Jay Honeck
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2008
- Messages
- 11,571
- Location
- Ingleside, TX
- Display Name
- Jay Honeck
- Home Airfield
- KTFP - Ingleside, TX
This year at Oshkosh, Mary and I seriously zoned in on the RV-8 line. Our goal, now that we've determined that this model is the one that might work for us, was to assess the seating position and flying qualities of the bird, with the intention of buying one in the next two years.
To that end, we hit the Van's tent early on. It was filled with fun goodies and gorgeous airplanes -- what's not to like? Then, the problems started stacking up.
Aggravation #1: When we got there, despite there being a large crowd, they weren't reserving test flight slots yet. Fine, I understand logistics, and the fact that the GIC of scheduling probably hadn't arrived yet. We would walk back the next day.
Aggravation #2: When we did arrive, the people behind the counter -- all volunteers, no doubt -- were not friendly. Now, I understand that these are all volunteers, and people tend to get crispy by the end of the week -- but this was Day 1. Their attitude was "You're glad we're here." Totally unimpressive.
Aggravation #3: No RV-8 rides. When I asked why their response was curt: "The RV-7 has the same wing -- you can fly that one."
Since the stated purpose of our mission was as much to assess seating position (Mary is 5' tall, I'm 6' tall, so not all aircraft work for both of us, and sitting in one on the ground is NOT the same as flying one.), this answer was a non-starter for us.
Aggravation #4: When I told them that riding in an RV-7 would be fun and fine, but wouldn't help us make a purchase decision, their response was: "If you don't want to buy one after a test flight, you'll be the first one, ever."
Although I appreciate their enthusiasm, this answer bordered on arrogance, and I've heard this all before -- from people who have swallowed the Steve Jobs koolaid. Those folks raved so much about the iPad that I finally fell for it and bought one -- and have been completely, utterly unimpressed. (My iPad is for sale, BTW. First $225 takes it. The Nexus 7 is twice the product, at 1/3rd the price.)
Not gonna fall for that again. No test flight, no sale.
Aggravation #5: At the agreed-upon time for said test flight in the RV-7, Mary was informed that they were 2 hours behind "due to weather". The windy weather in the morning had caused them to cancel test flights -- and rather than cancel those who had reserved at those specific times, they moved the entire schedule back two hours, screwing up EVERYONE.
Again, I understand that these are all volunteers, and they love their RVs, but that decision was just plain stupid. She told them to forget it.
So, all in all, our initial experience with Vans was a disappointment. The attitude toward us grew even worse when we told them that we planned to buy, not build one, as if we had violated the Prime Directive of the Cult.
Our search continues... Anyone flown a Glasair?
To that end, we hit the Van's tent early on. It was filled with fun goodies and gorgeous airplanes -- what's not to like? Then, the problems started stacking up.
Aggravation #1: When we got there, despite there being a large crowd, they weren't reserving test flight slots yet. Fine, I understand logistics, and the fact that the GIC of scheduling probably hadn't arrived yet. We would walk back the next day.
Aggravation #2: When we did arrive, the people behind the counter -- all volunteers, no doubt -- were not friendly. Now, I understand that these are all volunteers, and people tend to get crispy by the end of the week -- but this was Day 1. Their attitude was "You're glad we're here." Totally unimpressive.
Aggravation #3: No RV-8 rides. When I asked why their response was curt: "The RV-7 has the same wing -- you can fly that one."
Since the stated purpose of our mission was as much to assess seating position (Mary is 5' tall, I'm 6' tall, so not all aircraft work for both of us, and sitting in one on the ground is NOT the same as flying one.), this answer was a non-starter for us.
Aggravation #4: When I told them that riding in an RV-7 would be fun and fine, but wouldn't help us make a purchase decision, their response was: "If you don't want to buy one after a test flight, you'll be the first one, ever."
Although I appreciate their enthusiasm, this answer bordered on arrogance, and I've heard this all before -- from people who have swallowed the Steve Jobs koolaid. Those folks raved so much about the iPad that I finally fell for it and bought one -- and have been completely, utterly unimpressed. (My iPad is for sale, BTW. First $225 takes it. The Nexus 7 is twice the product, at 1/3rd the price.)
Not gonna fall for that again. No test flight, no sale.
Aggravation #5: At the agreed-upon time for said test flight in the RV-7, Mary was informed that they were 2 hours behind "due to weather". The windy weather in the morning had caused them to cancel test flights -- and rather than cancel those who had reserved at those specific times, they moved the entire schedule back two hours, screwing up EVERYONE.
Again, I understand that these are all volunteers, and they love their RVs, but that decision was just plain stupid. She told them to forget it.
So, all in all, our initial experience with Vans was a disappointment. The attitude toward us grew even worse when we told them that we planned to buy, not build one, as if we had violated the Prime Directive of the Cult.
Our search continues... Anyone flown a Glasair?
trust me on this...
.... Email any EAA chapter close and ask if any -8 owners will give you two a ride... Offer 10% off on your room rates to bait them over to paradise..
IMHO.
