VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #51  
Old 04-04-2007, 12:50 PM
amilder amilder is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 64
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Avgas
So what is the relevance of builders quoting dubious RV project costs for projects involving superceded models that were started in a previous century.

What prospective builders need to know is what it costs to build a current model...today....and including paint...and including ALL necessary dollar items required to finish and maintain the plane (eg tools).

You can compare costs over time by using inflation-adjusted dollars. It's easy with this calculator: CPI Inflation Calculator

For example, Mel's $28k in 1989 is $46k today. Your sarcastic $5K in 1946 is $52K today.

Of course, the CPI isn't going to exactly track such things as used airplane engines, but it gives a nice baseline I think. Andy
__________________
Andrew Milder
RV-9A finishing- canopy
http://andyrv9a.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 04-04-2007, 01:09 PM
phil9diesel phil9diesel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Upper ny
Posts: 78
Default Cheapest RV ? ingredients

It's not a price, but a process. Build with junk and you wind up with junk. You can't just flip open a book and find the neccessary goodies as bargains, all at once. Keep looking. One of the best things for your project plane is a notepad. A 79 cent spiral bound with all the things you want to find. Memory will let you down. You flip through the pages twice a week and nail what you can. Can't find your cockpit lights as a bargain, today? There's always tomorrow. In a year, you'll be sweeping up the last rivets and looking for someone to hold a wing.
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old 04-04-2007, 02:11 PM
Craig Todd Craig Todd is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nelspruit Mpumalanga South Africa
Posts: 12
Talking

Hi Pierre,
The Rand Dollar exchange at the moment is frightning, my estimate of 60k is in dollar terms of course, but as for my wife it is in rand terms. Lets keep pounding those rivets and thanks Doug for a great forum.
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old 04-05-2007, 06:00 AM
Jconard's Avatar
Jconard Jconard is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 438
Default

I could build the airplane for free if I won the kit, an uncle gave me an engine, I found an avionics shop going out of business that gave me their spare wire, etc, etc....but that doesn't mean anything. Sharing and archiving the ways that people have saved money to get flying is great!

I wish I could find just such and uncle!!

Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old 04-05-2007, 06:12 AM
Craig Todd Craig Todd is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nelspruit Mpumalanga South Africa
Posts: 12
Red face

It may be easier to find a sugar mommy.
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old 04-05-2007, 06:34 AM
pierre smith's Avatar
pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default PM

Hi Craig,
I sent you a PM,

Regards,
__________________
Pierre Smith
RV-10, 510 TT
RV6A (Sojourner) 180 HP, Catto 3 Bl (502Hrs), gone...and already missed
Air Tractor AT 502B PT 6-15 Sold
Air Tractor 402 PT-6-20 Sold
EAA Flight Advisor/CFI/Tech Counselor
Louisville, Ga

It's never skill or craftsmanship that completes airplanes, it's the will to do so,
Patrick Kenny, EAA 275132


Dues gladly paid!
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old 04-05-2007, 12:31 PM
osxuser's Avatar
osxuser osxuser is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pasadena CA
Posts: 2,484
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Avgas
Most of that "extra" will go into the panel......ha ha ha ha...heh heh heh...please excuse me 'cause my ribs are hurting from laughing so much. That's the funniest joke I've heard this year. It IS a joke isn't it...tell me you're not serious

The cost estimate on Vans website for a QB RV7 with a new O-360 (carbie), CS prop, lighting, pro paint job, and with tools...but only VFR ....is $79520 to $88000.

And in addition....at the risk of really depressing you....Vans low end figures are notoriously tongue-in-cheek. In fact smart people use their high end figure as the low end figure.

I note that Vans don't even have an IFR option in their cost estimator any more....they probably took it out because it was frightening people.

Please enlighten us as to where this figure of <$50k came from (including a GNS 480). Is it a calculated budget/estimate...or is it just a number you wrote down on an ice-cream wrapper while you were visiting Disneyland.

Bob Barrow
NOT building a QB, save 8K...


