Van's Air Force
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Plans in PDF format?
- Thread starter danielhv
- Start date
I have all of my full size plans for the -9A and -8 scanned to PDF as well as all of the manuals. You're right, it is a great reference. It is a good use of work resources labeled "just making sure all the big expensive equipment is working correctly." I don't think many would be very comfortable sharing though since Van doesn't want us passing this stuff around electronically.
danielhv
Well Known Member
Understandable... so I take it you just scanned the preview plans and not the actual full size plans? If so, how do you scan the oversized sheets the preview plans are printed on? Or did you have it done somewhere?
I scan the final full size sheets so I can reproduce them years later if needed, in addition to electronic reference. Then I print them out to 11x17 for a shop set. I don't use the full size in the shop. I have large format production equipment in my office (scanning and printing). You can scan these sheets at most copy shops. Having all the construction documents in electronic format is kind of a must for me. Sorry, I can't share until Van says he doesn't care, which I suspect isn't going to happen.
tomcostanza
Well Known Member
I had the preview plans scanned at a local Office Max for about $25. I am scanning the constuction manual as needed at home (8.5 x 11). It seems a shame to have everyone spend money to have their own docs scanned, but Scott is right, and I agree.
Clear skies,
Clear skies,
Noah
Well Known Member
SEARCHABLE Data Files
I scanned the manuals and B size preview drawings, but what has been the most useful is the fact that I made searchable (OCR - Optical Character Recognition) PDF (Adobe Reader) files.
Need to know where K1000-06 nutplates are used? Search the drawings and immediately you know that they are called out only on sheet 12 (RV-7).
How many times have you spent 10 minutes trying to figure out which drawing has the callout for a fastener you're trying to install? Just look at the P/N sticker on the part you're installing, and search on that. Or if you want to find brake lines, rather than thumbing through 50 drawings, just search on "brake line" or "brake".
I also have the contents of all of Van's parts bags in a spreadsheet (also searchable), as well as "The List" from Van's website, so I know the cost of a part within about 9 seconds , as well as which bag to look in. All of my parts bags are located together, so I can access a part within about 15 seconds. THIS IS A HUGE TIMESAVER.
My engine's overhaul manual, parts manual, service bulletins, service letters, and service instructions are also scanned and searchable.
Using Google Desktop makes this even faster - you don't even need to open the file to search it! On my shop PC, if I hit <CTRL> <CTRL> followed by the P/N of my fuel pump, I can immediately see all the AD's, service bulletins, service letters, and that part of the overhaul manual dealing with the fuel pump.
I keep all of this on a thumb drive around my neck, so its always with me - and with a PC in the shop right next to the project, I waste very little time finding things. Don't know how people built airplanes before the advent of searchable digital data!
I scanned the manuals and B size preview drawings, but what has been the most useful is the fact that I made searchable (OCR - Optical Character Recognition) PDF (Adobe Reader) files.
Need to know where K1000-06 nutplates are used? Search the drawings and immediately you know that they are called out only on sheet 12 (RV-7).
How many times have you spent 10 minutes trying to figure out which drawing has the callout for a fastener you're trying to install? Just look at the P/N sticker on the part you're installing, and search on that. Or if you want to find brake lines, rather than thumbing through 50 drawings, just search on "brake line" or "brake".
I also have the contents of all of Van's parts bags in a spreadsheet (also searchable), as well as "The List" from Van's website, so I know the cost of a part within about 9 seconds
, as well as which bag to look in. All of my parts bags are located together, so I can access a part within about 15 seconds. THIS IS A HUGE TIMESAVER.My engine's overhaul manual, parts manual, service bulletins, service letters, and service instructions are also scanned and searchable.
Using Google Desktop makes this even faster - you don't even need to open the file to search it! On my shop PC, if I hit <CTRL> <CTRL> followed by the P/N of my fuel pump, I can immediately see all the AD's, service bulletins, service letters, and that part of the overhaul manual dealing with the fuel pump.
I keep all of this on a thumb drive around my neck, so its always with me - and with a PC in the shop right next to the project, I waste very little time finding things. Don't know how people built airplanes before the advent of searchable digital data!
RVG8tor
Well Known Member
How to make OCR PDF
Noah,
How did you make the OCR PDF files, did you can them on a home scanner? My home scanner has this capability but when I try it too many of the words come out wrong. I would love to have this capability. Old plans had an index with a part number with a reference to a DWG but the newer plans have new DWG numbers and this old index is useless. Thanks for any help.
Cheer
Noah,
How did you make the OCR PDF files, did you can them on a home scanner? My home scanner has this capability but when I try it too many of the words come out wrong. I would love to have this capability. Old plans had an index with a part number with a reference to a DWG but the newer plans have new DWG numbers and this old index is useless. Thanks for any help.
Cheer
Noah
Well Known Member
Mike, you need Adobe distiller or Adobe Professional or any number of other OCR programs. Most scanners come with some version or another but the quality does vary somewhat. Try scanning at a higher resolution - like 300 dpi or better - you can always shrink the resolution (and filesize) after you've done the OCR bit.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
bigbill25
Well Known Member
Scanning them for your own use: No problem.
Giving that scanned copy to someone else who owns and has the physical plans: Probably fine.
Putting that scan in a generic spot (i.e. this forum): That's a copyright violation.
I'm not sure what Van is worried about. Would anyone actually take the kit plans and build a plane from it without buying the metal from Van's? Is he worried about Rans getting a copy? I would assume a competitor would buy a kit and have the plans anyway...
--Bill
Dave Fogarty
Active Member
Hey Dan -
You are right. I own an engineering company with my two brothers. Intellectual property is expensive to create and maintain. I don't begrudge VAN his revenue stream, but I do agree that a set of protected PDF's would help a builder out tremendously, myself included. I scanned all my drawings the other day at FedEx Kinkos and it wasn't cheap (approx $0.50/ ft2 for a total of approx $125). I have also scanned the build instructions in my office and will run it through an OCR program so it is searchable.. but it sure as heck would be better if VAN's did it for us. That said - I don't want to violate the copyright laws. One of my brother partners is a "lawyer" - sorry guys but what the heck.
It's all about efficiency - maybe VAN's will start offerring this as a "product" to real live builders.
Well, according to Phil Campbell, the plans are available from Van's in PDF format, at least for the -8. See his comment in this thread:
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=35388
Tracy.
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=35388
Tracy.
