So, what does it really cost to build an airplane, it depends on what you count as build time. If you just count the things directly related
to the project, (parts) then I would still be about on budget. However,
what if you count tools? How about postage for mail order parts, time
and gas for the multiple trips to the store? I have counted these because
I wouldn't have spent the time/money if it were not for this project. I
even counted my trip in a C-140 (over the middle of the
|
ITEM |
TIME (hrs) |
COST |
DATE |
|
Indirect Costs: |
|||
|
Saw my first experimental and went to check it out. |
0.5 |
Apr-97 |
|
|
Ordered first round of info packs and video's |
1 |
$100 |
Apr-97 |
|
Watched Each video, twice |
4 |
May-97 |
|
|
Read every word of every info pack, twice |
6 |
May-97 |
|
|
Got an aerocrafter |
0.12 |
$15 |
May-97 |
|
Read every word of aerocrafter and marked pages |
2 |
||
|
Ordered second round of info packs |
1 |
$100 |
|
|
watched and read the info |
10 |
||
|
Europa net, every day, ave 20min. for 2.2years |
264.99 |
||
|
Phone calls to Lancair, Rans, Vans, MCR and Kim Prout |
1 |
$6 |
|
|
Lancair net, ave 10 min/day for a year |
43.2 |
||
|
Visit to see a Partially built Lancair in HI, brought booze |
2.5 |
$25 |
Jan-98 |
|
My first component, a Push to Talk Switch |
15 |
$12 |
Nov-98 |
|
Practice with composite building.. the H2O bottle holder |
4 |
$4 |
Dec-98 |
|
Composite Construction by and Firewall Forward by Ben B |
10 |
$50 |
|
|
reading Aircraft spruce catalog, twice |
4 |
||
|
reading gulf coast catalog |
2 |
||
|
Read two more construction books, x-mass present |
10 |
||
|
thinking about planned panel set-up |
25 |
||
|
thinking about which design to get... est., prob higher |
100 |
||
|
Thinking about which handheld GPS to get and research |
6 |
$2 |
May-99 |
|
getting GPS (Magellan sky-star Plus) |
0.5 |
$625 |
|
|
RV Net, 35 min/day for 30 days |
16.8 |
||
|
Trip to see Lancair and Vans: |
Jun-99 |
||
|
Ron's Ticket |
10 |
$225 |
|
|
Airplane Rental |
4.7 |
$287 |
|
|
Planning |
3 |
||
|
Flying the Lancair and Tour |
3 |
$100 |
|
|
Flying the RV and Tour |
3 |
||
|
Misc. Web browsing and researching |
20 |
$30 |
Jul-99 |
|
And There You have it... I have Decided on a RV6 or 6A |
282.7 |
$1,360 |
Jul-99 |
|
This much time and money in... and I haven't really started yet |
|||
|
Now it all starts!!! |
|||
|
More Research and Shipping costs |
|||
|
Finding the Truck and Price |
1.5 |
$340 |
|
|
airfare wait around at travel agent) |
1.3 |
$155 |
|
|
Gas, food driving home |
48 |
$300 |
|
|
Parking at airport |
0.45 |
$30 |
|
|
Researching Engine Monitors |
5 |
$10 |
Sep-99 |
|
Rotary engine e-mail discussions x 3+yrs |
500+ |
Oct-99 |
|
|
Maintain the Rotary roster |
60+ |
||
|
Engine Books, sub to Contact! |
100 |
$150 |
|
|
Watch Build Videos |
12 |
Aug-99 |
|
|
Building the Workbench |
10 |
$120 |
Apr-00 |
|
2.5 years of Hangar Rental |
$10,500 |
||
|
Trip to |
100 |
$700 |
Aug-00 |
|
TOTAL ADDITIONAL |
278.25 |
$12,305 |
|
|
The Tools |
|||
|
Rivet Gun, dimple arm, air drill (with my kit) |
1 |
Aug-99 |
|
|
Compressor (5hp, 20gal, oilless) |
2 |
$295 |
|
|
Impact wrenches, hoses, accessories |
1 |
$100 |
