April 6,97:
I went to the Sun-n-Fun Air Show in Lakeland, FL and placed the order for my S12XL. About 6 wks. delivery time (Last week of May).
May 2,97:
I called Rans to ask a few questions and to check the status of my order. Was told that they exspect to ship in about 3 weeks. Sent letter to FAA to reserve a special registration number.
May 13,97:
Received copy of Order Form listing all the options that I had ordered, everything was correct exccept for the Prop. They had the Ivo Prop listed and I wanted the Warp Drive Prop. There was also a letter stateing that my kit should ship late the week of May 19th.
May 14,97:
Faxed a copy of the order form with corrections to Rans and received a corrected copy back.
May 23,97:
I called Rans to check on the status of my order, it was suppose to ship today. They said that some of the parts did not get painted in time and that it should ship Tuesday, May 27.
May 27,97:
Rans called and said that my kit was shipping today, it might be here by Friday, if not Monday.
May 29,97:
Inventory List arrived today in the mail. There were about 20 items backordered. The engine, prop, landing gear, and a variaty of different nuts, bolts, etc.
May 30&31,97, Friday:
My kit arrived today. Two wooden crates. The end of one crate was missing and a large piece of cardboard was taped over the end. I checked for damage and did not see any, but I did have the driver mark on the shipper that the end of the crate was missing. Started inventory. and finished Saturday. (7 hrs.) to inventory. I mounted the top agaist the wall and used it to staple all the small bags of parts to. The bad news I found that a box was missing from the crate with the missing end. The box contained main instruments and the Strobe lights power supply box. About $1300 worth of parts.
May 31 & June 1,97:
Since the landing gear are backordered I had to start else were. Started Horizonal Stableizer and finished Sunday.
June 1&2,97:
Started Elevator Assembly finished Monday.
June 2,97, Monday:
Called Rans and informed them of the missing box of parts. They filed a claim with the trucking company, and by 2pm the trucking company called me to let me know that they found the box of missing parts and that they were not damaged. Sould receive it later this week. Rans also said that most of the backordered parts should ship this week.
June 3,97:
Started working on Rudder, drilled holes in rudder horn by diagram rather than by the measurement. They ended up in the wrong position and I had to order new ones.
June 4,97:
Received the missing box of parts. Started wing construction, finished leading edge spar construction and one trailing edge spar.
June 5,97:
Finished the other trialing edge spar.
June 6&7,97:
Assembled Universal Hinge Assy. and Internal Structure of both wings (10.5 Hrs.)
June 8&9,97:
Assembled Outboard Rib Assy.'s and Root Ribs. (Time to Date= 43.0)
June 10&12,97:
Most of the back ordered parts arrived 6/10. Assambled Main Gear to body. Out of town on business 6/11.
June 13&14,97:
Installed Wheels and brakes to main gear legs.
June 14-16,97:
Installed Nose Gear and Assembled Super Structure. Assembled and installed Tail boom. (Time to date= 65.5)
June 18&19,97:
Received Engine today. Ordered Clear Coat products for the wings and tail group from Rans. Installed last two cabanes on super structure, tail boom extension and skid block.
June 20,97:
Recived confermation from FAA of reserved N-number. Trimed boom seal and nose cone.
June 21&22,97:
Primed Aluminum parts that need to be painted. Installed floor board. Installed Rudder peddles.
June 23,97:
Both me and my wife are on vacation this week Hope to get alot done! Installed Rudder Cables and Brake System. (Time to date= 86.5)
June 24&25,97:
Sent paperwork to FAA to Register Aircraft and have reserved N-number assigned. Assembled Rudder Frame Assy., Vertical Stabilizer Framw Assy., and Tail Group Cable Assy.
June 26,97:
Assembled and Installed Battery Box and Strobe Box (Time to date 101.0 hours)
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