Hello

[MinAirUSA]

no more info yet , but we're shooting for the first half of 2011. I will definately post some more when we have some good pics and info.

[barney]

Hi Brian welcome to heliaddicts. I've Followed a few of your threads and replies over the years on that 'other' forum

Always good to see someone taking the time drop in, and look forward to your contributions here.

Brian

[daren]

Hi Brian
welcome to the forum, my last of a number of miniature aircraft helis was a stratus.
The final nail in the coffin for me was the attitude of the then supplier!
Get this sorted, sponsor some english pilots and show yourself at our events and i'm sure you'll do good.

[3D Heli Ireland]

Hey Brian good to see you on here, but by the looks of it you should give up the full time GM job, you won't have time to do it now your getting on the forums!

It's really encouraging to see a manufacturer come on here and stand by his product like this, there aren't too many that do that these days.

Also great to see the success already of the new Fury 55 and Furion 6 models getting out there. I know several guys over here where I live who have converted over to MA in the last few months and have never looked back.

As some of the guys on here and indeed yourself have already mentioned we know "Old MA" had become stagnant in lots of different ways, advertising, supply chain and availability etc (but never quality!) and it is great to see the NEW order come on here to let everyone know that so much has changed. For example over here in the UK you now have your pick of going to either Motors & Rotors, Midland Helicopters or Fastlad Performance for for your kits and spares and all are carrying great stocks.

The MA Team pilots will follow with time but lets hope "NEW MA" can see some more well deserved success over here.

David Nolan

[Biggles]

Just had a bit of a chat with Brian regarding X-Cells etc. What a really understanding guy. TOTALLY different from my past dealings with MA in the UK.

Wish him all the success and hopefully one day I will have the faith to invest in MA once again!

[3D Heli Ireland]

Hey Biggles, yeah Brian is a top guy and has a clear vision for what he wants MA to represent. Quality helicopters that we can all enjoy and none of the bs. You should have another, closer look at the new stuff....it jus might wet your appetite! ;-)

[Steve]

Good to see you on board Brian.

I have a Fury Tempest which is only a few months old (sat in the box for quite some time) and it's a great heli. However, I'm kinda nervous to fly it because of the complete lack of spares availability over here. The spares for the 55 and the Furion are generally readily available from Fast Lads, but the rest of the MA range is only supported by one shop in the UK, and their support is at best, patchy.

The question that's always gone through my mind with regards to these helis, which are by the way simply superb, is why MA have allowed their product support to be so poor in the UK for so many years?

I'm glad your making moves to improve this situation, and hope that it will be a full and complete transition.

[MinAirUSA]

Steve,

The Tempest is a really cool model, and was my favorite for a long time.

I completely understand what you're saying, and unfortunately we're in a bit of a tough spot there. We can't really "force" the U.K. dealers to carry the parts if they don't want to. It seems crazy to me that they wouldn't because there are a lot of these older models out there. I would definately recommend contacting one of the other dealers and make them aware that yourself, and others have these models, and need a place to buy parts! I can tell them until I'm blue in the face, but until they hear it from the customers, I think my pleas will fall on deaf ears...lol!

We're doing everything we can on our end to make sure that there are parts for the older models, as long as there is demand. Obviously, there is a point where the demand drops so low that it is not a wise business decision to keep making certain parts, but we have typically kept a larger stock for older and discontinued models far longer than any other manufacturer.

There is always the option of buying from the U.S. as well, I know it's not as convenient as getting parts from the local hobby shop, but it is an option.

[Steve]

Dear Fast Lads, Midland Helis, Revolution Models, Skyline Models and any others who might be reading.

Please can you stock parts for the MA Fury and the MA Stratus (my mate's got a few of them)?

Thanks.



But seriously, I understand your point Brian entirely, but in my opinion, the most significant reason that MA helis are not so popular over here is because the support has been traditionally so poor - it's a chicken and egg situation.

[pgkevet]

Dear Fast Lads, Midland Helis, Revolution Models, Skyline Models and any others who might be reading.

Please can you stock parts for the MA Fury and the MA Stratus (my mate's got a few of them)?

Thanks.

..And my spectra!!

[Bladebeater]

Welcome Brian.

A few SpectraG and IONX2 UK spares would be nice rather than keep getting hit for import charges

Cheers

[Steve]

Brian

What plans do MA have for the future with respect to new models?

Recent years have seen the Stratus, Furion, IonX and 55 come along. What next?

[MinAirUSA]

Brian

What plans do MA have for the future with respect to new models?

Recent years have seen the Stratus, Furion, IonX and 55 come along. What next?

Actually, some pretty exciting stuff. We're working on a new "90" size (nitro, electric, and gasoline) platform right now, we are hoping to release sometime in the first half of 2011. We're making some drastic changes to the way we design models, as you have seen with the Fury 55 and the Furion 6. Simplicity and ease of assembly and repair are the highest priority. Simplifying the design brings the cost down as well.

[Steve]

Simplifying the design brings the cost down as well.

Well yes, MA helis have always traditionally had a high parts count, just like other 'older' high end machines like Robbe, but it is this attention to engineering detail that makes them so good. The newer breeds like Align have made RC helis affordable to the masses and long may they continue (I have a 700 as well), but they are not in the same ball park in terms of adjustability and engineering tolerance as MA, Aurora etc.

You need to drive down the cost to the end user to stay in the market, but there has to be a compromise somewhere, and I would suggest - don't go too low, stick to your roots as best you can.

[Stuart]

I loved my Fury Extreme - funnily enough I was toying with the idea of hunting down a second hand one.