|
|
squeezer |
0.1 |
$140 |
|
|
dies, bits, clecos and assorted others |
1 |
$1,000 |
|
|
bench grinder |
0.2 |
$200 |
|
|
Building the Wing Jig |
8 |
$100 |
|
|
TOTAL TOOL COSTS: |
13.3 |
$1,835 |
|
|
All Indirect Costs: |
574.25 |
$15,500 |
|
|
Direct Costs: |
|||
|
THE KIT!!! |
$17,000 |
Aug-99 |
|
|
Panel and Electronics |
|||
|
New UPS SL-30 nav/com (Really love this one!!) |
2 |
$2,900 |
Jul-00 |
|
Attitude indicator (BG Goodrich electric) - nice!(e-bay) |
2 |
$800 |
Feb-00 |
|
Nav/GS indicator (ki-520) e-bay (not so nice) |
2 |
$320 |
Jan-00 |
|
RST audio panel Kit |
25 |
$200 |
Apr-00 |
|
RST Marker Receiver Kit |
10 |
$40 |
Apr-00 |
|
ACK ELT (RST) |
2 |
$200 |
Apr-00 |
|
Navaid Autopilot (includes install time) |
20 |
$1,450 |
Jun-00 |
|
Controlvision Express Buss 2 |
4 |
$280 |
Jul-00 |
|
Contrlolvision Moving Map |
4 |
$500 |
Jan-03 |
|
Fuel Indicators |
3 |
$50 |
Sep-00 |
|
Passenger cooling (vent kit from Vans) |
4 |
$60 |
Sep-00 |
|
Rite Angle AOA indicator |
20 |
$325 |
Jul-01 |
|
G-Meter |
1 |
$200 |
Jul-01 |
|
Wing tip lights/Strobe |
30 |
$750 |
May-00 |
|
Replacement Flap Motor (lost in original kit) |
9 |
$250 |
Jun-00 |
|
Stick Grips (Teak, with PTT) |
2 |
$60 |
Oct-00 |
|
Static Kit From Vans |
3 |
$20 |
Sep-00 |
|
Landing Lights (removed from jeep - low burnt, high OK) |
15 |
Oct-00 |
|
|
Automotive Dimmer |
3 |
$10 |
|
|
Antenna kit (RST) |
10 |
$40 |
Apr-00 |
|
Whip Comm Antenna |
3 |
$120 |
Jul-03 |
|
XPDR antenna (Aeroeletriic) |
2 |
$40 |
Jun-06 |
|
Used Transponder at |
$900 |
Jul-00 |
|
|
RMI microEncoder Kit |
30 |
$870 |
Oct-99 |
|
RMI microMonitor Kit |
45 |
$1,000 |
Dec-99 |
|
12-disk CD Changer |
3 |
$120 |
Apr-06 |
|
Telex ANR headsets x2 |
$600 |
Jun-98 |
|
|
Wiring Harness |
15 |
Jul-98 |
|
|
Wire, Switches, Batteries |
3 |
$300 |
|
|
Transponder Check |
3 |
$75 |
Sep-98 |
|
Replacement Transponder |
2 |
$400 |
|
|
Total Panel and Electrical |
277 |
$12,880 |
|
|
Firewall Forward |
|||
|
First Engine Pick up ('91 turbo, with extras) |
6 |
$1,300 |
Aug-00 |
|
Engine Rebuild (myself - a great experience) |
20 |
$600 |
Sep-00 |
|
Second Engine with many extras |
8 |
$7,500 |
May-06 |
|
RWS RD-1B PSRU |
3 |
$2,800 |
Sep-06 |
|
RWS EC2 Engine Computer |
2 |
$900 |
May-06 |
|
Engine mount |
30 |
$900 |
Apr-06 |
|
Mount Coolers and Make Ducting |
120 |
$80 |
|
|
Oil Cooler from e-bay |
1 |
$120 |
|
|
Plumbing and wires |
100 |
$800 |
|
|
Fuel Pumps |
10 |
$200 |
Jun-06 |
|
Secondary Injectors |
$120 |
||
|
AC-Delco Coils |
4 |
$125 |
|
|
Cowl Modifications |
20 |
||
|
Propeller with spinner |
6 |
$700 |
Jan-00 |
|
Sensors |
10 |
$300 |
|
|
Second Engine Rebuild |
40 |
$100 |
Jan-00 |
|
Miscellaneous Welding |
10 |
$500 |
|
|
Making intake Manifold |
80 |
$50 |
|
|
Making Exhaust |
8 |
$200 |
|
|
Turbo Re-Build |
8 |
$600 |
|
|
Miscellaneous Firewall forward time |
100 |
||
|
Total Firewall forward inc. Prop. |
586 |
$17,895 |
|
|
includes EVERYTHING, even a second engine. |
|||
|
Airframe Construction |
|||
|
Mounting Ailerons |
15 |
Sep-06 |
|
|
Mounting Flaps |
20 |
Sep-06 |
|
|
Wing pushrods |
20 |
Oct-06 |
|
|
Running Wires |
4 |
Aug-06 |
|
|
Closing Wings |
30 |
Nov-06 |
|
|
Pilots Arm rest |
10 |
