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Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 08:13:33 -0700
From: Bob White <rlwhite@comcast.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: QB RV-8, not rotary related  was  Re: Single
 rotor running- Tracy questions
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On Tue, 3 Jan 2006 08:01:59 -0600
"Russell Duffy" <13brv3@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Can you really build a RV-8 Quickbuild in 9 months while still holding a
> full time job?  When do you sleep!!!!  How? (serious question)  How many
> hours do you think it will take? 
>  
> Hi Ken,
>  
> At first, this sounds impossible, but on paper, it's quite reasonable.  I've
> built about 2.5 RV's so far, including a standard kit RV-8.  I spent 1602
> hours over 2.5 years building the earlier -8, but again, that was a standard
> kit.  
>  
> The new kit is a QB, which is supposed to save 800-1000 hours.  If it saves
> 800 hours, then I will only need 800 to get the plane flying (not painted,
> or with fairings, etc).  You can probably knock off another 100 hours due to
> the fact that the new kits are so much better than the older ones.  For
> example, the empennage is all "match hole" construction now, which means you
> just cleco it together on the workbench.  All the steel parts are powder
> coated, which saves me the time of painting all that stuff.  I'll also save
> considerable time staring at the plans, and debating options such as where
> to put the antenna, ELT, headset jacks, etc.  Having "been there, done that"
> before, is a huge advantage.  Van's also sells a FWF package now, that has
> everything you need, including all the pre-made hoses.  Not only will this
> save the time of making the hoses, but it will save the time spent shopping
> for these items, forgetting something, ordering the wrong part, etc.  That
> shopping time wasn't included in the earlier total, but the time saved will
> now be available for actual building.  
>  
> The other advantage(?) is a change in vacation policy with Philips this
> year.  They now only allow you to carry over a small amount of saved
> vacation from one year to the next, rather than the 6 weeks we used to be
> able to carry.  Since I'm maxed on vacation time, and accumulate it rapidly,
> I will need to take 8 weeks of vacation this year to keep from losing any
> time.  I can easily work on the plane 70 hours in a vacation week, so that's
> 560 hours right there.  
>  
> The real time savings is the fact that I have no kids, or social life, and a
> wife who doesn't pile up too many honey-do's.  
>  
> As you see, it's possible, but still optimistic.  
>  
> Cheers,
> Rusty (when will this message arrive, instantly, or 2.5 days later)
>  

Thanks for that explanation Rusty.  After considering the time I've
taken to just put an engine on the front of an airplane that used to
fly that makes me feel a little better, I guess.  I can particularly
relate to "debating options" and "forgetting something, ordering the
wrong part, etc".  We can sum it up with "You have an unfair advantage,
you know what you're doing"!

Bob W. (Hoping I have my engine started before Rusty flies his RV-8)

-- 
http://www.bob-white.com
N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 (Projected engine start - maybe next week)
Custom Cables for your rotary installation -
http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/