Kit costs (basic airframe) - $19,000 (With electric trim)
Mid time IO-320 - $4500
My own FWF work - $3000 +/-
No paint
My own interior - $1500
Instruments (Gyro) - Free (Pulls out of airplanes I work on...)
Prop - Used CS off my Dad's Cardinal... ~$2500
Governor - $1500

Wow, I'm running out of stuff to spend money on... Up to $32000, If I go with EFIS instead of Gyros, I can plan on $8K for that UP to $40K, and then the GNS 480 for $9000 puts it at $49000. I'm sure I can do without the EFIS if I want, but without it I could afford an SL30 and Audio panel too... Transponder will be a cheapo Garmin digital probably ~$700.

Any more flaws with my plan?

Anyway, thats just a goal, who knows what it will actually cost.

And Ice cream at disneyland really is good, but messy for planning aircraft projects. Bottom line, keep costs down, don't go overboard with stuff you don't need. If you won't use it every flight, it's just extra weight and cost that shouldn't be in the airplane.

Case in point 2002 dollars (for those that say you can do this kind of thing):

Cessna Cardinal (Project, been sitting) $10,000
First annual, including prop overhaul, new tires, general upkeep stuff $6000
Brand new avionics (UPSat stack, PSe 7000b Audio panel, MX20 MFD, GX60 GPS Comm, SL 30 Nav Comm, SL70 transponder, with new encoder) $16,000
Total 7 months and $32,000
4-place IFR 120KT sports car -- priceless.

Since then we've overhauled the O-360 A1A for $11,000 with new supierior cylinders and cam. Redone baffling, rebuilt alternator, new wheel pants, a couple of speed mods, and we're seeing 130kt cruise, and have invested $10K less than the airplane is worth.

Yeah, i'm an A&P, and I know people, but that doesn't have a huge effect on much of anything. Most people can find an IA that will work with them on this kind of stuff, and do all the work themselves. Experimentals even more so. This hobby/business doesn't have to be as expensive as people make it out to be.

Edit: Also don't include the price of tools, since that is part of my business as an A&P.
__________________
Stephen Samuelian, CFII, A&P IA, CTO
RV4 wing in Jig @ KPOC
RV7 emp built

Last edited by osxuser : 04-05-2007 at 12:34 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #58  
Old 04-05-2007, 05:40 PM
kentb's Avatar
kentb kentb is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Canby, Oregon
Posts: 1,786
Question Where can you find that kind of deal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by osxuser
Mid time IO-320 - $4500
.
I have never seen an engine at that price. You must have a good source of used engines.

Kent
__________________
Kent Byerley
RV9A N94KJ - IO320, CS, tipup
AFS 3500, TT AP, FLYING....
Canby, Or
Reply With Quote
  #59  
Old 04-06-2007, 01:41 AM
osxuser's Avatar
osxuser osxuser is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pasadena CA
Posts: 2,484
Default

O-320's come in around $4500 every couple months in Trade a Plane. That said, I know a few people with Twin Comanche's that may be upgrading to bigger engines or selling their timed out engines cheap. Thats the model I'm planning on using, the Twinkie IO-320 (Dyno 1 I think ...). Now if someting better comes along, I'll go with that, but I do plan on finding a good cheap engine, and I KNOW they are out there to be had . Patience and a little free cash can do wonders.
__________________
Stephen Samuelian, CFII, A&P IA, CTO
RV4 wing in Jig @ KPOC
RV7 emp built
Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old 04-06-2007, 07:59 AM
Mel's Avatar
Mel Mel is online now
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,769
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by osxuser
O-320's come in around $4500 every couple months in Trade a Plane. That said, I know a few people with Twin Comanche's that may be upgrading to bigger engines or selling their timed out engines cheap. Thats the model I'm planning on using, the Twinkie IO-320 (Dyno 1 I think ...). Now if someting better comes along, I'll go with that, but I do plan on finding a good cheap engine, and I KNOW they are out there to be had . Patience and a little free cash can do wonders.
The IO-320 from the Twin Comanche uses a Dynofocal II mount.
__________________
Mel Asberry, DAR since the last century.
EAA Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor, Friend of the RV-1
Recipient of Tony Bingelis Award and Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award
USAF Vet, High School E-LSA Project Mentor.
RV-6 Flying since 1993 (sold)
<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:08 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.