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My kit was purchased a year ago and since
the manual contains much of the old instructions I can make a pretty good
guess...
In addition to the brake lines there are
premolded preinstalled bulkheads, the firewall and nose gear housing is a single
preinstalled unit, firewall reinforcements are installed. Wing spar
fittings and carrythrough area are all set up, with a lot of reinforcement
installed. Main gear box is preassembled and installed. The vertical
stabilizer/rudder is a single molding, prehinged with internal structure
premolded and installed. The horizontal stabilizer is ready for closing with
hinges installed, as are the elevators. Ailerons and flaps are closed, in
primer.
One thing I noticed when I had to reskin
the stab. The replacement skin was much better finish than the original, smooth
as opposed to dimpled over the honeycomb areas. That may apply to other areas in
newer kits as well.
The factory work is not always a plus- I've
spent a lot of time so far building a jig, straightening the H stab, and
aligning the elevator hinges. Considering the possibility that FAA will
change the rules more fabrication (old kits) may be better when it comes to
getting an Experimental certificate.
One surprise was that the sumpless drains
were preinstalled in the wings- I had been thinking about them as an option.
Also locking fuel caps were installed. The internal rudder bellcrank might also
be included- I purchased mine for extra cost but maybe I shouldn't have. The
elevator bellows have been replaced with push-pull assemblies. As with the
sumps Lancair seems to be incorporating popular options into newer kits
(value/cost added).
Also, a new kit like mine can be ordered
with 110 gallon fuel capacity. I don't know what capacity the older
kits had.
That's it off the top of my head- Bill
Wade
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 2:54
PM
Subject: [LML] IV-P kit vintages?
I am looking at a few of the "old" IV-P fast build kits vs.
purchasing a
"new" fast build IV-P kit from the factory with all of the
latest
enhancements. Do any of you know what the meaningful enhancements
were to
the kit since the late 1990s? I think 1999 was a major upgrade to
the kit
(more complete wings, flaps, ailerons, FB door, etc.). Dan Olsen
Dan,
the one very valuable upgrade you didn’t list which I can think of is the SS
brake lines in the main gear legs.
You
can buy the kit from Lancair. There are pretty easy to
install.
Craig
Berland
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