Wow. I just learned about the vans kits recently and am now reading about the laser hole issue. Sounds like a terrible chain of events that will have lasting impact on Vans as a company as well as resale value for vans planes. I am ME and worked on government projects before. I am a private pilot but haven't flown in years. Making a kit airplane is on my bucket list. I feel for all the builders out there.
Really glad to hear you're in the clear! I picked up my -14A wing kit at the end of May. It has over 100 laser cut parts with jagged holes. I have a feeling I won't see replacement parts until this winter :-(
What kind of parts were laser? Best we can tell on our QB wings. Everything is good. Even the parts we need to use to finish the build are all blue wrapped.
@@N14VE Basically all of the ribs (wings, flaps, tanks, etc). I do have quite a few parts on the laser cut parts list that Van's published that were wrapped in plastic so I'm thankful for that. It's easy to tell which parts are laser cut. The holes have jagged edges. Punched holes are super clean by comparison.
My RV-8 empennage needs to be completely rebuilt. I refuse to drill out the entire assemblies to get to and replace the spars. No word from Vans yet on replacements, or timeline...
It is a tough situation and vans is working hard to complete testing and evaluation of options available. Expect information to evolve a lot in the next few weeks and testing to take 4-6wks. All per vans talks at Oshkosh yesterday.
I am affected for both my wings and tail. Fortunately I have not done much on the wing. I already plan on just rebuilding the parts affected. For me that will include VS, HS, Rudder, Elevator, Flaps and some of the tail cone. Version 2 will be much better just concerned about the wait now.
@@N14VE I did not see cracking but some the spar are a MUST replace. If I try to drill out every rivet to replace will be a disaster. The assemblies have are ok but redoing them will not hurt
I have my fuselage and wing kits but have not started any of it yet. Working on completing my Private right now so that's been my focus but the laser cut parts concern me.
@@N14VE I have not. I did my inventory on both but was not looking for these laser cut parts at the time. I am certain I have some.....I have many items not covered in blue plastic.
Not all parts. Starting March 2022 there were laser parts being shipped in addition to normal. So you should determine if yours is affected or not. Date alone doesn’t do it.
Took delivery of my Emp kit in December 22, finished about 2 months ago, I have ALOT of laser cut parts.. going to be a lot of rebuild, hopefully not a lot of disassembly, but that's still an open question.
@@N14VE Raw metal, some had clear plastic, but just if there were multiples of something like a sub kit, not similar to the blue plastic. I have a bunch of wing parts sitting on the shelf still that are clearly lasered. I haven't experienced any cracking, but everything is primed, so I wonder if that might hide some of the cracking.
The real answer is to give vans a little time to work through the testing and logistics. If it were me, I’d be inspecting my completed assembly well and try and make a decision to build on. If it was just the elevator or rudder that was an issue. You could always rebuild and replace it even after you are flying. But I can’t imagine what to do without it in front of me.
@@LISRAREF Looking at a simple (but complete) part like the VS, to replace the forward spar, you need to remove literally every single rivet in the part, i can't see doing that with out doing at least a little damage. I am hoping Van's will have a solution, and I have faith in them still.
I literally just finished the horizontal stabilizer assembly and then checked my email after a hard day work... Well shit. :| I am really hoping most of those parts pass testing since prep,, prime, dimple, test fit, adjust then rivet is time consuming and now I have to rip apart multiple assemblies without damaging them??🤮
