JHW
En-Route
51% is absolutely not based on time. Its based on tasks. Are you just making this up as you go?
I really hate to burst your bubble, but RVs ARE Spam Cans... And Lancairs are Clorox Bottles same as a Cirrus.
Let's compromise. RVs are "Van Cans".Negative.
Spam cans are factory built airplanes.
I guess it just depends on definitions.
Negative.
Spam cans are factory built airplanes.
I guess it just depends on definitions.
I think a lot of the folks building EAB planes intend to sell them right after they've passed flight testing.
The big reason the FAA clamped down is because so many of the guys who had the airplane built for them were applying for the repairman certificate. Now when the DAR inspects the airplane he asks the builder enough questions to determine if he is the builder before giving him the recommend for the repairman cert. Don
Let's compromise. RVs are "Van Cans".
Ron "Wood is Good" Wanttaja
I wish that was always true. I know of way too many checkbook airplanes.
One day one of those checkbook builders is gonna have a bad day and bring down the FAA, Nancy Grace, and a bunch of shrieking nanny state proponents on the entire HB community.
Badwater Bill Phillips was killed in a hired-gun airplane, and that didn't make a ripple outside the aviation community. Of course, he hit a few dozen acres of desert floor rather than a school, daycare, etc.....One day one of those checkbook builders is gonna have a bad day and bring down the FAA, Nancy Grace, and a bunch of shrieking nanny state proponents on the entire HB community.
Well, let's take a look at some statistics.I think a lot of the folks building EAB planes intend to sell them right after they've passed flight testing.
You really have to love building and get high satisfaction and emotional value out of it to make it worthwhile, otherwise you are better off buying from one of the old men that build a plane like a work of art.
Never take on building because you want a cheap plane to fly.
Negative.
Spam cans are factory built airplanes.
I guess it just depends on definitions.
And to be even more pedantic, "spamcan" means *slow* factory built fixed gear metal airplanes, e.g. Cherokees, Skyhawks, Cardinals, Beech Musketeer, etc... I'd even categorize the Grumman AA5 models as spamcan.
Well, let's take a look at some statistics.
I took my copy of the FAA registration database for 31 December 2012, and extracted all Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft that were listed with a 2012 Year of Manufacture.
Then I checked to see how many had changed owners as of my 30 Dec 2013 database.
There were about 660 aircraft in my initial "Homebuilts completed in 2012" list. As of a year later, 43 of them (6.5%) had changed owners.
(the end-of-year 2013 database actually showed more aircraft completed in 2012 than the end-of-year 2012 database did. Suspect these were delayed listings. But we're just comparing "n" aircraft known to be new vs. the change in ownership.)
Of those 43 aircraft, here's the breakdown as to aircraft type:
Zenair: 5
Vans: 5
Rans: 4
Kolb: 2
Challenger: 2
Just: 2
This accounts for roughly half of the homebuilts that changed hands, the remainder were all single examples of types.
What's interesting is the relatively small numbers of what might usually be considered "hired gun bait." Only one Lancair, only one Velocity. But of course, the "hired guns" can list the purchaser's name as the owner right from the start, and not have to file a bill of sale.
Five RVs...obvious "hired gun" potential, but there are so many added to the roster each year that five doesn't seem to stand out. Four RV-7s and one RV-10, for anyone keeping track.
The five Zenairs were a scattering of models... two 601s, and one each of a 200, 701, and 750.
In any case, I don't think the near-immediate sale of less than 10% of completed homebuilts is an indication that a lot of folks are building these things with the intent on an immediate sale.
However, the number of "little guys" (small aircraft without much profit margin for a hired gun) might be a good indication of "serial builders" at work...more power to 'em!
Ron Wanttaja
Badwater Bill Phillips was killed in a hired-gun airplane, and that didn't make a ripple outside the aviation community. Of course, he hit a few dozen acres of desert floor rather than a school, daycare, etc.....
Ron Wanttaja
That is true, my method won't detect this sort of operation. We are, after all, referring to fraud being committed, and I'm sure the guilty parties are doing something to hide that.From my experience, your methodology does not produce a representative view of how it typically works. What I see is also the planes being sold prior to initial registration at high levels of completion, then completed under the buyer's name.
No, Lancair Legacy N151HT. He'd made no secret of buying it brand new; it had 70 hours at the time of the accident. This was the one of three Lancair Legacies the builder of record had done in a ~2 year period.My idea of a really bad day involves fatalities at a school, an apartment complex, or some other high profile location that captures the attention of the news media on a slow day.
Didn't realize BWB was in a checkbook airplane when he went down. It wasn't the auto conversion RV was it?
No, Lancair Legacy N151HT. He'd made no secret of buying it brand new; it had 70 hours at the time of the accident. This was the one of three Lancair Legacies the builder of record had done in a ~2 year period.
Ron Wanttaja
Never take on building because you want a cheap plane to fly.