Sender: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 18:30:10 -0400
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From: N301ES <lancair@ustek.com>
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Subject: Comments from a new builder
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For "lurkers" who are considering a purchase or new buyers who are 
awaiting delivery, I whole-heartedly recommend the Lancair builders' 
program.  They have been flexible and adapted to my schedule: I worked 1 
week, back to the office for 2 weeks, back to Lancair for a week, back 
to the office for 3 weeks, and back to Redmond for 2 more weeks.  Moving 
the parts around was extra effort but I heard not one complaint. 


For the chefs on the MLM, the Lancair factory exhibits the best of "mise 
en place" - everything is in its place: all tools, all parts, all 
personnel, and all jigs.  Everything is at hand - meaning fewer trips to 
Home Deport and fewer FedEx charges from Aircraft Spruce and Wicks.  
Although you might be assigned a key technician, a team of others will 
descend when many hands ensure a quality job, as when doing the final 
wing closeout.  At one point I counted 7 technicians helping during the 
critical moments. 


The staff have all assembled your plane design before, be it a Legacy FG 
or ES-P or IV-propjet.  They have already climbed the learning curve.  
Ask another builder about the time split between trying to interpret the 
manual and actually doing the work.  Ask another builder how much faster 
his(her) second project would go.  Experience counts. 


The workday starts nominally at 8 am, and at most factories the 
employees arrive 5 minutes 'til.  At Lancair they are rolling in about 
7:30 and are already working by 10 minutes before the hour.  The 
technicians all seem to actually enjoy their work, even though it 
involves dealing with inexperienced builders.  The ES-P is my second kit 
but simple things are still being learned.  I was sanding a large part 
on the filter table, wrestling to hold it in place.  A tech (with whom I 
had not been working) walked up, dropped a couple lead shot bags on the 
parts to stabilize it, smiled, and walked off.  A real professional 
attitude.  These folks are top notch. 


If you are considering a few changes to tailor the project for your 
specific mission, what better place to be than surrounded by engineers 
and technicians who speak your language?  Point to a part - ask a 
question - get an answer - make a change - (save a week's grumbling). 


It is Sunday night, I finally got the dust out of my (few) hairs, and 
I'm ready for week #4 starting tomorrow.  With this head start I'll be 
flying (high and fast) in less than a year. 


Robert M. Simon,  Lancair ES-P N301ES