Sonex incorrect aluminum material notice.

[Rynoth]

Something interesting about that Y fitting that I'm now recalling is that I pilot drilled it quite early in my build, and ended up going through 4-5 #40 bits in the process. That struck me as odd and I ended up doubling my #40 bits and buying cutting fluid for future parts, which I ended up needing very rarely. In all likelihood it was because this incorrect aluminum material is some kind of harder alloy.

[N111YX]

Stay positve, Ryan. I just mucked up some Pitts parts today and I'll be set back a couple of days. I know it's worse when it's not our fault but it's just part of the game...:)

[fastj22]

I just had another look at the upper horizontal splice plate and it's worse than I thought. That plate is installed before the turtledeck, and my turtledeck is complete. I will probably have to drill out 105 rivets and completely remove my forward #1 turtledeck former in order to access the top of the plate to drill out its rivets.

But hey at least I hadn't installed the forward fuselage yet!

Uhg! That sucks. If it gives you any condolence, I feel your pain. Its worth the effort. Trust me.

[BK9977]

Always a slim possibility with third-party contractors/suppliers who may not always fully understand the application of what they are building…

Post deleted by admin

[SvingenB]

Always a slim possibility with third-party contractors/suppliers who may not always fully understand the application of what they are building…

[post deleted by admin]

I don't know anything about that, but a supplier is supposed to deliver according to spec, period. If suppliers were to "understand" all the details of what they were delivering as subcontractor, there would not be much deliveries, anywhere in any industry, only a ton of discussions.

I think it is great that Sonex take responsibility as they do now. Errors occur from time to time, this cannot be totally be prevented. What counts is that errors are found and dealt with as Sonex do.

[Rynoth]

I just wanted to mention that I've calmed down a bit since first receiving the notice. I might have overreacted a bit to my first big non-self-imposed setback. I'll get it fixed and the error was way up the supply chain from Sonex themselves, and I am glad the error was caught. Hopefully it doesn't happen again!

[rizzz]

I just wanted to mention that I've calmed down a bit since first receiving the notice. I might have overreacted a bit to my first big non-self-imposed setback. I'll get it fixed and the error was way up the supply chain from Sonex themselves, and I am glad the error was caught. Hopefully it doesn't happen again!

I think your initial reaction is very understandable, I would have been very upset as well if it were me.

[rizzz]

I don't know anything about that, but a supplier is supposed to deliver according to spec, period. If suppliers were to "understand" all the details of what they were delivering as subcontractor, there would not be much deliveries, anywhere in any industry, only a ton of discussions.

It seems a lot of suppliers will not deal with you once they hear the parts they sell you will be used on an aircraft.
Only very recently I was astonished when I read this post on my vw aircraft engines forum:
http://vwaircraftengines.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=311

It seems this user (who is a very experienced VW aircraft engine builder) was blacklisted with CB Performance once they found out he was buying parts from them to put on his aircraft engine…

Since then I have heard from other sources this is not uncommon,
The advice is, when you’re shopping for replacement parts for your Aerovee, GP, Revmaster or other VW, never ever tell them it’s going on an aircraft engine, they will fear liability issues etc. and not sell to you.

[Rynoth]

The advice is, when you’re shopping for replacement parts for your Aerovee, GP, Revmaster or other VW, never ever tell them it’s going on an aircraft engine, they will fear liability issues etc. and not sell to you.

Interesting... really makes me wonder what the history is of vendor liability in experiential aircraft.

[SvingenB]

I don't know anything about that, but a supplier is supposed to deliver according to spec, period. If suppliers were to "understand" all the details of what they were delivering as subcontractor, there would not be much deliveries, anywhere in any industry, only a ton of discussions.

It seems a lot of suppliers will not deal with you once they hear the parts they sell you will be used on an aircraft.
Only very recently I was astonished when I read this post on my vw aircraft engines forum:
http://vwaircraftengines.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=311

It seems this user (who is a very experienced VW aircraft engine builder) was blacklisted with CB Performance once they found out he was buying parts from them to put on his aircraft engine…

Since then I have heard from other sources this is not uncommon,
The advice is, when you’re shopping for replacement parts for your Aerovee, GP, Revmaster or other VW, never ever tell them it’s going on an aircraft engine, they will fear liability issues etc. and not sell to you.

Interesting. But there could be other reasons as well. Maybe they have contracts with GP, Revmaster etc regarding these liability issues and therefore see no reason to sell single components to individuals and have to go through all that paper work?