Note that there are no additions or deletions to the kits; my question is are they going to accept returns for items not used in the stock kits, for example, let’s say you don’t want to use the stock windows. You cannot delete them but can you return them?
Note that this is a hypothetical example, and yes I know the shipping would be cost prohibitive.
welp- I guess we'll see if these are indeed the final prices or if they go away again. The 7A model is still $4500 more than the tailwheel version. That doesn't make any sense to me.
Its also interesting that the additions to the standard kits are all vendor parts.
Was that gotten to from Van's site or from a Google search?
welp- I guess we'll see if these are indeed the final prices or if they go away again. The 7A model is still $4500 more than the tailwheel version. That doesn't make any sense to me.
Its also interesting that the additions to the standard kits are all vendor parts.
Extra gear leg, more welding / weldments, extra tyre, tube, wheel, spat, extra drag, less ramp appeal, reduced miles to the gallon…
Makes you wonder why anybody would want a nosewheel aeroplane…
Extra gear leg, more welding / weldments, extra tyre, tube, wheel, spat, extra drag, less ramp appeal, reduced miles to the gallon…
Makes you wonder why anybody would want a nosewheel aeroplane…
welp- I guess we'll see if these are indeed the final prices or if they go away again. The 7A model is still $4500 more than the tailwheel version. That doesn't make any sense to me.
Its also interesting that the additions to the standard kits are all vendor parts.
"Anybody" is over 50% of Van's sales.
The A model is the backbone of Van's Aircraft. With the exception of the RV15, Van's quit bringing tail draggers to airshows at least 10 years ago.
...and the RV-10 doesn't have the option.
Hard to believe the extra gear is the sole reason for a $4500 difference between the 7/7A when the RV-8/8A difference is only $150
The RV-9A total price is less than the RV-9, that doesn't sound right compared to the RV-7A versus RV-7 pricing.
For at least the last two years, the RV-14 taildragger has been at the Van's booth at Oskhosh...
Look up the registration. Van's does not own that aircraft. Van's did not bring it to Airventure.
Everyone who is pondering over the significant price difference between the nosewheel and tail dragger, have obviously never looked at the parts costs online. That entire new nose wheel system is outrageously expensive. That’s a cost that is not even in the kit for the tail dragger. In addition, you have the weldments which are crazy expensive as well. Add in all of the fiberglass pieces and extra wheel and tire, and you have a significant difference in price. I priced all these parts out when I started converting my project. Before everything that’s happened recently, it was a solid $2500 difference. And that did not take into account the new style nose gear, which is significantly more expensive than the old style.
I placed an order Sunday Dec 9 with least expensive shipping for in stock items. It will be delivered today. Good job.
I just find it interesting that Vans new prices are over list for reselling 3rd party parts. What is the need to get them from Vans when you can order them from other venders cheaper? For example:
55-204 Grove Wheels And Brakes:
Vans - $2,460
List Price - $2,299
Even more interesting is that the recommended upgrade kit for RVs (recommendation from Grove website) with two piston calipers:
56-213 Grove Wheels And Brakes:
Aircraft Spruce - $2,335
List Price - $2,418
I know this is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but I think its representative of Vans no longer using its buying power to make building a kit plane cheaper.
The wheels and breaks are a perfect example. There were part of the finish kit. Now they must be ordered separately, and apparently shipped separately.
The wheels and brakes are now included in the fuselage kit.
I did not realize that, thank you... Although I find it odd that that change was made. Anyone know why?
I am currently waiting on my 14A Finishing kit and engine only. I have everything else. I haven't started my build but was planning to begin this winter.....not sure I will do that now with all the price increases. I was very tight on my budget and if the engine price increases like my Finish kit did ( increased by $4000) then I am going to consider selling my prop, empenage, fuselage, and wing kits. The cost increase has really been a bitter pill to swallow for me and may end my dream of building my own plane. I know many of you can afford these increases and I am glad for those that can absorb this pricing but not sure I can manage it. Already working out how to cut my avionics down to afford the impact but short of having a prehistoric panel I just don't see it right now.
It is also upsetting that I placed my 25% deposit down on the entire kit 14mos ago so as not to endure a price increase and now the terms of that deal are apparently null and void! Just not happy with Van's at all.
Sorry for my rant but it feels good to tell someone.
That being said, you haven’t started building. I don’t know how detailed your budget is but I ran into all sorts of additional expenses so far and I am just starting the tanks. There are lots of smaller things I bought. A bunch of it is tools but also replacement parts for when I screwed up and things like pitot tubes, a connection kit for pitot and AoA, wiring, etc. There are a lot more things than kits, engine, and avionics to buy. You will probably spend more than you expect right now.
A lot of truth right there. Looking back on my 9A kit and using your logic about a $4k increase being the straw that broke the camels back - I would never have gotten past the wing kit. Airplanes are expensive, there are going to be extra unforeseen cost items. If you already have the first 3 kits and are only worried about a $4k increase in the last one, you are way ahead of the game. Besides, you have a LOT of time building out the first three kits before you have to worry about the finishing kit, and even longer before worrying about the engine/panel. Unless you plan to quit your job and work 10-hour days nonstop on the airplane, you are an easy year away, at a minimum, from having a complete airframe and start worrying about engine/panel.
Get a used engine, do the rebuild yourself. Build the panel yourself and make your own cables instead of hiring it done. Learn to paint. Trade hours in the shop for dollars in the budget, you'll enjoy it more in the long run.
Finally some good news from the Van's Store: as we had noted last month, the store had raised pricing on the PR wheel fairing kit by 75% (from $545 to $953). Last week, I checked pricing on those same wheel fairings and they're now $572.25, or 5% higher than November 2023. I pulled the trigger and they got shipped two days after ordering. They were listed as back-ordered, so I called and they were in stock.Wheel fairings.....
Quite. I paid $545.00 USD for the pair and installation kit with $30 USD shipping. They are now listed for $953.25 USD for the fairings and kit. They were shipped in a large cardboard box; no wood. .........