Bushwhacker Air began its relationship with James Chernikeeff of Rotec Radial Engineering in February of 2004.  We purchased a ROTEC Radial R-2800, prop and exhaust from them at full retail, and put a $3000 deposit on 3 more engines in May of 2004.  We weren’t able to get the engine in time for Sun and Fun, so we borrowed one from a customer (about 150 miles from me) to display.  Needless to say it was a big hit at the show, and there were several magazine articles and photos from that engine being on display. 

We were also appointed a service and parts facility for the US.  Our spot on his website stated that.  Jim and Rotec also stated that our airplane was flying, which it was not.  (I had heard that several “flying” projects weren’t).  I had given him updates and asked him to correct it several time, and he did not. 

At the show, we heard from one of the first “agents” (that’s what Chernikeeff calls his dealer) who stated he had bought several engines, and Chernikeeff was underselling him when the customers would contact him.  He told me to be careful, but I pawned him off as a bitter customer who really didn’t try. (I think it was Brian Henneman) 

We started working on our plane for the engine.  Jim stated the only way we would have success was to build a plane for it.  I never agreed. 

We received a ton of inquiries, but no sales.  We showed up at Oshkosh, and again had a good showing.  We talked to 2 very serious customers, and made plans to do an installation with one of them.  He sent me plans for a mount, and I sent them out to get quoted with a manufacturer.  I did not speak to him for several months (the project was for the following year at Osh, 8 months away) and he did not contact me, but he did contact Chernikeeff.  Jim sold him an engine and never contacted me once.  He said that the customer was frustrated with me.  I chalked it up for experience and leaned my lesson about staying in touch with the customer.   Although I wasn’t happy about losing the sale that way, I thought it was partly my fault.  Jim offered me a $2500 credit at that point toward my next purchase.  A nice gesture, I thought. 

I continued to advertise the engine through the internet, in print and at shows.  We also sold an engine here for a customer who could not use it, rather than sell our own engine.  We did not make a penny on it. We also began working with several manufacturers on a stainless steel exhaust ring. 

In December of 2004 I noticed Jim had taken my project spot off his website.  I contacted him and told him I didn’t think the engine/agent relationship was working and I wanted our deposit back.  He wrote back begging me to stay, and gave me a lead a month later.  The lead never responded to me, and he was right in our back yard. 

In February, 2005, I made a follow up call (lesson learned from above) on a prospective customer I had been dealing with.  I had not heard from him in a month.  He was building a Kitfox, and I was in the process of building motor-mount tooling.  When I contacted him, he stated he bought the engine right from ROTEC for better price.  Jim never contacted me about this customer. Another sale lost.  I contacted Jim again wishing to discontinue our relationship, and at this time he offered to give me the credit toward my next single engine purchase.  He did not offer any further discount for this lost sale. 

For the next 13 months I advertised, displayed, and promoted his engine.  I received plenty of leads and inquiries, but made no sales.  I began contacting other “agents”, who told me they had the same experience.  I learned of several problems with the engine, including rod failures (in flight), and gear reduction tolerance problems.  After learning this, one agent sold his engines at a loss and removed any trace of his affiliation with ROTEC.  This agent offered to send a new engine from his inventory to a customer here in the states that had a failure so he could get flying quickly.  Chernikeeff wouldn’t allow it, and blamed the failure on “hydraulic lock”  (10/06/07 - I have learned of another engine failure, appearing to be gearbox related)

 I also contacted Chernikeeff and asked for our refund.  After a month of waiting for a reply, he said that he would only refund $1500 due to the accounting costs.  I was not happy with this arrangement and the fight began.  Up until this point I had been extremely civil with him.  He stated that Bushwhacker Air had done nothing for his business, and began his attacks on my business.  (Check the 2004 SnF coverage – The ROTEC photos taken were all of our engine) He also threatened legal action against me if I were to tell anyone about this. 

 In June I demanded he send the refund, and he agreed to send $1500 that day.  I told him I would take further action if he did not.   In July, I asked where the $1500 refund was, and he sent me a suspicious looking invoice that showed a completed wire transfer transaction.  I contacted my partner and asked him to check the account.  No such deposit was ever made or attempted.  He has stated my partner is lying.  ($1500 to my partner is not worth him jeopardizing a long time friendship - I am appalled that he would insinuate that).  I contacted the financal institutions regarding the transfer and the "invoice".  It was determined that NO funds were wired, and the invoice fraudulent. 

Chernikeeff is a master at marketing and manipulation.  His only concern is to get engines to the states.  He uses up his agents for advertising.  His engines are not tested before leaving the factory, which is problematic in itself.  The customers are the test platforms.

Warranties are handled at the factory – in Australia!  You pay the shipping back and forth.  We originally offered to do the work here so customers could be better serviced, but he lost that opportunity.

We have nothing to gain now other than knowing that Chirnikeeff’s unethical business practices will end.  If you decide to buy, I can only hope your experience is not the same as mine.

Chernikeeff had also threatened Barnstormers.com as a party to a lawsuit against me when I posted an ad about his practices.  Barnstormers pulled the ad after the threat, worried that they could lose everything having to fight a frivolous law suit.  He does not want the truth to get out.  But he cannot lie about or deny what he said to me - I have everything documented. 

 Thanks for listening,

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