I have found that anything that has the adjectives "motorcycle" or
"aircraft" attached to it costs more than a similar part from the hardware
store. From my years in the manufacturing of metal parts, I am aware of
different standards being applied to parts that look identical, so rather
than take a chance on failure, I spend more to buy properly spec'ed parts.
Am I safer? I couldn't tell you. Do I worry less? Yes. Will my manufacturer
be around when I need a dealer specific part? I'm hoping that my patronage
means that they will be. Look around. I believe that a truthful assessment
of Europa 2004 prices on most parts/components to be well within reason.
Besides, they are a darn nice bunch of guys who are willing to answer the
most inane questions without laughing. Thanks guys.
Vaughn Teegarden
N914VA, Gathering steam for the final push
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Pattinson" <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 7:20 AM
Subject: Europa-List: Fw: *** SPAM *** Mod 74
> <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
>
> Richard,
>
> While I cant fault your reasoning on this matter all I would say is that
> you are missing the point.
>
> Europa aircraft provides a service, not just bundled components sourced
> from RS or elsewhere. Someone ???? has to pay for that service and this is
> reflected in the cost of parts/ kits supplied.
>
> Better that Europa charge extortionate prices (allegedly) and stay in
> business than being cheap and going bust.
>
> Having owned a company that went bust I learned that lesson the hard
> way - and believe me it was a very
> expensive lesson !
>
> Carl
>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Richard Holder" <rholder@avnet.co.uk>
>> To: <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
>> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2007 12:00 AM
>> Subject: *** SPAM *** Mod 74
>>
>>
>>> Carl wrote
>>>
>>>> With only 500 or so aircraft out there you have to sell
>>>> a hell of a lot of spares and kits just to cover the
>>>> day to day running costs of the business.
>>>
>>>> Its easy to work out the cost of the raw materials and
>>>> argue that the final cost is a rip off but Europa
>>>> dosent enjoy the economies of scale that larger
>>>> businesses enjoy. The thousand or so wing pins that
>>>> have to be manufactured will certainly cost more than a
>>>> few pence each.
>>>
>>> I doubt if it is as many as that - there weren't 500
>>> classics !
>>>
>>> Anyway if the nuts and washers are 1 the set (and that is
>>> overgenerous) do you think the pins cost 19.50 each ?
>>> When buying say 600 ? I doubt it - more like 5 each -
>>> giving Europa a fat profit of 300 x 29 = 8700 (handling
>>> and postage is charged separately) for something that if
>>> it had occurred on the watch of the original Europa
>>> company would have been provided for free as a mandatory
>>> mod caused by a design fault.
>>>
>>>> No one likes having to shell out for mandatory mods but
>>>> fifty quid for a safer aircraft sounds like a bargain
>>>> to me.
>>>
>>> It is not likely to make the aircraft safer. There are
>>> hundreds out there whose wing pin mounts have been
>>> inspected and passed. And they have done tens of thousands
>>> of hours. William's accident was not caused by the win
>>> pins. The wing pin separated because of some other causal
>>> event.
>>>
>>> Nor is it 50. Based on Mod 73 the work is going to cost
>>> another 200 - 300, and more down time.
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
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