01/28/04
Frustrations with the system
I am somewhere around 4500 hours with this project and I sometimes think
that the main thing that keeps me going on it is that it would be the most
colossal waste of time if I were to throw in the towel. Yes, at times,
the idealism has faded, and the denial bubble has burst. Yet I put
my head down and plow forward. Will I have this project done in a
few years? Lets certainly hope so.
The further along I get the more walls I seem to bang my head into.
It has been particularly frustrating to deal with insurance companies,
the EAA, and Hartzell about what my propeller options are.
The county that runs the airport that my aircraft is being constructed
at requires that I get liability coverage. When I first moved out
to my hangar three years ago I contacted my wife's insurance company, USAA,
and we set up a policy for 1 Million liability Ground NOT-IN-MOTION, and
$20,000 hull (NOT-IN-MOTION). The policy cost us roughly $350
for the year. That same policy has continued a steady rise and is
now $800+ per year. The company will not allow me to drop the hull
coverage to try to reduce my rates. I recently contacted the
EAA with its wonderfully advertised insurance program and they pretty much
laughed in my face. To get LIABILITY GROUND-NOT-IN-MOTION (only)
it would cost me over $1000 per year. When I asked what it would
cost to do the same if I were building a RV they said "Under $300"
What the Hell? The aircraft doesn't even leave the hangar!
It is my opinion that the EAA has become an organization that supports
Kit manufactures, to the exclusion of those of us who are building EXPERIMENTAL
aircraft. I will probably not renew my EAA membership. I think
that the time is ripe for another more representative organization to take
root and I'll be one of the first to join. In its current direction
the EAA will soon only have RVs, Kitfoxes, and Lancairs at Airventure.
This means that our project is likely to go the way of the Dodo bird unless
it is stuck under the nose of the EAA regularly and repeatedly. What
a shame.
As for the Aircar as a project. I still truly believe in its
viability but I think that the company severely needs resuscitating otherwise
we as aircar builders are destined to fade into the sunset. The plans
are good, good enough to work off of without much support. But there
are numerous spots where the builder needs to be inventive/figure things
out for himself. I am currently working on the discs that cover the
hole where the main gear exit the hull and I am on my 3rd generation of
the part. I've been working on it for a week, I'm loosing time because
there is no clear detail or how to make this part function properly.
Also comparing my project to the other projects at out airport I believe
that there are numerous areas of the plans that could be updated to use
more modern materials. I believe weight can be saved. I also
think that the extended hull is a real good idea to help with the CG configuration
of the aircraft and it ought to be amended to the drawings.
I like Robert Kerans and respect what he has taken on with this company,
but it seems like his Parkinson's has disrupted his ability to communicate
except through Wanda. I imagine it to be both very frustrating and
time consuming to try to keep up with the demands of the disease.
That said I hope they find someone to purchase the company soon.
The Aircar needs someone with the time, energy, and hopefully money, to
revitalize it. I think that the web group has helped a lot but what
it really REALLY needs is to get some fresh Aircars in the
sky and attending Air shows. The best way to do this is for the company
to offer support with the building process and to help builders with the
issues of construction difficulties, materials aquisition, engine
selection, prop shopping, and updating plans.
This project is way too involved and time consuming for builders not to
have a good support system. I think that the web group is a great
start but the company needs to start getting involved and helping builders
expedite their projects. Too many experimental aircraft get started
and then abandoned. With the complexity and extensive nature of the
Aircar this is even more pertinent.
In closing it is only especially important that I thank my wife Caroline
for continuing to support this project, literally. I can only
hope that you get a special joy out of the adventures I hope we eventually
have in it.
I Love You, Doug