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How much mechanical ability is required?
Pondering the purchase of an RV-9A or RV-6A ... but I have absolutely zero mechanical ability. Is it practical, or wise, to trust the upkeep of an RV to an A&P? Or, realistically, is some mechanical ability required to own an operate an RV efficiently? Any suggestions for A&P's in the SoCal area?
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If you bought a certified aircraft, you'd be trusting the upkeep to an A&P. No reason that you can't do the same with an experimental.
No matter what, you'll have to learn your way around the airplane, understand the systems and their maintenance schedules, and learn to supervise your shop. Common sense items, like getting a written estimate before authorizing work. It's best to find a shop that allows owner-assist and will teach you do do basic work like your own oil changes. That will save you money and also put you better in touch with your engine. Even reputable shops take longer and cost more than you would like. It's part of being an aircraft owner. Preferably find the shop on your home field, unless it's awful. Otherwise you'll be shuttling your plane to another field, Ubering home, Ubering back a few weeks later, discovering during preflight that something wasn't done right, Ubering home again, and then Ubering back to try again. David |
How much mechanical ability do you need to take care of your car? Ans: none.
In general, the accepted purpose of experimental planes is to be able to do stuff yourself. If youre not going to do that, then any airplane is just an object, and the A&P you choose should have experience in working on said type. Not that you have to, but as with cars, that makes cost effective sense. Just my personal opinion, but if you know nothing about mechanical stuff and dont care to know, I dont think buying someone elses experimental is a good move - you have no idea what quality youre looking at, but with certified you do. All thats pretty is not a peach. |
It will cost you a lot more $ by having to hire out all of the work and finding a good A&P that has time for you is problematic right now.
Airplanes are mechanical beasts. Not having a good/basic mechanical understanding of things makes it more difficult and expensive simply from an operational point of view. It will also be more difficult to provide good information to your mechanic for troubleshooting and repairs. And, I would argue that you are a less-safe pilot w/o a basic understanding. All of the above could be said about a certificated airplane however. If you want to fly and be an owner I'd say "go for it", and keep developing your skills and knowledge. Including in the mechanical realm. |
Some are confusing what I?ve said. I have no mechanical ABILITY which is different than no mechanical KNOWLEDGE.
I can explain systems and study how something should work with excellent understanding. Just don?t ask me to build it or repair it with tools. ;-) |
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Do the homework first, then decide whether or not an RV is for you. |
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Mechanic
By admitting you have ?no mechanical ability ? you
Are already ahead of the game. The other end is Person who says he or she invented the wright flyer. I say read up and ask questions and decide for Yourself. I have testified in court for cases about aircraft Mechanical failures and usually when the when the Other sides attorneys ask me if I am an ?expert witness? I say ?no?. Then they ask ?why?? That?s when I say ? Because most experts... are the stupidest people You ever meet?. That being said, don?t listen to the experts and the Worst that can happen is that you spend some money, Get an education and sell it with a great tale for cocktail Party?s! |
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-Marc |
No mechanical ability
Well, if you are physically able, but just a little gun shy, i would say go to home depot on a saturday morning, build a bird house, log cabin, whatever, and after a few months you should have enough mechanical ability to do basic maintenance with the oversight of an A&P. If you are still scared, take a autoshop course at community college.
We are all born with no mechanical ability. But some of us learn earlier in life. |
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