Building a Van?s QB kit in two weeks

[wrongway john]

At least one other kitplane manufacturer is doing this in that amount of time at their factory, and wondering if anyone knows if Van’s has considered something similar as well.

Glasair Aviation has the owner of the kit working 11 days for 10 hours a day and is ready to taxi during that time. It’s not cheap, $20,000 for that program, but for a $180,000 kit, perhaps it is in line. The FAA says it meets the 51% legal requirement.

I understand other kitplane manufacturers also have some QB programs too, but last about 5 weeks with the owner working 7 days a week, which is still quite good.

We’ve discussed building more efficiently in other threads here on VAF, but what are we to make of the legal aspects? A poster on another board pointed out this when dealing with Experimental Certificates 21.191 it states:

21.191(h) Operating primary kit-built aircraft. Operating a primary category aircraft that meets the criteria of 21.34(a)(1) that was assembled by a person from a kit manufactured by the holder of a production certificate for that kit without the supervision and quality control of the production certificate holder under 21.184(a).

Have the new revisions in 2009 to the EAA rules done away with this, or are some of us misunderstanding what this means?

[Mel]

21.191(h) refers to "Primary" category aircraft. This has nothing to do with amateur-built aircraft. Amateur-built aircraft fall under 21.191(g).

[wrongway john]

Thanks, Mel. You really nipped that one in the bud! I’m going to pass this on to the other board.

[fatherson]

Although the purpose was different, this has kinda been done, right? I thought I heard that to market the RV-12, Van's had done a super-quick-build of one in about 10 days at Oshkosh.

So I guess my question is, even if Van's isn't interested in organizing a paid commercial builders-assist program like this, have any of the existing private builders-assist consultants (like Jay Pratt and the others) ever organized a blitz-build program? Heck, I think I'd be willing to take two weeks to volunteer as a free apprentice/helper on such a program, even on someone else's kit, just so I could see the whole build process from soup to nuts before Tyson and I start our own kit. I bet I'm not alone.

-- Stephen

[flion]

My first thought was that I would not want to fly in an experimental that had been built for such a stunt. Sure, we don't want to take forever building but rushing would, IMHO, be worse with the increased chance to make errors.

Then I counted the hours: 110 builder hours? I don't know the kit in question but I'm not sure that's enough for the structural build, much less the avionics and firewall-forward. It certainly cannot be done for an RV. I seem to recall sometime back where a team of two retired guys built a slow-build in 3 months, working full time on the project; that may be a record.

Anyway, while I deplore my current lack of progress on the -10 (school's out next week), I'm in as much for the building as the flying. I really don't want it to be over too quickly.

[rv9av8tr]

Even in the most basic form and no paint, I can't imagine putting together a QB in less than a 1,000 hrs of hands on building. So at 10 hrs a day, that's 100 days. If a person worked that much on it 7 days a week.... you'd be hating it and everyone around you!! LOL

[wrongway john]

Originally Posted by flion

Then I counted the hours: 110 builder hours? I don't know the kit in question but I'm not sure that's enough for the structural build, much less the avionics and firewall-forward. It certainly cannot be done for an RV. I seem to recall sometime back where a team of two retired guys built a slow-build in 3 months, working full time on the project; that may be a record.

The article states in the OP link that it does include the FWF as well. I don?t understand it either, and those helpers I?m sure are doing a lot more than just giving guidance. The FAA seems to be fine with it though, and many have went through the program.

Originally Posted by fatherson

So I guess my question is, even if Van's isn't interested in organizing a paid commercial builders-assist program like this, have any of the existing private builders-assist consultants (like Jay Pratt and the others) ever organized a blitz-build program?

I talked to him over the phone a couple of days ago to see what his RV Central offers. I have a standard 4 kit, and wanted to rent out space and do the most of the labor myself, while he or some other qualified builder just kept an eye on me, while offering guidance and advice along the way. For now, anyway, the way I understand his operations, is that he takes over some aspect of it.

If someone ever offered up some kind of a Van?s Super Building Center near me, I?d participate in such a program if offered up at a reasonable price.

I think I would prefer at least a six week program for the AF though, or maybe even two to three months would be fine. I feel like I would learn more that way, and I want to do most of my labor. 11 days would seem like a blur. Just don?t want the build to get dragged out over many, many years either, before the ole medical creeps in and says, surprise! If they also offered up a FWF program, I?d consider it as well.

[erich weaver]

Not sure whether the "two weeks to taxi" program is still being offered for the RV-10 or not but it used to be, and there is still a web page for it:

http://www.twoweekstotaxi.com/vansrv_10_pricing.html

I also seem to remember them getting a visit from FAA and getting their blessing of sorts

erich

[Sig600]

I looked into the Glastar two weeks to taxi program for my old man. The large difference between the Glastar and an RV is the Glastar fuselage is a fiberglass molding over a tubular fuselage. Not NEARLY the construction required for the RV. The wings are largely done too, so it's major component assembly, hang the engine, wire the avionics and electrical, and fly away.

In the end you have almost $200K into fast C-170. Sweet plane, but the end result is way overpriced IMHO. YMMV.

[Brantel]

Yeah and I bet the panel is ready built ready to install as well????