Or, rather, things I thought of but shrugged off....
I don’t think the normal duration of building optimizes for this condition. Consider purchasing any electrical component as late as possible to ensure the longest warranty period while flying. I did this for avionics but not for the other little stuff.
In my situation, I optimized for kit completeness. I have had several components fail that fell outside the warranty period as a consequence of my build pace (which I was perfectly happy with).
In the latest example, when I ordered the empennage and wing kits (2014, 2015 – does not seem that long ago, but ages...), I also ordered the tail and wingtip lights. Those kits were completed and sitting on a shelf till assembly. 5 years passed before I had first flight.
Two years into flying, the taillight fails and it is beyond warranty. Ok, happens… but also the design has changed, and the strobe now has a different lighting pattern. All strobes will not be in sync if I just replace the failed tail unit. Ah well.
So, advice: if you can’t build faster, stage the time bound warranty item purchases till near the end.
I don’t think the normal duration of building optimizes for this condition. Consider purchasing any electrical component as late as possible to ensure the longest warranty period while flying. I did this for avionics but not for the other little stuff.
In my situation, I optimized for kit completeness. I have had several components fail that fell outside the warranty period as a consequence of my build pace (which I was perfectly happy with).
In the latest example, when I ordered the empennage and wing kits (2014, 2015 – does not seem that long ago, but ages...), I also ordered the tail and wingtip lights. Those kits were completed and sitting on a shelf till assembly. 5 years passed before I had first flight.
Two years into flying, the taillight fails and it is beyond warranty. Ok, happens… but also the design has changed, and the strobe now has a different lighting pattern. All strobes will not be in sync if I just replace the failed tail unit. Ah well.
So, advice: if you can’t build faster, stage the time bound warranty item purchases till near the end.