Project completion assistance

[Charles Davis]

I'm in primer, the engine is hung.  Next I will do the wiring, avionics, fuel plumbing, and start the engine.

After that there are a lot of little things to do to finish and rig the controls and test fly.

I am getting so busy at work, and I don't want this to drag out longer.  I just don't want to loose momentum.

Is there a good builder assistance company in the midwest where I could take the plane and get help with the last 5% and with test flights?

[GlennBob]

Have you ever heard of the phrase  "  95 % done and 95 % to go ?  

You may think you are only 5 %  away from done, . .but what you mentioned you have left to do could take months / years !  !   I don't want to burst your bubble,  but I'm afraid it's more realistic than you may realize.  Getting help might be a good idea,  but you must then try to control quality and cost.  I'd imagine there may be some out there to help, but I don't know of anyone.   You might try to find Ray Parker in the Cincinnati area.  He's an A & P  and is familiar with the EZ's.  Also possibly contact Terry Schubert with CSA association.  He might steer you in the right direction. You could possibly peruse the membership roster.

Glennbob

[Charles Davis]

Oh yes, I've heard that expression.  Trust me, I have a realistic idea of what this will take.  I bought the plane "80% complete".  I did some back-tracking to put on the long nose, switch to an electric speed brake, wortmann gear legs, etc.  

I'm a lot more knowledgeable now, and realistically, there is up to 500 hours labor left until first flight.  A pro might finish in less than half that time.  These are honest numbers, which are a lot easier to project because the plane is so far along, and many of the little details have been finished.

It all comes down to how much time you have to devote to it each week.  If a full 40 hours, then you are months away.  If only a few, then it certainly could be years.  

Right now, work is getting really busy again, and I'm starting to think more about side-side seating since my spouse now will fly with me, and I'd like side-side seating better.

I have the option of selling off the project, buying help to complete it, or finishing it myself, which will likely take me 1-2 years at the rate I can devote to it.

It's such a good plane, and I've lavished on it, that I hate to see it sitting in the hanger.

[GlennBob]

Boy can I relate to that ! !   I hate seeing my bird in the garage and wish I were flying it.  I had a chance to buy a different one that was really in flying condition, but I passed on it.  Now I'm kicking myself.  ( That's what all those bruises are from ! !  ).   :lol:

It's good to hear you have a handle on how long it'll take.  You have a realistic idea.  Hope you can find a " professional ".

Glennbob

[Charles Davis]

There is a little more to this story.  When I acquired the project, I thought I'd be flying alone, out west, for pleasure.  I wanted a sporty, fast, inexpensive to buy and operate plane I'd fly mostly solo.

I've since moved back east and re-married.  I'd like a plane where I can sit side-side with my wife to show her how to fly.  Distance are shorter, so the speed is not as important.  And I bought a 71 acre farm, and I'd like something I can land on my own sod strip.  I'd also like something I can use more for business.

Whoever buys it could get my brother, Mike, near Nashville, to finish to their specs.  His work is great, and he's not expensive.

The EZ is an awesome plane.  It's just that my needs have changed.  I wish I could own two planes!

[Charles Davis]

In the end I decided that I did not want to go through the long and depressing process of selling off the plane piece by piece.

I am starting a new company, and really need to clear my docket of any diversions.   And the last thing I needed was to haggle over each item to be sold.

So, in the end I decided to sell the entire project, everything, to my brother, Mike, for $1.00.

It's a crazy idea, since I have about $40K in it (so far).  But it saves me the problems, and I don't have to pour another $10K or so into it.  Besides, it made Mike very happy!  

I'm going to buy a C177RG for my business.

Love the EZ.  I just ran out of time, and my needs changed.

[Drew]

What is the new company?

[GlennBob]

It's called  loose 40 grand to my brother and make him happy ! !  :lol:

Hey dude, . . . could I be your brother ? . . .wait . . .I think   I AM ! !

Don't you have another  EZ  layin' around somewhere ?   I think I got a dollar here somewhere ! !    :lol:

Glennbob

[Waiter]

I had a similiar situation, new business / no time.

My project was almost finished, still needed fill /sand, wheel pants, and cowling fitted.

I offered a 50% ownership to anyone who would complete these and have it flying within 12 months.

No takers (I'm glad)

I finally took a couple months off the new business (wife ran the business) and completed it.

Waiter

[Charles Davis]

Opportunity costs.  You have to think about the money you are loosing by being distracted doing something else other than your business.

I could just sit on it for 5 years and finish it "some day", but I need a plane to fly.

In retrospect, I should have bought a flying EZ, then worked on incrementally upgrading it.

[GlennBob]

I said the same thing.  In retrospect, . . .I wish I'd bought the one I had a ride in, . . .rather than this thing I've been working on for two years ! !

Gettin' close though.  Hopefully this summer.  I can't wait ! !

Glennbob.

Too bad I didn't live near Waiter ! !   50 %  ownership ? ! ! !

Glennbob

[Joe Dubner]

In retrospect, I should have bought a flying EZ, then worked on incrementally upgrading it.

You still can and maybe you will someday.  I hope you will, Charles.

As for me, I decided I'd rather spend my limited time in this world flying rather than sanding and filling (and sanding and filling and sanding and ...)  So I bought a nice-looking, well-built flying EZ.  That's no panacea however; incrementally upgrading it is problematic because the airplane is too pretty to "cut into".  Nope, I'm just going to fly it pretty much as it is until it _needs_ upgrading.

Of course, I did upgrade it somewhat by adding wheel pants, gear leg fairings, an LSE electronic ignition, an RV airbox, a Dynon EFIS, and a few other bolt on things :-)  But you won't catch me cutting off the lower winglets, extending the nose, building a Roncz canard or anything else that needs major fiberglass work.

In summary:
- 821RP flown for 4-1/2  years, been all over the western US
- 600 hours flying time
- damn little sanding and filling

[GlennBob]

Joe,

You puttin'  us all to shame ! !  :oops:   That is certainly what I had in mind.  I thought the bird I bought just needed a few finishing touches, . .but whoa . . .like some major rework man ! !   I was hopin' to have 600 hours in 4 1/2 years too.  Like Mr. James says,  the best thing to have on your EZ  is . . . .BUG  GUTS ! !

Glennbob

P. S.  How did you do your gear leg fairings ?  " Bolt on " ?  No sanding and filling ?

[Joe Dubner]

P. S.  How did you do your gear leg fairings ?  " Bolt on " ?  No sanding and filling ?

Not "no sanding and filling " but "darn little sanding and filling".  And the workmanship shows it :-)  No matter; I'm happier flying just as others are happier sanding.

--
Joe