Don't know how many have noticed that VectorFlight has ceased production of their highly regarded line of aerobatic aircraft. Those who have flown them have elevated them to the level of cult status and those of us who have them now need to take care to maintain them long into the future. Its with much sadness that I watch this happen. They were a quality North American company doing it right, as their legendary customer service showed. But in the Global economy" world they were shot down by the value of the Chinese yen. We should all be saddened to see them go.

bob branch

F'n commies and slick willy screwed everybody over[:@]

i wanted their sukhoi waaaaahh

Yes its a big bummer. They will be back better than ever, i just know it! I was going to make a e-card for them and have all the VF pilots out there sign it but, that fell through. My web hosting company scammed me so nothing got finished.

VF is a great company with a great ARF but, things do happen. All the people here on RC universe needs to show their support and hopefully things will look brighter in the future.

How could the value of the Chinese Yen effect a Canadian based, small manufacture of model airplanes?

Greg

Greg

The Chinese government has been keeping the value of the yen considerably below its market value. This essentially applies a government subsidy to all products produced. Two identical products produced there and here will always be cheaper even given the same costs because of the government subsidy there. We have been reaping it in the form of dirt cheap ARF's. I'm sure you have noticed you cannot build a model from a kit that is also ARF'd for the price you can buy the ARF for. This is the reason. The kit and materials alone here cost more than it costs to produce the model in its entirety there.

So you get a company like VectorFlight, trying in the environment of a North American economy, and a product cannot be made competatively. Even when the quality is better and better supported the margins are just not there to give an adequate return to the business. Go price a new Chevy suv and look at the orign of the components, you will quickly see how the truth of this comes into play.

Its a shame. VectorFlight really tried to fight this even by moving part of its operations to Canada. Even with their legendary customer service. Its just the beginning of the bell tolling. Look at the happenings in the auto supply and very soon auto industry to see the next place the shoe falls.

bob

What are you talking about??? [sm=rolleyes.gif]

Japanese Yen. Chinese Rindibindi thingy. Actually Renminbi. :&gt or Yuan close to Yen.

So, when are the chinese going to put Carden out of business? So long as the local companies deliver good product and service they have nothing to fear.

Have a good look, most of the expensive goodies we have been buying for many years have all come from other countries - OS, Webra, Futaba, JR, Airtronics/Sanwa, Oracover/Ultracoat, Zenoah, 3W and many other brands.

So, back off the chinese.

'Nuff said.

I am saddened to hear this news. I have owned a VF Extra and it was one of my favs for years. I flew the jeebers out of that thing and was considering their edge as sport sunday flier with a Saito 100. I just checked the website and all appears to be running? Can someone verify this is true?


matt

At the top of their page they state:
Also, notice all airplanes are out of stock.