Stewart:
If you're really keen, I think it would be interesting to follow
up.
I have kept a record of all major components, numbers, dates and
initials - that is cockpit, canoe, top but not sure about spars. At any
road, we could compile a list of components and kit numbers coincidental.
That might give us a clue. If you want, I will publish my details but only
if someone keeps a tally for comparison purposes.
Happy compiling,
Ferg A064(about #219)
----- Original Message -----
From: Stewart Buckingham <101471.1531@compuserve.com>
Subject: RE: Another Kit For Sale (Kit numbering)
> Message text written by "Chris Cameron"
> >As a newly hatched builder (I bought kit #386 a couple of weeks ago), I'm
> curious about which serial number the XS started (or which serial number
> the
> classic ended) and how US serial numbers relate to UK serial numbers (e.g.
> as owner of a UK kit, could I buy stage 2 from the US (not planning to,
but
> freight to NZ may be cheaper!) or would I have to buy stage 2 (and 3) from
> the UK?). Is there a hole in the UK serial numbers for each US serial
> number, otherwise how do the kits differ?<
>
> Purely by observation (no access to "official" data!), I believe that the
> system is as follows:
> UK and US numbering sequences are totally separate. UK numbers started at
> 001around February 1993, and now stand at beyond 500.
> US kits started at A001 around April 1995 and now stand at "at least 228"
I
> have also seen a statement that over 800 kits have now been sold (not sure
> if that means shipped or just ordered - perhasp assuming the latter ties
in
> better with data gathered from posting to this list, etc.)
> A small number of kits seem to have gone to South America and have a third
> number series, and on top of that the UK prototypes have a separate number
> series 0001-0005. I believe one of these aircraft was subsequently sold
off
> and given a US kit number from the main US sequence.
> I believe the first "wholly XS" kits were from somewhere around (UK)350
> (Jan 1998 ?), but of course many kits older than this have been upgraded
to
> partial or full XS standard during building; conversely, I believe it may
> be still possible to order a classic-style nose if you want one! Jan 1998
> would correspond to around US kit A100, but I am aware of at least one US
> Classic with a higher number - Troy Manor has described his kit (A120) as
> "one of the last Classics shipped", and I estimate his shipping date might
> be around September 1998. I guess that when the XS became available there
> were still some Classics unsold; perhaps they had not had numbers
allocated
> to them at that stage, so were eventually shipped with higher numbers ??
On
> the other hand, I have also gained an impression that kits may not
> necessarily be sold in exact numerical sequence.
>
> From my notes, kit 386 might have been sold (or shipped ?) around Summer
> 1998, so I infer you have recently taken it over "pre-used"?
>
> As regards buying different stages from UK and US suppliers, I think
you'll
> have to contact the firm about that! (But I am aware of one builder who
> moved from Australia to the US between taking delivery and starting to
> assemble!)
>
> Stewart Buckingham (still wavering between building, "taking over" or
> buying completed!)
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