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That is what I set up a couple of years ago with Lycoming. I assume this is still the deal.
That timeline is my biggest hang up more so than the money. I ordered in 2022 with projected delivery Oct 2023, then Apr 2024, now maybe 2026? Plus whatever price increases happen between now and then. Or I could just order a non fancy one that is right now 14k cheaper. That still puts me right around the same total price point as accepting the new offer and I may get an engine in the next year.Useless if they won’t provide an estimated delivery date. No mention of the 1K credit for the prop bundle. 75K for 1955 technology which I might receive in 3 years? Fugeddaboudit. Seeya Lycoming.peace out.
Greg Beckner
141283
Dues paid
I’m gonna explore every possible option at a different engine before I click whatever button I’m going to click. If I could find another dealer to order an exp-119 from for current price I’d come out ahead even losing most or all of my deposit
Nope, without a personal timeline and a general 36-48 month window, expect more price increases.
You won't find an EXP-119 on the market from another company. Apparently Lycoming doesn't sell the parts to any of the other build shops. I enquired with Aerosport Power about this already. Depending on what you are looking for and how much work you want to do, you can find IO-360's or IO-375's that may work, but these require significantly more work fitting baffles, exhaust, cowling, etc....
It's less than optimal but it's either that or instead of an Avionics package I stick computer screens in the dash and make it into a flight simulator. I've been emailing companies all morning looking for quotes and info. As much as I was hoping a first airplane build would have a lot of hand holding and plug and play, I guess I need to embrace the experimental part and get smarter on how to do engine stuff. There's one company where you go to Canada and they build your engine with you that I'm hoping gets back to me with good news.
https://vansaircraft.smartexchange.com/portal/ is the link you want in case you are using something else like I was.
I had to pick change password. Changed my password and that worked.
On my Ipad I can’t actually see the new contract files. They’re populated on my desktop but on the Ipad it’s just a single page that says this is your new contract.Thanks guys, it now works, using the iPad. Maybe there was some rejection by Safari on my Mac.
Thanks again
They won't. That company in Canada is Aerosport Power and they told me a few weeks ago that they can't get the parts for the IO-390. They can do a stroked IO-375 (based on a parallel valve 360), but the exhaust and baffles will be different and would require a lot of work to fit. And I have no idea what the cost of the IO-375 would be, but I suspect it would be similar the IO-390 from Van's/Lycoming. If you're willing to take the risk with the Van's deal, it seems it's still the best option. I pressed "Agree" soon after I got my email last night. And bought a Hartzell prop a few minutes later.
I actually just got that exact response but they did give me a price of 53k. Honestly my plan A right now depending on if we can order a second engine is to reject the offer and order a non thunderbolt through Vans. If they don’t allow us to make a second engine order then I’m hoping something else comes through. Plan Z is this crazy overpriced long wait thunderbolt. When I ordered the price delta was only about 4k. A 14k and 3 year wait time difference is completely nuts. I never would have imagined 2 years ago when I ordered this thing it would have gotten that weird.
I hear you. I made the decision in 2022 to go with the non-TB as even then, the $4k price differential seemed high. The $12k now is even more crazy considering I know a guy who bought a TB in 2019 for $36k. It's worth keeping in mind that the pricing of the TB engine is strictly Lycoming. This pricing has nothing to do with Van's.
I believe that my finish kit will be headed my direction in the next few weeks. I say that because have been asked for final payment for it. I got the email from Van’s at 12:07 am and accepted/signed the agreement at 2:29am on the same day. Most days I hate my insomnia.
Well, it didn't take me long to figure out that every option besides throw unlimited money and an indefinite timeline at the new contract and hope for the best was superior to every other option. If they don't retain our previous place in line, I was just wondering if I could wind up waiting 6 years for this stupid thunderbolt.
cases.creditorinfo.com
Same here. Portal only shows finishing kit order (accepted). I think they rolled out the kit orders over a period of days, versus all at once, so maybe it’s the same with the engines?
I don't have any real knowledge, just a theory about this question. As I understand it a "Thunderbolt" is what the hotrod world calls a "Blueprinted" engine. The machining tolerances are tighter from an assembly line engine. And variance's in sizes, flows, and weights cylinder to cylinder are matched more closely. Then all of these measurements are checked and verified during assembly.
The same for me.
I received 4 emails on 01/30/2024, and promptly reordered my engine. I received another one this morning. Returning to the portal, I don't have any orders pending decision.
Same here
Same same, 3 mails 2 days ago, 1 more today...
vansairforce.net
