REFLECTOR: Nose gear fork

[KeithHallsten]

Alex & Jim,

In an airplane, almost ANY part can kill or injure you in a particular set
of circumstances.  However, if you expect rigorous engineering analysis of
every part, you will either have to do such analysis yourself or buy only
high $$ certified aircraft parts that are type certificated for your
certificated airframe.  In other words, stay away from experimental aircraft
unless you bring the engineering horsepower to the project.  According to
the FAA rules, the Builder is responsible for the design and fabrication,
not the kit supplier.  It is highly unrealistic to expect a kit manufacturer
to provide the same level of engineering assurance that you would get with a
new type-certificated design.  However, we are offered a reasonably
well-proven kit design at a reasonable price, compared to the
type-certificated world.

If Raytheon were to come up with an improved gear fork design for the
Bonanza, do you think that they would sell the new part to Bonanza owners
for $50?  How about $100?  $200?  $400?  I would be very surprized if the
STC, part, and shop labor to install such a part would leave you any change
from a $1,000 Bill!  In that light, Velocity's policy looks mighty
customer-friendly!!

Keith Hallsten


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Agnew" <jim_agnew_2 at yahoo.com>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Nose gear fork


> "The old fork was designed and thought to be up
> to the task."
>
> When designing things that can kill or injure your normal
> engineering is not based on "thought", rather actual
> destruction testing!  The real question is here does
> guessing stop and engineering begin?
>
> Jim
>
> --- Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net> wrote:
> > Alex,
> >
> > I agree and disagree.  The old fork was designed and
> > thought to be up to
> > the task. And from what I know many a bird is still
> > flying with many hours
> > on that older design.  Velocity wasn't selling something
> > they thought would
> > fail..  When it proved to have a weakness a new fork was
> > produced and from
> > the prices I've seen it is being sold for close to their
> > cost as an
> > upgrade.  A pretty good deal in my mind.
> >
> > I don't know how many airplanes you've owned, but I never
> > had an AD paid
> > for by the factory, ever.  I paid for them, 100%.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > At 09:13 PM 6/14/2004, you wrote:
> > >Yea, about that- a LOT of us are having to call up the
> > factory and pay for
> > >a properly engineered and constructed fork after paying
> > already for the
> > >old style, improperly engineered fork- kind of sits
> > badly with me- this is
> > >not like the improved stuff like toe brakes, and ball
> > bearing seat rails,
> > >this is an issue that should be addressed like an AD and
> > paid for by the
> > >factory, not us..... oh well, I am not going to start a
> > pissing match over
> > >it, so I will patiently wait for their machinist to get
> > mine done (another
> > >2 weeks I am told)
> > >-----Original Message-----
> >
> >
> > "Those who sacrifice freedom to get security, deserve
> > neither."
> > - Benjamin Franklin
> >
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>
> =====
> James F. Agnew
> Jim_Agnew_2 at Yahoo.Com
> Tampa, FL
> Velocity 173 Elite Aircraft Completed & Flying
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