---------------------------------------------------------- TeamGrumman-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 06/25/10: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:37 AM - AYA Forum (Gary Vogt) 2. 10:38 AM - Re: Cost of annual (Lawrence Massaro) 3. 11:37 AM - Re: Re: Cost of annual (Gary Vogt) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:37:34 AM PST US From: Gary Vogt Subject: TeamGrumman-List: AYA Forum This is the third time I've tried to log onto the AYA Forum. Apparently, my account is blocked, inactive or some other bullshit. I tried creating a new one and the username was not allowed. Are you kidding me? Then, there is no link to send an email to the web master. I've tried this Forum off and on for 3 years. Every time I've tried it, it's been a pain in the ass. ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:38:46 AM PST US From: Lawrence Massaro Subject: TeamGrumman-List: Re: Cost of annual Finally back from Asia and can catch up on the posts... The cost of an annual is not as critical in my eyes as the number of hours a mechanic has needed to perform it and the quality of the effort. Whether a mechanic charges $10.00/hr or $200.00/hr is dependent upon the speicifics of the mechanic, his/her business model, etc. If someone got an annual for $400.00 and it took 18 hours to complete (and the work as defined in the Maintenance Manual was actually performed), there is nothing wrong with that. If you had an annual that also took 18 hours to complete and it cost you $3000.00, that's OK too as long as you the quality of the work is equivalent. All owners are different in what their level of expectations are, what level of quality is acceptable, and how much money they have to spend on their flying hobby. My take is that I want quality. Plain and simple, and if it cost me $5,000 to get it so be it. The last place I want to be is at 5K cruising along and have something fail due to shoddy workmanship. Last time I looked, there is no breakdown lane to pull over and call the tow truck when flying. I was asked by a local here in SoCal why I fly 3.5 hours to AUN for my annuals and quality is the simple answer. I see the results of a "quality" annual vice what I used to get and it justifies the extra expense of ferrying up to AUN (not all that bad as it is a nice flight up the foothills of the Sierra's). So for those people that Gary and other's have had to deal with looking for a "quickie, cheap, just get it signed off annual" should simply accept the fact that Gary and other guru's out there just don't work that way and need to go elsewhere. Keep up the good work Gary and dont ever lower your standards! Lawrence Massaro N9186M '92 AG-5B KRNM ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 11:37:00 AM PST US From: Gary Vogt Subject: Re: TeamGrumman-List: Re: Cost of annual Hey Larry, Welcome back. I've tried to cut corners. Then, I look at it and say, "If someone else sees this . . . . . " Short story: For Christmas 1996 I bought a 78 Cheetah for $28,000 because it had a lot of stuff my 77 Cheetah didn't. Both planes had about the same total time. Problem was, I really liked my Cheetah. The thought of changing wings (to get the long range tanks), robbing the 78 of all of it's avionics and autopilot, and . . . . just became too overwhelming. I flew the 78 off and on. It flew nice. Then, I discovered it had a bad cam. So, time for overhaul. Over the next few months, I went through the whole plane and installed stuff like an Argus 3000 moving map, GPS, new panel, interior, carpets, etc. With the newly overhauled engine, it was a sweet plane. One of the F-16 test pilots I worked with really wanted it. I sold it to him for $48,000 about 2 years after I bought it. Geoff Hickey has that plane now. I think he's pretty happy with it. Project X: As soon as the Cheetah in my hangar is finished, today hopefully, I'm putting 626 into the corner to get the new nose gear torque tube. I've talked to Dave about the new inlet. He says it's a no brainer. I've heard that before. But, Project X is next. Gary ________________________________ From: Lawrence Massaro Sent: Fri, June 25, 2010 10:38:25 AM Subject: TeamGrumman-List: Re: Cost of annual Finally back from Asia and can catch up on the posts... The cost of an annual is not as critical in my eyes as the number of hours a mechanic has needed to perform it and the quality of the effort. Whether a mechanic charges $10.00/hr or $200.00/hr is dependent upon the speicifics of the mechanic, his/her business model, etc. If someone got an annual for $400.00 and it took 18 hours to complete (and the work as defined in the Maintenance Manual was actually performed), there is nothing wrong with that. If you had an annual that also took 18 hours to complete and it cost you $3000.00, that's OK too as long as you the quality of the work is equivalent. All owners are different in what their level of expectations are, what level of quality is acceptable, and how much money they have to spend on their flying hobby. My take is that I want quality. Plain and simple, and if it cost me $5,000 to get it so be it. The last place I want to be is at 5K cruising along and have something fail due to shoddy workmanship. Last time I looked, there is no breakdown lane to pull over and call the tow truck when flying. I was asked by a local here in SoCal why I fly 3.5 hours to AUN for my annuals and quality is the simple answer. I see the results of a "quality" annual vice what I used to get and it justifies the extra expense of ferrying up to AUN (not all that bad as it is a nice flight up the foothills of the Sierra's). So for those people that Gary and other's have had to deal with looking for a "quickie, cheap, just get it signed off annual" should simply accept the fact that Gary and other guru's out there just don't work that way and need to go elsewhere. Keep up the good work Gary and dont ever lower your standards! Lawrence Massaro N9186M '92 AG-5B KRNM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message teamgrumman-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/TeamGrumman-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/teamgrumman-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/teamgrumman-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.