Thoughts on a 90% Rebel
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:59 am
Jim,
Last year, about this time, I faced much the same questions as you do now.
Did I want a finished aircraft? Did I want something mostly finished? Did
I want something as old as I am in a certified aircraft? All were
considered so I could fly my own plane again; sooner.
Or could I trust any of the work that was done before?
Trust is the crux of the issue and unless you really know how a Rebel goes
together or completely disassemble the work and start over, or for some
reason have absolute trust in whomever did the work that has been done: I
found it really hard to trust my fat butt to an unknown quality of
work. How are you going to feel when you hear a little creak or groan at
10,000'?
If you've found someone YOU really TRUST --- do you trust them enough to
risk your life and the life of those you love? Remember con men prosper
because they convince you that you like them.
90% done really scares me, WHY, WHY, WHY!!!!! Even someone who claims to
be an A&P has little credential selling a 90% aircraft; there are good, bad
and worst in every profession. I'd sooner trust a widows inheritance from
an amateur builder. A truly a skilled airplane builder would finish the
work and go for the big bucks that might at least provide a minimal wage
instead of a guaranteed loss in time and money expended: unless they are
earning a fair hourly wage for the work done. Work situations change time
and again for many people over the course of building an airplane, no one
sells what a 90% complete Rebel represents unless they are gaining
something in the process; or unloading a problem. When a 90% project is
sold all liability and responsibility transfers to the finish builder.
Is there some fatal flaw hidden in work mostly done? A major mistake early
on hidden deep inside a lot of cover-up? Are you really experienced enough
to spot such? I didn't feel confident in making that kind of decision
about something I still had (have) so much to learn about. If Wayne, Walt
or Bob or one of a handful of other folks were to first inspect it, maybe,
it would be money well spent to know. The more I learn the less I know.
I never found a deal I could really trust -- so I bought a kit mostly
undone that had sat idle for more than 10 years, it has problems with
corrosion and small things wrongly done, but, nothing I can't undo and do
right or better. I learn as I go and I don't have to trust the other guy
really did do it right from the get go. Though I maybe saved a little
money, I didn't save one second of time; much the contrary. The easy way
would be to buy the factory fast build kit and follow the directions. It
just might be the cheapest as well? I think buying a 90% project is a lot
harder for a first time builder to get right.
Whenever I took my Harley to "supposedly the best" mechanics in the region,
because I didn't have time to service it, I only spent lots of money on
shoddy and worse work: I then had to spend more than thrice the time and
lots more money fixing what they screwed up. Net loss.
The soft grass is lots closer to a Hog than an aircraft. Not nearly so
important to have right.
Who do you trust?
John...
I don't want to be a wet blanket but there are some really serious issues
that need lots of careful consideration. The issue is a lot more important
than mere money.
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Last year, about this time, I faced much the same questions as you do now.
Did I want a finished aircraft? Did I want something mostly finished? Did
I want something as old as I am in a certified aircraft? All were
considered so I could fly my own plane again; sooner.
Or could I trust any of the work that was done before?
Trust is the crux of the issue and unless you really know how a Rebel goes
together or completely disassemble the work and start over, or for some
reason have absolute trust in whomever did the work that has been done: I
found it really hard to trust my fat butt to an unknown quality of
work. How are you going to feel when you hear a little creak or groan at
10,000'?
If you've found someone YOU really TRUST --- do you trust them enough to
risk your life and the life of those you love? Remember con men prosper
because they convince you that you like them.
90% done really scares me, WHY, WHY, WHY!!!!! Even someone who claims to
be an A&P has little credential selling a 90% aircraft; there are good, bad
and worst in every profession. I'd sooner trust a widows inheritance from
an amateur builder. A truly a skilled airplane builder would finish the
work and go for the big bucks that might at least provide a minimal wage
instead of a guaranteed loss in time and money expended: unless they are
earning a fair hourly wage for the work done. Work situations change time
and again for many people over the course of building an airplane, no one
sells what a 90% complete Rebel represents unless they are gaining
something in the process; or unloading a problem. When a 90% project is
sold all liability and responsibility transfers to the finish builder.
Is there some fatal flaw hidden in work mostly done? A major mistake early
on hidden deep inside a lot of cover-up? Are you really experienced enough
to spot such? I didn't feel confident in making that kind of decision
about something I still had (have) so much to learn about. If Wayne, Walt
or Bob or one of a handful of other folks were to first inspect it, maybe,
it would be money well spent to know. The more I learn the less I know.
I never found a deal I could really trust -- so I bought a kit mostly
undone that had sat idle for more than 10 years, it has problems with
corrosion and small things wrongly done, but, nothing I can't undo and do
right or better. I learn as I go and I don't have to trust the other guy
really did do it right from the get go. Though I maybe saved a little
money, I didn't save one second of time; much the contrary. The easy way
would be to buy the factory fast build kit and follow the directions. It
just might be the cheapest as well? I think buying a 90% project is a lot
harder for a first time builder to get right.
Whenever I took my Harley to "supposedly the best" mechanics in the region,
because I didn't have time to service it, I only spent lots of money on
shoddy and worse work: I then had to spend more than thrice the time and
lots more money fixing what they screwed up. Net loss.
The soft grass is lots closer to a Hog than an aircraft. Not nearly so
important to have right.
Who do you trust?
John...
I don't want to be a wet blanket but there are some really serious issues
that need lots of careful consideration. The issue is a lot more important
than mere money.
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