$20 |
May-00 |
|
Cabin Frame |
8 |
May-00 |
|
|
Roll over Bar |
30 |
Jun-00 |
|
|
Rear Bulkhead |
5 |
Jun-00 |
|
|
Seat Belt anchors |
4 |
Jul-00 |
|
|
Rear Turtle Deck |
7 |
Jun-00 |
|
|
Forward Turtle Deck |
8 |
Jul-00 |
|
|
Seat Backs |
8 |
May-00 |
|
|
Decking |
8 |
May-00 |
|
|
Flap Actuator Modification (moved to side) |
20 |
$100 |
Feb-06 |
|
Canopy |
40 |
Jun-06 |
|
|
Forward Skin |
10 |
Aug-00 |
|
|
Canopy Release Mechanisms |
18 |
Dec-00 |
|
|
Elevator pushrods and bell crank |
12 |
Dec-00 |
|
|
Control Column Mounts |
8 |
Dec-00 |
|
|
Fuel System Installations |
20 |
Jul-06 |
|
|
Electrical and antenna Installations |
50 |
Aug-06 |
|
|
Priming |
20 |
Always!! |
|
|
Brake System |
6 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Painting (so far) |
15 |
$300 |
Jan-00 |
|
Control Cables |
3 |
$150 |
Jan-00 |
|
Cabin Heat |
2 |
$50 |
Jan-00 |
|
Cowl Mounting and fitting |
40 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Attaching Empennage |
10 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Attaching Wheels |
2 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Attaching Wings |
25 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Fitting and attaching Wing Tips |
15 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Mounting gear leg and Wheel Fairings |
25 |
$250 |
Jan-00 |
|
Empennage Fairing |
4 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Fix dented elevator |
3 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Rigging |
20 |
Jan-00 |
|
|
Extra hardware and Supplies |
5 |
$1,500 |
|
|
Upholstery |
10 |
$2,400 |
|
|
Seat Belts |
4 |
$300 |
|
|
Final Inspection by DAR |
6 |
$350 |
Jan-00 |
|
Total Airframe Build time/expense |
570 |
$5,420 |
|
|
Total Invested to flyable condition (7/04) |
1,433 |
$53,195 |
Jul-04 |
|
Not counting Tools, Travel and indirect costs (&labor) |
|||
|
Estimated Total at start of Project |
1200 hrs |
$45,000 |
Jul-98 |
|
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|
Additional investments since first flight |
|||
|
Replacement Oil Cooler |
20 |
$325 |
Oct-04 |
|
Bluemountain EFIS (Love it) |
4 |
$2,800 |
Jan-05 |
|
Sold old Nav Indicator |
2 |
($375) |
Jan-05 |
|
Sold old Compass |
1 |
($120) |
Jan-05 |
|
Traffic Proximity Alerter w/antenna |
4 |
$250 |
Nov-04 |
|
Lightspeed ANR Headsets |
1 |
$450 |
Oct-04 |
|
New Turbo |
20 |
$800 |
Apr-05 |
|
Paint |
4 |
$10,000 |
Jun-06 |
|
Flowmaster Muffler and Supplies |
20 |
$250 |
Jan-06 |
|
Larger Radiator and fittings |
20 |
$500 |
Feb-06 |
|
Burns Muffler |
2 |
$150 |
May-05 |
|
After Market Leg and Intersection Fairings |
15 |
$225 |
Oct-04 |
|
After Market Tail Wheel actuator |
3 |
$130 |
Dec-04 |
|
Replacement fuel pump |
2 |
$120 |
Aug-05 |
|
Switch to Odyssey Batteries |
2 |
$130 |
Apr-05 |
|
Insulation foam and side upulstry |
20 |
$100 |
Sep-06 |
|
Wingtip Nav Antenna |
4 |
$150 |
Sep-06 |
|
Wingtip screw Kit |
4 |
$60 |
Oct-06 |
|
Rebuild Engine after Bishop Incident |
16 |
$1,000 |
Feb-06 |
|
Electric Turbo Oil Bypass valve |
8 |
$110 |
Jan-06 |
|
Mild Street Porting of Engine |
$320 |
Jan-05 |
|
|
Total additional investments |
172 |
$17,375 |
|
|
Still to come: |
|||
|
3-blade Prop |
$2,500 |