Snap_roll,

I feel your pain...

I lost a new Angels Shadow on its maiden flight a few years ago. I purchased it new, and it was shipped direct from Technohobby out of Moscow. Unlike Patrnflyr's experience Technohobby declined any help other than a "reduced" price on another. Mine was a "brand new" Glow model that unknown to me, had sat at Technohobby for 2 years prior (serial number 113, when current production was 186) to my purchase. I had owned two other shadows (#20 and #30) for three years prior to this purchase, so I know the airplanes inside and out. The manufacturer stated that the failure was do to rudder flutter, however this was one of his older designs with the counterbalanced rudder, not the unbalanced one they moved to after this model was built. Over the years I had experienced losing a rudder line to one side due to a clevis failure and the rudder trailed fine. On the one I lost, witnesses saw the whole tail section (stab and fin, not elevator and rudder) wiggle and then vibrate hard as I came gently out of a long knife edge trim pass and separate from the plane.

While I understand the manufacturers concern over posting on the web, when something goes bad, everyone needs to hear both sides (yes they can post too) and make their own determination. Some companies no longer exist and others continue to thrive, while both may have had similar problems. It sounds like customer service, being concerned about product quality and what leaves the factory is key. That, along with taking care of things when bad stuff happens, even if there is the hint of a manufacturing or materials failure, that means a companies survival long term.

For me it was $2700.00 USD out the window along with all the damage flight gear and it hit me rather hard, both mentally and financially. Hang in there, you have brothers in your fraternity.

Marty

The whole story on my Shadow is posted at http://www.fancyflying.150m.com/a_sh...ormer_self.htm