Honeywell To Acquire TruTrak Flight Systems (July 2019 Announcement)

[AndyRV7]

Honeywell To Acquire TruTrak Flight Systems-- Enables Honeywell access to experimental, light-sport market, which has grown by double digits over the past five years-- Expands Honeywell's autopilot software offerings through its BendixKing business, providing affordable and reliable flight control systems
PR Newswire
OSHKOSH, Wis., July 24, 2019
OSHKOSH, Wis., July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) has acquired privately held TruTrak Flight Systems, a leader in autopilots for experimental, light-sport and certified aircraft. The acquisition will become part of Honeywell's BendixKing business, helping to deliver affordable technologies to the experimental and general aviation markets. This market has grown by double digits over the past five years.
"TruTrak is a natural fit with BendixKing, and this acquisition opens up an exciting new market to us," said Carl Esposito, president, Electronic Systems at Honeywell Aerospace. "It provides great technology at affordable prices, which is central to BendixKing's business. Furthermore, adding TruTrak to the BendixKing family will attract new talent, foster collaboration and help us identify new ways to bring value to our customers."
As part of the acquisition, TruTrak's chief executive officer and owner, Andrew Barker, will join the BendixKing executive team and will continue to drive the successful adoption of TruTrak's autopilots in the experimental and certified aircraft markets. BendixKing will also add TruTrak's engineers to its staff to maintain the integrity of the technology and the affordability for which TruTrak's products are known.
"Honeywell and BendixKing's capabilities in the aerospace industry will accelerate the continued development of the products TruTrak has built from the ground up," said Barker. "Their vision for autopilots aligns with ours, and personally I am very excited to join the BendixKing team and use the extensive resources now available to us to continue forging the future of autopilots."
Since its founding in 1999, TruTrak has sold well over 15,000 autopilots and continues to introduce new products and features to improve autopilot technology, improve safety features, and add new capabilities. TruTrak's autopilot systems can fly a wide range of aircraft and fly well in turbulence. They are also easy to install, maintain and use.
Terms were not disclosed and there is no change to the company's 2019 outlook as a result of the acquisition.
About Honeywell
Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit*www.honeywell.com*or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.* For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit*www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

[airguy]

Wow.

I certainly don't have any optimism about that product line anymore. I believe they bought it to kill it. Sad to see, and hope I'm wrong.

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by airguy

Wow.

I certainly don't have any optimism about that product line anymore. I believe they bought it to kill it. Sad to see, and hope I'm wrong.

It's BendixKing. They don't need to actually intend to kill it to make it happen.

[PerfTech]

Originally Posted by airguy

Wow.

I certainly don't have any optimism about that product line anymore. I believe they bought it to kill it. Sad to see, and hope I'm wrong.

?. This really pi##es me off as well, and now we have lost all optimism as well.
We have purchased several of their products (autopilots), and I know for a fact
we have sold by recommendation many many others to our customers. We have
seen this time after time in our other business with Garrett and Honeywell. It
looks like another one is going to bite the dust. Allan,

[Brantel]

Congratulations Andrew!

[skylor]

Originally Posted by airguy

Wow.

I certainly don't have any optimism about that product line anymore. I believe they bought it to kill it. Sad to see, and hope I'm wrong.

I don't know why Honeywell would buy TT to "kill it". They currently do not compete for the same market segments, unless they're worried about TruTrak competing with their recently certified "AeroCruze" autopilot.

My guess is that Honeywell wants an "experimental" class autopilot to marry with an experimental version of their new "low cost" certified EFIS products so they can attempt to build market share in the active experimental aircraft segment. Of course, I'm skeptical that a very large Aerospace company can maintain market agility and cost competitiveness necessary to compete in the EAB market.

Skylor

[fl-mike]

Originally Posted by DaleB

It's BendixKing. They don't need to actually intend to kill it to make it happen.

LOL, so true. Let's take everything that made this small company successful and kill it with bureaucracy! Something like this:
https://youtu.be/mU4SQ_JoK6w

[bkc3921]

Let's see......Dynon acquires Advanced Flight Systems. Honeywell acquires TruTrak...and Mattituck is closed. I hope someone gets into the label making business so I can update my equipment...... It now appears I'm flying an RV from the Twilight Zone......!!!

[YellowJacket RV9]

I know it can be frustrating for customers, but this is the flip side of us getting early and cheap access to great new things. Eventually the best stuff gets recognized, and the people who develop it rightfully have the opportunity to cash in on their efforts, which they certainly deserve.

Of course you can pony up for Garmin and not have to worry about them being bought (probably), but even then, continued Garmin product support has not generally proven to be cheap, even if it is readily available. To be fair, I have seen and heard pretty good things from their experimental division - but a big company can still only be so nimble.

No free lunch, I guess. The upside is, there will always be new innovative things coming down the line from the next start-up, and the cycle will continue.

Chris

[snopercod]

The Trutrak Vizion is on sale at ACS for $2,050. I wonder what it will cost when Honeywell takes over...