How important was the existence of VAF in your decision to build an RV.

[mfleming]

The existence of VAF was only vaguely known to me and was not a factor in deciding to purchase the kit.

Synergy Air was the motivating force for me. I knew I could get started with professionals and they would teach my wife the basics. And, having my wife on board was everything!

That being said: VAF turned out to be a HUGE resource. This project would be taking much longer if I didn't have the years of information to lean on.

The only reason VAF wasn't the motivating force was my ignorance of it's depth of knowledge at the time.

[plehrke]

Watching Jim Cone enter the pattern in his RV-6A at Smartt Field, do overhead break into the downwind while I was pre-flighting a barely flyable rental Cherokee 140 is why I decided to build an RV.

[Sparky]

I voted "not a factor" because I had not seen or heard of VAF prior to my decision to build my RV-7. I started to build in early 2006 and first flew in 2016.

I did follow a few online build sites, especially Dan Checkoway's, prior to my decision to build.

However, I discovered and joined VAF shortly after I started building and have found it invaluable ever since.

EDIT: Perhaps the question should be, "Was VAF a factor in my ability to FINISH an RV?" In my case most probably!

[MikeyDale]

I read VAF religiously for a year before I started my project! Being a first time builder and new to the "ExperiMENTAL" world, I couldn't get enough! I would have never struck out on this adventure without it!

[rolivi]

This poll is more flawed than the previous one.

Multiple builders cannot say they built more because of a website, any more than people who always by Chevrolet do so because of TV ads. They are predisposed from their prior experience.

You are also clearly discounting the site's impact on the non-build decision maker. The site was an influence between buying a flying RV vs a Mustang II.

As with all things statistics... there are no right answers. Just a lot of interpretations.

[BCP Boys]

I didn't vote because I did not build my -7, but I can say with certainty that I would not have purchased an RV without discovering this site. It is one of the reasons why I'm so adamant about supporting Doug. I can go on and on about how great owning an RV is but you all already know that, so I for one have been very grateful and will continue to be grateful to be a part of this community and everything that Doug has done to keep it going.

[Captain Avgas]

Originally Posted by rolivi

You are also clearly discounting the site's impact on the non-build decision maker. The site was an influence between buying a flying RV vs a Mustang II.

Rob, thank you for your comment. This poll was set up specifically to gauge in some quantifiable manner whether Vans Aircraft benefits in terms of kit sales from the existence of VAF.

There is no direct financial benefit to Vans Aircraft in the re-selling of completed aircraft thus I deleted the first poll and restricted the second poll to builders only.

This poll was not established out of whimsical curiosity. Hopefully it leads somewhere. Stand by.

And for others who have not voted yet...please do so.

[rolivi]

Some value to the mothership comes from parts sales for planes purchased flying which need repairs or updates. Does it not?

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by Captain Avgas

Rob, thank you for your comment. This poll was set up specifically to gauge in some quantifiable manner whether Vans Aircraft benefits in terms of kit sales from the existence of VAF.
.

I don't see how you can quantify VAF's contribution to Van's sales via a simple poll. As your poll indicates, VAF is only factor for some and that's a only tiny sample of the whole RV builder population (187 as of this post vs thousands) and doesn't capture those who don't go online, don't care for VAF (and there are a few), or determine what the impact really would be if VAF didn't exist at all. IOW, it's easy for someone to say it was an important factor since it does exist, but if it didn't, we have no way of knowing if those respondents would have chosen a different brand or chosen not to build at all. At the end of the day, I'm of the opinion that RVs sell RVs and that ancillary contributions to the bottom line by intangibles like the builder community are marginal at best. YMMV......

[tspear]

Originally Posted by Captain Avgas

Rob, thank you for your comment. This poll was set up specifically to gauge in some quantifiable manner whether Vans Aircraft benefits in terms of kit sales from the existence of VAF.

There is no direct financial benefit to Vans Aircraft in the re-selling of completed aircraft thus I deleted the first poll and restricted the second poll to builders only.

This poll was not established out of whimsical curiosity. Hopefully it leads somewhere. Stand by.

And for others who have not voted yet...please do so.

Van's benefits in supporting a used market ecosystem. Best aviation example is Cirrus.
A few examples of how Van's benefits. They sell parts, upgrades to buyers. A healthy used market gives a builder confidence that some equity will be returned to his/her estate at some point. e.g. the money is not just thrown away. If I plan on a 100% loss of money spent on building a plane, this is likely a non-starter for me. If I accept a 50% loss, this becomes much more "bearable".
I have discussed buying vs building with a couple of pilots who own RVs. Both bought, maintained the plane. Now both are building because they want something custom, and will sell the one they bought when the build is complete.

I am also trying to understand, how this pole is "useful'.

Tim