Backcountry Pilot

[RDUStinson offline]

Continental has been sold to the Chinese:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/TeledyneContinentalMotors_SoldToTechnify_AVICInternational_China_203788-1.html

I get more scared about the future of our country every day...

[Zzz]

Teledyne Continental Motors has been sold to Technify Motors, a subsidiary of AVIC International, a Chinese-based holding company with diverse business interests in the aerospace sector.

Economically, this is bad I suppose for the long term health of US aerospace manufacturing. However, the Chinese company is a few holding companies up the chain, and I imagine they are hands off. I do not foresee Chinese overlords walking into the TCM factory and demanding less metal be used in bearing journals.

I find this interesting though:

One immediate goal, says VanWees, is an infusion of capital to rapidly develop the diesel technology TCM bought last spring from SMA. Although no one is sure of the timing, the Chinese general aviation market is seen as a significant growth opportunity and the diesel engine could be pitched into that market in the two- to five-year time frame.

I think this is probably the most common reasoning for selling to the Chinese holding companies-- capital infusion. Where are the wealthy American businessmen when you need them?

[hotrod180 offline]

.....I get more scared about the future of our country every day...

I guess there are several different meanings one could read into this statement -- one would be concern over the general selling-off of american businesses to foreign interests. I don't esp like that either, but reading the linked artilce, I found a key phrase not once but twice: "an infusion of capital". Apparently they needed money, and selling the operation was the best way to get it. It woulda been nice if an american company had stepped up to the plate- but apparently that didn't happen.
I don't think TCM has any key defense secrets that will now be utilized by the Chinee against our gloabal interests, if that's your worry.

[RDUStinson offline]

Economically, this is bad I suppose for the long term health of US aerospace manufacturing.

I see it more as yet another step in the pilfering of all US technology and manufacturing. China has been making a few more forays recently in aviation and I'd bet my left foot that they will eventually move production over there. We cannot compete on a cost basis with Chinese manufacturing.

The US is becoming more broke every day, and it's China who holds most of our loan papers.

[Throttle Pusher offline]

American Made by the Chinese.

The sticker at the bottom of the engine is going to read.

MADE IN MOBILE CHINA

[dirtstrip offline]

I posted an article on this over on the kitplane thread. It stated that there are only 900 general aviation planes in all of China but with the rising incomes there it will change fast. The wealthy will not put up with long lines at mass transit stations. Probably buying the technology from TCM is cheaper than just copying and ripping off the designs as they come out, like the Chinese used to do. Downside to that is it tools them up for the old technology and keeps them behind. Plus, they used to have no fears of lawsuits on patent rights, that is changing with their international business status rising also. This purchase will get them the future TCM plans that are still on the board now and put them at the front of engine design. They can afford it now.

[Stol offline]

You guys need to look at the BIG picture.......

China buys more and more of our critical and unique manufacurers, ships that offshore and it is gone forever. Now let a war break out and you can bet there will be friction between us/ US and the rest of the world. All it will take is maybe a accidental missle launch, some ambassador reading wikileaks and getting pissed or even an outright lead throwing pissing match and we are going to be spending 95% of our time playing catch up. Having to defend our homeland will stretch us to the limit and maybe beyond. IMHO.

Now this is off to hot air and Rob was not even involved....... YET.. Sorry Zane.

Ben.

[RDUStinson offline]

I sure don't see us as the same country that was capable of churning out tens of thousands of B17s when we had to...

[behindpropellers offline]

Teledyne Continental Motors has been sold to Technify Motors, a subsidiary of AVIC International, a Chinese-based holding company with diverse business interests in the aerospace sector.

Economically, this is bad I suppose for the long term health of US aerospace manufacturing. However, the Chinese company is a few holding companies up the chain, and I imagine they are hands off. I do not foresee Chinese overlords walking into the TCM factory and demanding less metal be used in bearing journals.

I find this interesting though:

One immediate goal, says VanWees, is an infusion of capital to rapidly develop the diesel technology TCM bought last spring from SMA. Although no one is sure of the timing, the Chinese general aviation market is seen as a significant growth opportunity and the diesel engine could be pitched into that market in the two- to five-year time frame.

