Peter wrote:
even if it is concealed
It’s certainly is not concealed. From VAF:
@LeSvng wrote:
not a single person has been injured.
Yet! They have already given the green light for people to fly with these parts.
Seeing the quantity of cracks in some of these builds, I can’t imagine this issue doesn’t come up again.
I have to spend another 1,000 hours knowing that’s a strong possibility
Those VAF terms are hilarious… We’d have a revolution here if we did all that.
Graham wrote:
@RV14 almost none of what you post there is relevant. Fuel prices, speeds (you’re only 40 knots out),
@Graham, fuel prices are as pictured, RV14 speed is as I posted back in January, 191Kts @6000ft. I’m not 40 knots out, on the contrary, my numbers are conservative, what I write is fact based
Graham wrote:
Van’s themselves now admit they are not fit for use and state they will replace them
as of today Vans said they would replace a few laser cut parts (aileron and flap spar) and might ask those of us to replace certain parts.
Graham wrote:
The implication was that with 56-odd ribs
Do you know anyone who got all of the ribs in bad shape and all 54 cracked? someone somewhere over the intenet, allegedly
Graham wrote:
You’d order new ones to absolutely no purpose, because what you’d get as new ones would be no better and you’d have no way of changing that.
Nope. On might specifically ask for this and that ie “no laser cut parts” in order notes:
Graham wrote:
A Lamborghini is historically much more likely to break down than a Fiat.
my bad, wrong example. The point I was trying to make is about expectations. Not sure when you placed your order, my guess is it was back in the time when Vans employed a total od sixtsh people. That includes everyone from the lady managing the reception desk, engineering, tech support, manufacturing, shipping etc. A small shop delivering impressive amounts of kits. Ryan more than doubled the company size since then. Expectation that they would go over and check every single piece send out to customers is in my opinion unreasonable
Those VAF terms are hilarious… We’d have a revolution here if we did all that.
Yet personal attacks seem to be allowed ;)
Yes; it boosts advert clicks maybe 5×.
personal attacks seem to be allowed
Yep, and that is unfortunate as it quite often leaves a bad aftertaste after a visit there. Building, owning, maintaining an RV automatically pushes one towards the VAF, it is a great resource after all, but the atmosphere there can also be quite poisonous, on different counts… nothing like EuroGA 
Adding to what Dan said, Vans is known to be conservative in performance numbers. I’m sure they could make their factory demonstrators fly faster, but it seems to me they choose not to. It certainly feels good to build a plane which exceeds expectations 
Another important thing, this is experimental aviation, each aircraft might be build differently. One can trade speed for utility and safety. Mine 14 is equipped with two Flarm antennas, oversized tires, oversized prop, external Garmin GPS antenna. None of the those is installed on factory demonstrators, and every one adds to drag.
