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  #11  
Old 11-08-2017, 12:40 AM
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rv8ch rv8ch is offline
 
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Default Build from stock

An RV-4 not far from me was built from stock aluminum using only the plans - the guy claimed he didn't buy any prefab parts at all. It was his 2nd RV-4, the first was built using parts from Van's. He even made his own gear, weldments, and engine mount. He bought some stuff from ACS.

If the market is big enough, someone will spin off a "Van's Classics" company that supports the early models.
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  #12  
Old 11-08-2017, 12:41 AM
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Draker Draker is offline
 
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Ugh... Deep into the wing kit of my all-bells-and-whistles RV-7A, I sometimes think to myself after I finish this thing, my NEXT one would have to be a super simple, no-frills, manual-everything, light, steam-gauge RV-3. Maybe not though, if they're winding down support for these
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  #13  
Old 11-08-2017, 05:09 AM
BigJohn BigJohn is offline
 
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Totally understandable business decision. And, they will continue to support old models for the foreseeable future, albeit at an increased cost. Try getting that kind of support for your 10 or 20 year old computer or operating system.

For the greater good of the airplane kit community we need a financially healthy Van?s Aircraft. Hard decisions like this are often necessary to stay viable.
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  #14  
Old 11-08-2017, 05:35 AM
Captain Avgas Captain Avgas is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philb View Post
So, discontinuation of the -4 line might impact a Rocket build.
I honestly doubt that Vans management would lose much sleep over that.
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  #15  
Old 11-08-2017, 05:56 AM
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titanhank titanhank is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Avgas View Post
I honestly doubt that Vans management would lose much sleep over that.
The answer is for vans to offer a "rocket" kit of there own. I would be first in line for a 6 cylinder, rv8 style, rocket performance kit with vans badging on it.
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  #16  
Old 11-08-2017, 06:11 AM
BillL BillL is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piloto506 View Post
Wonder what this will do to the RV3 and RV4 market.
Good while it lasted . . . distinct possibility that prices for good flyable units will go up, along with unfinished kits as wave of scrounging ensues. At least for the 3 & 4. The 7 is a good replacement for a 6 so that one will likely go away, but the 3 & 4 are unique by comparison.

Unless there is a good alternative (competition) out there for those two models then sales could shift to a new/different company.

Maybe this slowly drives up the sales in the F4 arena, as they can offer more pre punched parts.

4200 kits-in-progress for 3, 4 & 6, really? [I stand corrected - likely based on unfinished to flying ratio]

In any case, It will be interesting to see how the market(s) responds.
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Last edited by BillL : 11-10-2017 at 05:01 AM. Reason: agreed with 4200 estimate.
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  #17  
Old 11-08-2017, 06:19 AM
6 Gun 6 Gun is offline
 
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With over 25 Thousand tail kits sold and over half of them 4 & 6 to alienate over half your customers whats up with that?
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  #18  
Old 11-08-2017, 06:20 AM
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n82rb n82rb is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BillL View Post
Good while it lasted . . . distinct possibility that prices for good flyable units will go up, along with unfinished kits as wave of scrounging ensues. At least for the 3 & 4. The 7 is a good replacement for a 6 so that one will likely go away, but the 3 & 4 are unique by comparison.

Unless there is a good alternative (competition) out there for those two models then sales could shift to a new/different company.

Maybe this slowly drives up the sales in the F4 arena, as they can offer more pre punched parts.

4200 kits-in-progress for 3, 4 & 6, really?

In any case, It will be interesting to see how the market(s) responds.
No, there are 4200 flying. Who knows how many in progress.
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  #19  
Old 11-08-2017, 06:36 AM
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Mark Dickens Mark Dickens is offline
 
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As another poster said, this is understandable from a business standpoint, but where I think they've made a mistake is in making this effective in less than two months. So if you're building one of these kits, you have to come up with a lot of money on short notice right before the holidays???

Sounds desperate to me. They should make the effective date Jan 2019.
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  #20  
Old 11-08-2017, 06:39 AM
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bkervaski bkervaski is offline
 
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It's just supply and demand and Vans has stepped up by letting the older kit builders/flyers know that "hey, even though we can't make any money on these kits or parts anymore, we're here for you!"

Most businesses would have just dropped the product and the parts support.

Auto manufacturers do the same thing. They produce a surplus run and shut down those lines. As the surplus thins, the prices on those parts skyrocket and subsequent runs are really expensive if they happen at all.

They haven't abandoned anybody or discontinued anything. Good on Vans for handling it the way they did, tough call.
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Last edited by bkervaski : 11-08-2017 at 06:48 AM.
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