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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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In a message dated 5/6/01 12:38:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
Adam Molny writes:
<< ...I will be visiting the factory the week after
next to finalize my order (i.e. write a BIG check) and pick out the
options. My question is, which optional items should I get through
Lancair? .. >>
Adam -
I'd like to put in my two cents (I do that a lot here, I'm told) but it's a
little difficult since many of the 320/360 "options" are now standard with
the Legacy. So these opinions may be off the mark.
First, I wholeheartedly agree that you should buy everything that's
single-source from Lancair as soon as you can. While I don't think anyone
expects Lancair to do the Glasair routine and disappear overnight, the fact
remains that if you don't have a second source to go to then you're at the
mercy of their delivery times. Vern does a damn good job at keeping the
parts flowing as I need them, but it's better to have the parts in your shop
unless you have several possible sources. And some items do take a while for
Lancair to get (or make) especially the fiberglass parts.
I'm now going to flip though the Lancair options catalog and give you my
opinion of their options, and what I would buy if I were you. I expect other
builders to have other opinions.
1) You can get standard AN parts anywhere. No need to buy them from Lancair
now. Having said that, Lancair would send you two bolts and charge you about
the cost of a stamp to snail-mail them. Aircraft Spruce will charge a bundle
to pack them in a big box and UPS them. Lancair is an excellent source for
the odd nut or bolt that you need right away. But for now, the kit is fairly
complete in this regard, so hold off on these.
2) However, buy a quantity of AN3 and AN4 bolts from about -5 to about -12.
Maybe a dozen each. They are included in the kits but I often find that the
recommended length is a dash number off, particularly if it's going through a
fiberglass part. Besides, you always need them for something.
3) The Lancair tow bar is nice and not available elsewhere.
4) Don't buy resin or Hysol until you need it. Ths stuff has a shelf life
of one year. Lancair sold me seven gallons of epoxy (it came with the kit in
1994) and I gave almost all of it away in 1996 to a guy that build boats.
However, Hysol is a HazMat item, so expect a shipping charge of about $80.
Buy enough while you're there to last a year.
5) Buy a metal rotary cutter (pizza roller). Store it in a jar with solvent
(acetone or methylene chloride). Use a plastic-handled cutter from the
fabric store (same thing) for the dry fiberglass, and never use the plastic
cutter on wet fiberglass. The solvent will eat the plastic.
6) The HingeMate gizmo is nice when you're installing your canopy (twelve
zillion times) or installing the elevators.
7) I have the adjustable rudder pedal assemblies -- one each side. They are
nice units. I'm not sure where else you can get these (probably the glioder
community) and I bought them from Lancair.
8) All reports are that Tim Ong's TK-5 dampers are a must-have. John Spry
makes a similar product. However, the Legacy may have a different lading
gear setup and this comment may be invalid. There are no alternate sources
for these unless you buy direct from the guys that designed them. (Tim is
building an ES, I believe, and is a regular contributor to the list. But if
he gets hit by a bus there won't be any more...)
9) Get the tie downs.
10) Decide what you want to do for wingtip lights. If you want the clear
wingtip lenses, buy two pair (one set as a spare).
11) If the bracket kit does not come standard with the Legacy, then buy it.
12) Cabin heat valve. I originally complained about the cabin heat valve
until Scott Krueger pointed out that I was going to connect it backwards.
Now I'm happy with it. It's not bad and smaller than what you can find
elsewhere.
13) Get the prefabbed NACA scoops and shark gills.
14) Get the premolded instrument panel and dust cover. You may also want to
get the metal panel inserts, too, but if you're going to have the panel made
up for you then they would provide this.
15) I don't like to work with sheet metal, so I bought the prefab nose gear
boot. Don't know if this is included with the Legacy, or if it will even fit.
16) You will need a Dukes fuel pump eventually. Lancair has a good price
but you can get this later.
17) Get a baffling kit.
18) And an exhaust system. However, you will have to fit up the exhaust
system to the engine to make sure it fits properly. I sent mine back to
Snowline for rework. They did a great job making it fit but if I had waited
three years to send it back I'm not sure what would have happened. (However,
I've had tremendous support from Lancair even when I did send back some
incorrect parts five years later...)
19) If you'll need a cowl scoop with your engine, get it now. Actually, you
may not be able to since these are one of those three-month lead time items.
But at least you'll get it soon.
20) Talk to the guys up there and find out how much prepreg panel (flat
sheet stock) you will need, and buy that.
21) Buy your avionics as late as possible. Everything out there today will
be obsolete by the time you fly.
22) An engine. If you are buying a new engine you'll get a big discount if
you buy through Lancair. However, you won't need it for a while.
I think that's about it. You will find alternate sources for almost
everything else in their catalog. You may also find cheaper prices but you
may not. I ususally buy from Lancair if the cost is comparable since I have
a vested interest in keeping the company strong. Besides, their customer
service is unparalleled -- just send an e-mail and your parts arrive quick
(almost as fast as the bill...). Be aware that they have a $500 limit now on
purchases on account. It's not really a problem but it's something to keep
in mind.
Good luck.
- Rob Wolf
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