PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD |
We have often heard it repeated that Van's plans are the best
available...scary, because sometimes we find them ambiguous, unclear,
undecipherable, incomplete or occasionally just plain wrong. Since they are the best, it
seems Van's doesn't want to spend any effort clarifying the trouble
spots...they seem to prefer to answer the same questions on the phone
again and again and again, to the next, next, next new builders.
Perhaps our mistakes and epiphanies can save you some hair pulling and
extra part buying. You might not be a 20 minute flight from the
factory like we are now...we used to be a three hour flight away, so had
to wait a week for shipment when we ruined something. |
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| Right Rudder Pedal Dimension |
Left Rudder Pedal Dimension |
Rudder Stops |
Made-per-Plans Rudder Stop |
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| This next one started with a mistake in the
quickbuild kit. We compounded it with failing to recognize that
the right engine mount was incorrectly attached to the longeron, and we
ruined the forward topskin trying to make it fit over parts incorrectly
installed. We had called Van's, complaining that the skin didn't
fit. The response was, "Make it fit". So we did, and
wallowed out the holes. Later our Uncle Ken noticed the error in
where the engine mount was attached. Van's was good about
replacing our ruined parts without charge. Surely a digital photo
would have helped them diagnose the problem, but no one thought of that
(us or them). |
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| Drilling the new topskin (the problem was on the right
side). |
You gotta watch out what's behind there! |
OOPS!! What a shot! |
Practice makes perfect. |
New Gusset for Right Engine Mount |
