(This article was
written by Van’s Aircraft, Inc. and emailed to me.)
There
are a lot of RV kits, in various stages of completion, available in the second
hand market. Some of them are very
inexpensive. With increasing frequency, prospective buyers of unfinished RV
kits are calling Van’s Aircraft, Inc. for advice. This puts us in a difficult position. Once the kit leaves our shipping dock, we
have no knowledge at all about what happens to it. We can not recommend for or against the
purchase of any particular kit, or offer any opinion about previous owners or
their craftsmanship.
That
said, here’s a few suggestions derived from our
experience:
When
the kit ships, it includes inventory and packing lists that list the parts
included. Use these to check the kit you
are considering. Original purchasers
have thirty days to notify Van’s of any shortages. Most partially complete kits are long past
these deadlines, so purchasers should expect to pay for parts, even if they
find shortages in the kit. A Builder’s Manual and construction drawings were
also included. If you are buying a kit, insist on receiving these documents.
Older
kits did not include all the bits and pieces modern ones do. For instance, most RV-3 and many RV-4 kits
shipped without tires and inner tubes…it was expected that builders would find
their own sources. In early kits, many
plumbing and hardware items were not included.
Be
sure you know what you are getting and where you can get what you’re
missing. When you add up the parts you
must source and acquire on your own, the price may surprise you.
Over
the years, we have made many improvements to the kits. New RV kits are much more complete and easier
to assemble than older ones. An older kit may be cheaper, but it will probably
take longer to build.
Standard
Kits took a huge leap forward several years ago when pre-punching was introduced. Unfortunately, it was not possible to
make the new pre-punched parts “backwards compatible”. For example, purchasing
pre-punched wing skins for an older non pre-punched RV-4 kit may seem an
attractive option, but it will not work.
Van’s
Aircraft stocks a limited supply of parts for older kits but it is imperative
that you order the correct part for your kit.
Also, simply saying “I need all the wing ribs for an old RV-4 kit” just
doesn’t work. The best source of correct part numbers for an older kit is the
original packing list that was
delivered for inventorying purposes to the original purchaser. The next best
source of information is the original blueprints for the kit in question. Using
the EXACT part numbers as listed for components on the blueprints will help to
get you the correct part.
Kits are
packed for shipping, not indefinite storage. Check for any corrosion caused by long or poor
storage. The plastic that coats the aluminum may be (extremely) hard to remove
if the parts have been stored for many years, especially in hot climates. Worse yet, moisture may have crept underneath
the plastic or paper packing material, remained for long periods and promoted
extensive corrosion. “Still in the original crate” isn’t always a good thing.
Partially
completed kits run the whole gamut of craftsmanship. Construction quality can
be a real issue. Some people are in a
hurry and cut corners, others are distracted or careless. Some never quite get the “knack” and others
simply try to beat the kit into submission. When they finally realize that the
quality of their work is not acceptable, they abandon the project.
Partially
completed components may be so poorly built that you will be forced to repair,
rebuild or replace them. Besides being
expensive, repair work is usually more difficult and frustrating than new
construction. Inspect the workmanship on
the kit carefully and if you don’t feel qualified to judge, take along someone
who is.
Every
kit shipped from Van’s is issued a serial
number, variously known as the “builder’s number” or “customer number.” The
FAA requires an official Bill of Sale from the kit manufacturer before issuing
an Airworthiness Certificate. Van’s
Aircraft supplies this to the person buying the kit directly from Van’s, but of
course, cannot supply it to someone buying the kit from a private party. When
you buy a second hand kit, get a bill of sale from the seller that lists the serial number of the kit and his/her
address. Van’s Aircraft must receive a
copy of this document in order to maintain the required paper trail for the
FAA. Also, include the necessary data
about you, the new owner: name, address,
email and phone numbers, etc.
If
the kit has passed through several owners, be sure you can establish a clear
chain of ownership or you will have difficulties registering the airplane.
Also,
because of the FAA’s 51% rule be sure to contact a local
FSDO office of the FAA to discuss problems associated with your acquiring a
repairman’s certificate.
Van’s will gladly provide builder’s
assistance and access to OEM pricing to buyers of second-hand kits. However, Van’s cannot be responsible for
completely educating a new owner of a previously sold kit and new RV builders
should expect to spend some time and effort learning the basics of RV
construction on their own.
Prospective
buyers of second-hand RV kits should consider the alternatives carefully. Do ALL the homework before you put the money on the table.
We have seen many cases where the buyer would have been better off with a new
kit at full price. We have seen other
cases where the buyer purchased a well-built kit and saved considerable time
and money.