Original Message

Yep....the ERA BO105's were extremely well maintained.....Bob Lannerd was the old school DOM at the time and he was a 'my way or the highway' kinda guy.  ERA and Lannerd in particular were particularly influential with many of the STC's and options developed on the BO105's in the early 80's.  Air Cruiser floats, Fuel Dif pressure Sw, AND, Air Conditioning via an STC'd ECU (Environmental Control Unit).  A ECU used engine bleed air....but it was better than no A/C at all.   PHI eventually followed suit and installed ECU's in most of their offshore BO's too. 

And you're right about no frills.....in 1982, i actually ferried a brand new BO105 from MBB in PA to ERA Lake Charles, with an ERA pilot who had nothing more than a wet compass, and a 'ferry radio'.  If we were unsure of our location, we'd just decrease altitude until we could read the name of the town on the local water tower.  Those were the days....