REFLECTOR: Making Velocities easier to build?

[Scott Derrick]

That 800 hours has to mean "NO" modifications, "NO" interior, basic
panel, hire a painter. And definitely using a factory supplied engine
kit for a factory recommended engine/prop.

Scott

Tony Babb wrote:
> Perhaps someone at the factory can provide more details on these
> changes, however when I acquired my fast build SEFG kit in January
> 2002 I spent a couple of weeks at the factory in the builders center,
> learning many of the techniques I would later use at home. While I was
> there I met several builders who were building their projects at the
> factory. It seemed like around 6 months full time was needed at the
> factory with factory support available on a request basis. I found it
> very helpful just to talk with other builders who were ahead of me in
> the build process. At the time I think Velocity quoted around 800
> hours to build a fast-build kit, I think that excluded head scratching
> time.......
> Tony
> SEFG 62% done, 78% to go
> www.alejandra.net/velocity <http://www.alejandra.net/velocity>
>
>     -----Original Message-----
>     *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org
>     [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On Behalf Of *Reiff Lorenz
>     *Sent:* Wednesday, September 30, 2009 2:12 PM
>     *To:* reflector at tvbf.org
>     *Subject:* REFLECTOR: Making Velocities easier to build?
>
>     I downloaded the November issue of Kitplanes an came across this
>     quote by the CEO of Velocity on page 33. It was in response to the
>     question: How has the homebuilt aircraft industry changed over the
>     last 25 years?
>
>     ====================
>
>     In our business, the time it takes to
>
>     build an airplane is critical. The FAA
>
>     has allowed certain conditions to exist
>
>     now where a builder can come to the factory
>
>     and pay for professional assistance
>
>     from factory-trained staff. That cuts the
>
>     time the builder must spend building
>
>     to a fraction of what it used to be, and
>
>     that is the most significant change we’ve
>
>     had in the industry. The builder gets
>
>     enough experience building to maintain
>
>     the aircraft safely and apply, legally, for
>
>     the Repairman’s Certificate, and he/she
>
>     gets an airplane that has been built to
>
>     factory quality specifications. That’s a
>
>     monumental change.
>
>     It will be a benefit to any manufacturers
>
>     that can afford to set up this kind of
>
>     builders assistance program. We estimate
>
>     for Velocity it will cost upwards of
>
>     $200,000 to set up the program, because
>
>     presently the parts we make are designed
>
>     where the builder must build 51% of the
>
>     airplane using time as the measurement;
>
>     now we will go back and modify every
>
>     mold that we have so that no longer does
>
>     the builder have to do something with
>
>     those parts. They will be molded such
>
>     that the labor for the builder decreases.
>
>     It will be more expensive, but someone
>
>     who can afford [a $300,000 project]
>
>     does not have a lot of time to build, and
>
>     will see this as an attractive program.
>
>     Velocity CEO Duane Swing
>
>     ===================
>
>     He seems to be talking about changes ahead for the Velocity
>     builder who wants to assemble an aircraft but not fabricate as
>     many components. Anybody heard of the program that he mentions
>     setting up? This seems to run contrary to what the FAA has been
>     saying in their recent review of the 51% rule. I'd love to hear
>     all your opinions.
>
>     Reiff Lorenz
>
>     Velocity builder wanna-be
>
>     (hoping to hit the lottery for $300,000)
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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