This is what I heard.

Peter Clarke wrote:
> 
> I hear at Tek in New Orelans that the Singapore Navy is very unhappy wiht
> the Cis Lunars they bought a while back ( notice we do no hear any glowing
> stories out of that transaction), have thrown in the towel on this device,
> and are seeking alternative equipment from Carlton. I further hear that at
> the time , the price they were given looked very good next to the price of
> the real thing, but then they found out the hard way. Can anyone confirm if
> this is true?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Mee <wwm@sa*.ne*>
> To: cavers <cavers@cavers.com>
> Cc: rebreather@nw*.co* <rebreather@nw*.co*>; "Cost effective
> home improvement" <freeattic@co*.ci*.uf*.ed*>; techdiver@aq*.co*
> <techdiver@aq*.co*>; George Irvine <kirvine@sa*.ne*>
> Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 6:03 PM
> Subject: Defective Copies was Theft of WKPP scooter designs
> 
> I can conjure a mental image of  “Mr. Aerospace Engineer Bill Stone”
> fumbling around the stolen WKPP Gavin scooter,  dial caliper in hand,
> gleefully clucking to himself while transcribing dimensions and
> observational notations. Like a Soviet era spy, who had just hijacked the
> plans for an American vacuum cleaner, Stone was no doubt congratulating
> himself on how he cleverly “outsmarted” George Irvine and the  WKPP.   His
> “henchboy” ,Jason Richards, had come through for him this time around.
> 
> Stone, who never had any interest in actually paying the WKPP for their
> scooters went to great lengths to steal a scooter which he could then copy.
> The date was Dec. 1996 and from the looks of things and the notations on the
> drawings, Stone poorly understood what he was looking at.  What is more
> remarkable is that a socalled “material engineer” could demonstrate such a
> complete misunderstanding of common PVC and mechanical construction of a
> submarine pressure hull.   Despite being hugely incensed over Stone’s
> treachery George and I were rolling around laughing uncontrollably over many
> of the meticulously documented examples of this “brilliant engineer’s”
> unmitigated, pompous, self important stupidity.
> 
> Thirty five mechanical drawings later, Stone had finally “redesigned” the
> WKKP scooter, oblivious to most all of the subtle nuances incorporated by
> the original designer, Bill Gavin.  Nevertheless, Stone proudly adorned the
> drawings with the Cis Lunar Logo, as if this  blatant unacknowledged act of
> plagiarism was his own creation.
> 
> For those of you who think we have been unfair to this miserable individual
> I suggest you consider that these actions were taken in 1996, long before
> the advent of the current Wakulla II fiasco.
> 
> We have also observed tremendous similarities between the WakII “fatman”
> scooter and the original machined aluminum prototype design of Irvine’s.
> This one of a kind aluminum unit which was created just prior to building
> the first production round of Gavin scooters. Mike Bruic has disclosed that
> “Aerospace Engineer Stone” has neglected to place bulkheads between the
> motor compartment and the nickel metal hydride battery packs, despite the
> obvious warnings of severe battery off gassing. Any naval engineer,
> particularly those involved in the design and manufacture of electric
> underwater vehicles  understands this most rudimentary of precautions. Not
> our Bill Stone, who in his condescending arrogance knows far better.
> 
> Given this background why should you believe anything which comes out of
> this project? We have already determined that the bottom time data logs of
> the Mk 5s are highly suspicious and probably doctored.  What else in the
> Wakulla II repertoire has been purloined or fabricated?
> 
> In the case of the scooters it is highly unfortunate that no one will get
> the last laugh. These things, when well designed and properly assembled
> require tremendous care and caution in handling and maintenance.   The
> poorly designed and shoddily assembled Wakulla II units are potential death
> traps.
> 
> What next?
> 
> --
> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aq*.co*'.
> Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aq*.co*'.

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]