Earthstar Forums

Please share why you bought a Thundergull. Post any comments (good
or bad) to the list.

I haven't talked this over with Mark B. yet, but hope to offer some
useful info to him. I'm a marketing person and want to help keep
Thundergulls affordable (and in business). Often knowing a little
bit about your customers can save money in advertising, or make the
money you do spend more effective.

If Earthstar can save money, prices will stay low and the planes will
stay affordable. So help yourself and others, and reply to this
poll. Thanks.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThunderGu ... d=10433264

You say in your message:

"and want to help keep Thundergulls affordable (and in business"

It sounds from your message that Mark B. might be going out of
business. I am looking into buying an ultralight type aircraft and
while I don't know that much I think Mark's planes are about the best
on the market. Now because of your message, I don't know if I would
consider buying from Earthstar. The saying goes with friends like you
who needs enemies.

Fred Holland

Also note that this same individual has said "I haven't talked
this over with Mark B. yet, but hope to offer some useful info to him".

I don't believe Mark is going out of business or this is news to
him. Why don't you give him a call. I have a recently flying Gull
2000. His prices are to the high side, but the quality and handling
is so much better than a lot of the others out there that it's worth
it in my opinion. Mark seems to keep his operation more of a Mom &
Pop type of operation, in other words very small. He could probably
reduce prices if he did more of a mass production thingy like some of
the others, but not by much as compared to the headaches he would
inherit as well, but my understanding is he doesn't feel the need to
do so (my words not his). Also Mark was at SnF with his T-gulls and
peddling his new radial engine idea as well. Doesn't seem like he
has gone away any at all.

Remember also that this poll has been here for a while, and its
results still have yet to be known (there is also not a lot of
traffic on this board so the results would probably be very few as
well). The type of questions he chose are a bit misleading, but then
again how many polls are designed to take you somewhere you don't
really agree with. Usually you can see the results as you go, but
this guy has kept them secret till the end and for what purpose ??
We also don't know much about his marketing skills or his background,
and since he hasn't even talked with Mark about this, I would not
jump to conclusions about Earthstar without something more tangible.

Jim C

I stand corrected - the results are posted - don't listen to me
either.

Jim C

I was at Mark's yesterday and he has a great engine in
the Rad-Cam. I was inpressed.

He said that he will be at Oshkosh.

Fred - I intended no comment on the viability of Earthstar. I can
see how you might interpret the message that way. But let me assure
you I have zero information about Earthstar's finances. Anything I
say on the subject would have zero credibility.

With that said, I visited the factory recently. Everything seemed to
be operating smoothly. They are building and shipping airplanes.
Earthstar has been around a long time. Mark is still innovating.
And IMO he clearly has the best light planes available. As far as I
know, Earthstar is healthy, wealthy and wise.

And if you are wise, you will take another look at Earthstar. I've
flown a lot of UL's and all others are inefficient, fragile and
uncomfortable by comparison.