is http://www.brantly.com.

[Contrail]

Yes. They are made in Vernon, TX. Brantly's website is http://www.brantly.com.

Thanks.

So if I were to put my ear to the factory door, would I hear some noise going on inside now?
I have a hunch that it is very quiet, but hopefully I'm wrong.

[edspilot]

Contrail:

Did you ever hear any noise at the factory? Did you call? I wonder what the new ones are going for these days. Nothing new on the web page and no prices listed and only a 2002 model shown for sale.

Hope you are not right about being quiet.

Happy Holidays,

edspilot

[www.helischein.de]

I was in China last year to talk to them about buying a new B2B. As far as what they said, the chinese state owned aviation giant CATIC (http://www.catic.cn/en/) has bought the remains of the company and the production license as they were interested in a US brand. There are people in the chinese management that are thinking about developing a new model and produce it there. I just send some photos the the webmaster so you might see them in the photo section soon.

[Swedekap]

Contrail,

Sorry for the late response, I was out of town. I don't know up to the minute details about the company's health, but I aclled the factory about some parts a few weeks ago and the guy I talked to there said the company was doing ok. I ordered a part about a couple of months before that and got it pretty quickly. He also said their plan was to keep building in the US and China and hey had just shipped several aircraft to China.

[edspilot]

12-31-08, 10:48am ET

Happy New Year to all.

I'm still looking for a ship so I called the factory this morning and spoke with Vernon in sales and inquired about the lack of updating to the web page. Specifically, if this is an indication of the "health" and future of the Brantly helicopter as we know it. Vernon stated that he had not looked at the page for some time and did not know what aircraft were pictured. That answer did not give a warm and fuzzy feeling.

The only aircraft they have for sale is the one shown that is a 2000 model and painted like the flag. Price is $170,000.00. He said that if this ship did not sell soon it will be shipped to China.

He stated that Brantly had shipped several (no number) to China in 2008 and that the China factory plans to produce several next year themselves.

He also stated that his factory is planning on producing only 12 ships (1 a month) in 2009. He further stated their limit is due to a supplier issue with the engine. They only have 12 engines on hand for production.

Additionally, he said the price for the 2009 models will be $230,000.00, interesting how that is just below the new R22 Beta IIs.

Vernon was very helpful with info and sounded like he has been around for a while.

That is all I know.

Be Safe!

edspilot

[Ron Spiker]

$230k !!!!!!!! I don't think they've sold more than a handful since they raised the price to $170k. They obviously are not very interested in selling ships to US residents. They've proven this year after year.

And "only 12 in 2009" seems to be a record for recent history. I hadn't heard of that many being built in total in the last 6+ years combined. Unless all new ships are going to China.

[Contrail]

That's good to hear that there is still a heartbeat in the factory.

Personally I think their marketing effort is very weak and they really need to promote sales in a big way.

[edspilot]

After the call and thinking about it since then, my feeling is that the China company only bought Brantly for the certificate, tooling and instant delivery of ships to there.

Contrail, like you said that their marketing is none. If you do not update your web page in over 6 months, then you are not serious about selling. Actions speak louder that words on the phone.

You current owners are the best sales people they have and you get no help, helping them. However, there are only a few of you out there and they are going to have to use the internet to get the word out if they are serious. But I guess they do not have to be serious, when they can ship any not sold to China.

One thing I forgot to mention, I asked him if there were any significant changes or upgrades to the 2009 models and he said no. Only minor things light "ring lights" vs post lights for the instruments and gauges and the like. I asked about changes to horsepower, blade, transmission, electrical and the answer was no.

My thought is that after the China company gets their plant producing to full production, this one will be sold/closed. Just a guess. Nothing to really base this on just a feeling in this down market.

Hope I'm wrong.

edspilot

[Ron Spiker]

I've always had the opinion that the main problem with the company was marketing - as is, there is none, whatsoever. That's why I'm saying they don't really WANT to sell ships. They don't offer any incentives, help or support to those of us who are flying and/or instructing in their ship, going to fly-ins and giving away free rides to promote it. They aren't at all interested in helping us help them. I've talked with them several times about working with me to help them market the Brantly and each time it ends up with them saying "no thanks". So, as a company you're making almost no sales, so you raise the price $20k. After a couple of years of still almost no more sales and the price is going to go up yet again, this time another $60k. Yea, THAT makes sense.

I agree about the China ownership. Seems like they just wanted a US helicopter company, then take it over and end up moving operations to China. I don't know if that's what is going on, but its a fact that for as long as I've been a Brantly owner that the company has not been serious about selling helicopters.

[senglish]

UPDATE; we picked up the cabin for the simulator we are building today, they donated it so that they could get advertising for the Brantly out of it and they will.
We took a tour of the Brantly factory. They had several under construction and we were told that they are sold as fast as they can build them. We saw how they made the blades and helicopters in different stages of completion.
They are looking to almost double the work force to get production up to one a month. So if you know any experienced aircraft builders looking for a job……
Everyone was professional and more than happy to answer our questions.
We discussed their owners (can’t pronounce their name) they have factories in China due to open this year (It is one of the companies that make aircraft parts for Boeing). This will make parts more readily available once the FAA and CATIC go through their processes.
They also said they will update the web page.

As far as the future, they said that they will be able to get parts that have been hard to get here. They have been assured by the owners that this plant will stay open but many parts will eventually be built by their plants in China and sent to Vernon for production here.
Their future sounds bright and their recourses expanding.

It was a great day and I have a new favorite hat!!!