I think this is probably the most common reasoning for selling to the Chinese holding companies-- capital infusion. Where are the wealthy American businessmen when you need them?

Zane-

However, the Chinese company is a few holding companies up the chain, and I imagine they are hands off.

The only hand they have is the one that is on the funnel with our $$ going into their pockets. 186 Million is a steal for all of the R&D that continental has done over the past 50 years. No doubt, the Chinese will move all R&D and Manufacturing to their homeland in the next five years. I'm sure all of the engineers and scientists at TCM can go get jobs being plumbers or car salesmen in the USA. Avweb thinks that manufacturing cannot be moved to China.....unfortunately, they are wrong.

Tim

[pitman11 offline]

[NineThreeKilo offline]

I posted an article on this over on the kitplane thread. It stated that there are only 900 general aviation planes in all of China but with the rising incomes there it will change fast. The wealthy will not put up with long lines at mass .....

From what I have heard of how their commercial guys are trained and turn out, I can only imagine what the weekend warrior private training is going to turn out... Man it's going to be raining Chinese, I see private cessnas and beechcrafts lawn darting left and right.

[Stol offline]

I agree...... If they fly like they drive it will be raining aluminum........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QESfEd18 ... r_embedded

[dirtstrip offline]

I'll bet a lot of them will be trained here, or at least the instructors.
http://flightops.aero.und.edu/

[Zzz]

I think it is a bit obtuse to assume that a Chinese acquisition of TCM is motivated by a participatory interest in general aviation. The company is AVIC, not the Chinese government. As stated in the article, Teledyne claims "we're not an aviation company," which leads me to believe that this shifting around of dollars and assets at high levels is purely profit driven.

As for the value of the R&D... would you pay $186 million for air-cooled boxer technology that's been frozen in development since 1965?

[mountainmatt offline]

Now Zane, don't go ruining our rant with facts and common sense.

EVERYONE, GET THE TIN FOIL HATS OUT! THE CHINESE ARE COMING!!!

[RDUStinson offline]

I think it is a bit obtuse to assume that a Chinese acquisition of TCM is motivated by a participatory interest in general aviation.

Obtuse or not, I don't make any assumptions about the Chinese motivations for this particular transaction, although there definitely seems to be an upswing in aviation activity over there. Some examples that come to mind are the Skycatcher, Yuneec, the Chinese radial that was mentioned a few weeks ago, and the opening of Chinese airspace to GA.

I've been in Engineering for 25 years and have been amazed at number of things that used to be built and developed in the US, many of which were pioneered here, that we are simply not capable of making any more.

I'll admit to an emotional reaction also upon learning that something that seems as American to me as Continental motors going commie.

As far as the tinfoil hats, get your order in now because it'll take a few weeks for them to get over here on the boat. We can't make 'em any more. But at least they'll be cheap.

[dirtstrip offline]

I'm still looking up obtuse.

[TomKatz offline]

Oh but just a few short century's ago the Brits were yelling "those yanks produce cheaper and better quality". Then I remember the Japanese were producing "made in japan copies" which were said to be junk.

What I present to you is, don't criticize the quality. First the culture makes it then they improve on it.

We have no one to blame but ourselves. (both Democrat and republican) All this B.S. I've heard all my life about "do it for the kids". We can't even cut our spending and that is the best thing we can do for our kids. I just hope they (the politicians) don't use war as a tool to get us out of this mess.

Here it goes, off to hot air!

[OregonMaule offline]

You guys don't have a clue how to get something into hot air. Amateurs. Now if you were to say President so and so or party so and so. It is all their fault. Poof. Done deal. See how easy it is.

So we can't do business with Cuba because they are commies. But the Red Chinese are ok? Am I missing something here?

May all tie into the 1 world government thing.

Good day

[58Skylane offline]

Here it goes, off to hot air!

Hold on there, buddy. Only Rob can move this to "Hot Air".