Pirep on the "Candy Store" aka RV Central
Ok?so first, I have to give a big ?THANK YOU? to Jay. He says he gave me the ?nickel tour?, but I really feel like it was the VIP treatment! I spent almost 2 hours with Jay going over his RV-8, Borrowed Horse and peeking at all the projects he has at RV Central. I know most of you guys out there have known about Jay and RV Central for years? I know, I am sorry ? this will be old news to you. You can stop reading here.
For the rest of you ? and especially you newbies like me?It is truly amazing what Jay has going on at RV Central. If you have never been, and are within driving/flying distance (which would mean anywhere from San Fran to NY city)
? you have to come see it! By the time I left there, I was calling RV Central the ?Candy Store? (probably not the first time someone has done that). The Candy Store has everything ? I mean everything. It literally runs the gamut from a barely touched empennage kit all the way to an -8 that is 23 hours into Phase 1 test flying (and literally EVERYTHING in between). - Jay was gracious enough to take me around to all of his builder's projects and explain the nuances of the different builder?s tastes ? as well as answer a myriad of newbie questions. I really, really appreciate it Jay ? more than you could know. As a newbie that is just at the garage clearing stage ? it was so helpful for someone to take you through the process and to clear up many of the scary ?unknowns?. And as neat as the hardware was - Jay still has the "RV-grin" and really loves what he does...it shines thru.
I had been to Jay?s website a few times. But that doesn?t begin to describe it - because you couldn't. Jay has 3 separate ?slots? for building as well as a boat load of hanger space in 2 separate hangers to get your project kick started or completed. Everywhere you look there are airplanes, airplane parts and tools. There are 4 or 5 of every tool you could need and Jay has built so many RV?s that he has done it all ? the good way and the bad way ? and knows how they should be built.
In the end, my brain felt like it was full and couldn?t contain any more data - and I told Jay that I would be seeking some help from him and information in the future ? when I start building. In summary, Jay is a class act and again ? for any newbie, or someone that is thinking about building, but not sure ? look Jay up and get the ?nickel tour?! I wish I had done it years ago when I first started lurking on the VAF site. Who knows, I might almost be done by now
