REFLECTOR: Making Velocities easier to build?

[Reiff Lorenz]

My original thread got hijacked by the where's-the-part-I-ordered concerns.

Back to the topic: How many Velocity builders (current or future) would be willing to pay more for parts that take a lot less time to finish and install? The original quote implied that it would cost Velocity HQ around $200k to develop the tooling and procedures to offer an extra-fast-build kit or an accelerated builders-assistance program. Is it worth the time and expense for them to do this?

Scott, Thanks for the info on the FAA standardizing their regulations between offices. It sounds like some west-coast kitplane manufacturers have been able to offer their customers more help than the Florida companies.

Reiff Lorenz



From: Reiff Lorenz
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 5:12 PM
To: 'reflector at tvbf.org'
Subject: 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?

====================
The FAA has allowed . . .
a builder can come to the factory
and pay for professional assistance
from factory-trained staff. . . .

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. . .
go back and modify every
mold that we have so that no longer does
the builder have to do something with
those parts. . . .
the labor for the builder decreases.
It will be more expensive, but someone
who can afford [it] . . .
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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