Seems to me a car is about as complicated as our airplanes, yet they are
assembled in about 45 minutes.  Why can't we build airplanes that way?

Okay, I know that the car companies invest gazillions of dollars (or yen)
making automated welding stations for welding up a car's "fuselage", but even
looking at systems installation or firewall-forward, they make airplane
factories look like pre-school.  (This observation is not limited to Lancair
but pertains to all aircraft manufacturers, civilian and military.)

I understand that the Eclipse jet production line is being developed by one
of the lead production guys from Toyota.  Maybe they know something we don't?

While this is not particularly relevant to the LML mail list, I'd also be
real interested in ideas for streamlining an aircraft production line, since
my present job will require establishing a small (100 per year) production
line for a 4600 pound two-seat jet, and I'll be the first to admit that all
my experience is in "onesie-twosie" stuff.  Please contact me directly on
this.

- Rob Wolf