Lance Doesn't Expect Changes
We heard, through an ANN
News-Spy, that the kit aircraft business (including the
helicopters) had been sold. It didn't take long for us to call
Lance Niebauer, to find out how true that was. "That's true -- it's
in process," he told us; "Everything's basically agreed to, and
done. I'm just running off copies, as we're talking."
Who's the new owner?
"It's been sold to a former customer, who's been
'part of the family' for a long time," Lance told us. "Joe Bartels,
an attorney in Louisiana, will be moving out here and taking this
one on. He approached us a while ago [about his buying the
business]; I got to thinking it might be a good idea." The new
owner is no stranger to the Lancair crowd: Mr. Bartels is the guy
who put on the super-duper 'Crawdad Feast" at Sun 'n Fun each
year.
Lance continued: "Joe's a businessman and a good
customer." He's more than that, too. "He developed the air
conditioning for the Lancair."
As far as the deal itself went, Lance told us, "All the pieces
looked pretty good. I thought it might be good for the company."
Although "I wasn't looking to sell the company," he said, "it'll be
good for the employees; that's what I care about the most." Mr. N
got a little philosophical. "This isn't about me -- it's about
adding resources for the company."
Nothing should change: "It'll be the same company -- nobody's
leaving; Joe's entering at the top, and he's also got additional
money available, for projects, for expansion."
When?
Lance told us, "We reached the agreement in principle just last
week." Then he just had to know: "How did you guys get this?" Back
to basics: "It should be final within the next three weeks; we're
working the paper shuffle right now."
Whence Lance?
"I'll still be involved with the company," the
founder told us. "I like to design new products; that's what I'll
be doing."
Some really cool projects are staying around, even expanding.
"We're still working with the Mexican Navy -- we'll be finishing
the first shipment in March. Then they'll be talking about the
Sentry (tandem, built on a four-place lower-half, with the
Walter)." And guess what? "It's ten knots faster" than the
four-place on which it's based, more than likely due to the reduced
frontal area. Lance assured us he'll stay active with both the
kits, and of course, the Columbia.