I got an email form Vans today, inviting me to the new and improved LCP porta. The portal has been updated with new backend data to only provide a builder part selections pertinent to their crating date. I have LCPs in an RV14A empennage, wings, and fuselage, so there was a lot to go through. None of my previous selection (from first incantation of the portal) were carried over. I found an error in the portal where it will not allow you to save your selections if you try adding some blue fuselage parts. I reached out to Vans, and they are investigating. Update, That issue has been fixed
My empennage is almost completely built, but nothing started with the wings or fuselage. Most of the wing and fuselage were LCPs. I have been on the fence for some time now about how to proceed. So, here is the question; should I replace all the blue, and keep the green, or just replace the red and yellow parts? I am fine with the green parts.
Replacing the blue parts for the wings and fuselage will be:
My empennage is almost completely built, but nothing started with the wings or fuselage. Most of the wing and fuselage were LCPs. I have been on the fence for some time now about how to proceed. So, here is the question; should I replace all the blue, and keep the green, or just replace the red and yellow parts? I am fine with the green parts.
Replacing the blue parts for the wings and fuselage will be:
- Wing: $1,800
- Fuselage: $1,300
- Safety: I believe the engineering analysis that Vans did was reasonably sound. However, the conclusions have yet to be proven out is practice, that is, a real plane with X hours. Only time will tell. I don't think the plane will fall from the sky, but will there be service bulletins at some point? At least if I am able to inspect all potentially effected areas, I can always know, and reasonably prove all is well.
- Resale: It has been talked about already, and people fall on both sides of the spectrum. I am not sure I'm so quick to dismiss this like the Vic's of the world. People are strange that way. Sometimes things just becomes a known point of concern. It could impact a future sale price. I am not building my plane for its resale, but at some point I will sell it, or my heirs will, and this could be a factor.
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