My friend, and former VCCC member Frank Morgan, works part time at a Kirby distributor in Birmingham, Alabama. They've been selling the Avalir for a few weeks now. Frank is bringing a new Avalir to the Vacuum Collector's Convention. We hold the Vacuum Collectors Convention at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum during the second weekend in June of every year. I'm not a fan of Kirby, although I have virtually all Kirby models in the Museum - but I'm waiting to see this new Renovator in person. Don't see how it can get close to a wall when doing bare floors.