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  #1  
Old 05-24-2016, 07:01 PM
rv8pilotpaul rv8pilotpaul is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: martinsburg, wv
Posts: 63
Default Van's BS

This from Van's on 12-26-15:

"The RV-14 has always been promoted as a complete kit (like the RV-12). So even with different vendors handling the actual panel kit and related equip., the intent has always been to finish out everything else.... everything from position and landing lights to pre-wired stick grips (and everything in between).
I realize there has been some frustration when builders are able to make progress way beyond the pace that these kits come out, but everything Van's has said would be supplied has been (or soon will be). If a builder decides to move ahead on their own and then a kit comes available for work that they did, I would assume they somewhat would have expected that to happen".
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Here we are in late May 2016 and none of this has happened.
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Last edited by rv8pilotpaul : 05-24-2016 at 07:06 PM.
  #2  
Old 05-24-2016, 07:45 PM
kamikaze kamikaze is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 353
Default

I don't get it ... empennage, fuselage, wings, finishing, engine, prop, FFW kit all are available, and Stein and AFS (at least) are producing avionics packages for the -14 ... there other little add-ons available as well ...

What is it that you feel is still missing?
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  #3  
Old 05-24-2016, 07:46 PM
Carl Froehlich's Avatar
Carl Froehlich Carl Froehlich is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dogwood Airpark (VA42)
Posts: 2,596
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rv8pilotpaul View Post
This from Van's on 12-26-15:

"The RV-14 has always been promoted as a complete kit (like the RV-12). So even with different vendors handling the actual panel kit and related equip., the intent has always been to finish out everything else.... everything from position and landing lights to pre-wired stick grips (and everything in between).
I realize there has been some frustration when builders are able to make progress way beyond the pace that these kits come out, but everything Van's has said would be supplied has been (or soon will be). If a builder decides to move ahead on their own and then a kit comes available for work that they did, I would assume they somewhat would have expected that to happen".
________________
Here we are in late May 2016 and none of this has happened.
I have been working the wire and panel for an RV-14. I however look at Van's dive to "do everything" like you discuss exactly the wrong path for Van's kit evolution.

If, and only if you want an exact duplicate of the Van's demonstrator, the RV-14 kit adds a lot of work. Simple examples:
- I had to remove and rewire most of the wings to support dual ADHARS install, pitot heat and shielded wire for the nav/strobes, .
- The kit wing and fuselage molex connectors are close to useless. Making your own is a lot less work.
- The kit stick wiring fails to support anything other than the most simplistic stick grip.
- The fact that the kit does not even provide the panel blanks is perhaps the best example of the wrong approach. Calling Van's the answer was "just have your avionics shop doing your panel provide the blanks". Van's did provide order information to get these "options". As a side note - having an avionics shop do the panel resulted in more work than if I just did it.

The list goes on.

Bottom line - building your own airplane is far too personal to have someone else predetermine how you will out fit it. To add any flexibility Van's would be faced with an impossible problem of trying to please everyone. If I was them, I'd take a giant step away from "we provide everything in the kit".

Carl
  #4  
Old 05-24-2016, 08:07 PM
Gary 40274 Gary 40274 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conyers GA
Posts: 347
Default Communication

I assume you have discussed this all with Vans and have not gotten any satisfaction and thus have gone public with your issues

Gary Specketer
  #5  
Old 05-24-2016, 08:36 PM
rvbuilder2002's Avatar
rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rv8pilotpaul View Post
This from Van's on 12-26-15:

"The RV-14 has always been promoted as a complete kit (like the RV-12). So even with different vendors handling the actual panel kit and related equip., the intent has always been to finish out everything else.... everything from position and landing lights to pre-wired stick grips (and everything in between).
I realize there has been some frustration when builders are able to make progress way beyond the pace that these kits come out, but everything Van's has said would be supplied has been (or soon will be). If a builder decides to move ahead on their own and then a kit comes available for work that they did, I would assume they somewhat would have expected that to happen".
________________
Here we are in late May 2016 and none of this has happened.
Paul you obviously seem quite disappointed since the majority of your 61 posts on VAF focus on complaining.
Have you called the office and talked with anyone about it?
If not, then by the definition of the forum policies I would say this is nothing more than vendor bashing....
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Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
  #6  
Old 05-25-2016, 04:16 AM
Ron B. Ron B. is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,408
Default

Who would be the person in the office that could offer more than "have patience"and "other builders want a well made kit"? Rather than "we messed up and let some builders down".
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  #7  
Old 05-25-2016, 06:07 AM
DeltaRomeo DeltaRomeo is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Highland Village, TX
Posts: 4,088
Default

Hey Paul,

PM or email me if you feel you need to, but this thread is vendor bashing (posting rules). Specifically rule #7, so I'm closing it.

Call the factory if you want to vent about the factory would be my advice.

b,
dr
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Last edited by DeltaRomeo : 05-25-2016 at 10:34 AM.
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