Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Superior Air Parts, Inc. Chapter 11

Just got a notice in the mail today that Superior Air Parts who make parts for engines created by Teledyne Continental Motors and Lycoming , Inc. has filed for bankruptcy and someone may buy them. I am sure a number of us has some of their cylinders on our O200's. Does anyone else have more information, or was this discussed on previous threads that I have missed?

There is an article in this month's Aviation Consumer that talks about ECI's Titan cylinders. In the article they mention the demise of Superior. They said most of Superior's assets (including PMA and STC's) were sold to Lycoming. Left out of that deal was the PMA's for Continental cylinders. Teledyne may purchase the Continental PMA's.

Aviation Consumer doesn't think Lycoming bought the PMA's to compete with itself so they'll probably sit on a shelf and collect dust. They speculate that prices for cylinders will rise considerably with ECI as the only major non-OEM supplier. One owner of an engine shop stated that we could see $2500 cylinders! OUCH!!!

Now that is one of the dumbest things that could ever happen. watch the price of cylinders rise to the point that just a top for an O-200 is $10,000.

Yeah. Really smart. Bite the hand that feeds you. Price yourself out of existance. Even if they don't rise that high, it's pathetic. How many pilots/owners are hanging on by a financial thread?

We've seen companies do this in the past - exercise all their monopoly power and stick it to the little guy - their bread and butter.

Yet another nail ready to be driven into the coffin of General Aviation. And to think the industry is doing it to itself.

Stupid.

I'm surprised Aviation Consumer would print such a wild, baseless comment.....
unless they asked the shop that installed Catherine's Cherokee engine.
-Brian

General Aviation is not immune from the deleterious effects of monopolistic tendencies inherent in our system. Our republic, of the people, for the people, has become oligarchical in nature. Our problem is the excessively controlled nature of anything to do with certified aircraft. When I look at the things, of obvious superiority, that experimentals can install, at will, that are denied me by regulation, I see the unholy alliance of regulators and oligarchs.
On occasion, when I want to stir the pot, I suggest deregulation of Part 91, not for hire, operations. Since the pilot is the final authority, why not the owner? The oligarchs eyes glaze over when I suggest that and the resevations for lobbyists to Washington soars.
Ranting on about subjects like this is good therapy! Feels good at the moment, but changes nothing.

I don't know. I bought four new cylinders from Superior two years ago that were less than $900 each for my Lycoming 0235. Maybe this was too low for Superior to make a profit....