Earthstar Forums

Dave, I hope to hear periodic builder reports when you get your kit. A
member of our local UL club that bought a 2K kit over a year ago, and hasn't
finished it yet. He has never been negative about it nor 'put it down', but
has had some serious problems with the kit itself.

The biggest problem had to do with the cage. It seems he was never able to
get the cage to fit the rest of the attaching parts (don't ask me exactly
what these may have been). He spent lots of time on calls to Mark trying to
see what he may have been doing wrong. Nothing seemed to work, and no
resolution could be made over the phone. So, he had to pack up the cage &
whatever other parts were involved, rent a trailer, and haul it all the way
back to the factory. He hung around for a few days while Mark fixed the
problem, then hauled it back home.

It was a frustrating and expensive trip that should not have been necessary..
In my opinion the kit should never have gone out the door with mismatched
parts, and a buyer/builder should not have had to spend the time & money to
take it all the way back to the factory to correct a factory boo-boo.
Fortunately the builder was on the west coast, some are all the way across
our great nation. That would be disastrous!

So, you can see my interest in your progress. Hopefully the problem is now
being corrected before it ships, as it should. If all goes well you'll have
a sweet bird with no bad habits, and many years of pleasure from it.

I'm still kinda ticked-off at a couple of guys here in the TG group. Namely
Jim C, and a guy named Don. They're both always bragging about their
accomplishments. One always bragging about his performance and good gas
mileage, the other bragging about how he took advantage of an old man (its
almost like some young stud stealing your girlfriend when you were in
school). All of this is strictly in jest, but you know that already. They
are both good guys, I just don't like either of them. Braggarts & thieves
are sure a pain in the butt! <g>

Ron - The poor old man in The Great Northwest

--- In ThunderGull@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Carroll" <RonCarr@q...>
wrote:
> I'm still kinda ticked-off at a couple of guys here in the TG group. Namely
> Jim C, and a guy named Don. They're both always bragging about their
> accomplishments. One always bragging about his performance and good gas
> mileage, the other bragging about how he took advantage of an old man (its
> almost like some young stud stealing your girlfriend when you were in
> school).

Now now Ron, Ya know I told ya not to sell that thing - I was trying
to watch out for your best interest, but oohhhh noooo, you just had
to go and do it anyways. In every life some rain must fall, and
speaking of such, I haven't had many more stories cause that seems
like all we've had around here - rain. Looks like that turn in good
weather is more over on your side of the island now, but golly, just
cause ya didn't want to hear about adventures, good performance and
good gas mileage did ya have to hex it for us over here.

Jim C

--- In ThunderGull@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Carroll" <RonCarr@q...>
wrote:
> Dave, I hope to hear periodic builder reports when you get your kit. A
> member of our local UL club that bought a 2K kit over a year ago, and hasn't
> finished it yet. He has never been negative about it nor 'put it down', but
> has had some serious problems with the kit itself.
>
> The biggest problem had to do with the cage.

In that case, I will be happy to write some periodic builder reports
to this list. I think that I recall you mentioning your club
member's difficulty with the cage, so I will especially careful to
mention how that goes for me. I live within a six hour drive of the
EarthStar factory, so it is also possible for me to get the same
assistance if necessary. I will also be driving to the factory to
make the kit pickup myself. I have already been to the factory twice,
once on purpose, and once just during a vacation stay in San Luis
Obispo. During my vacation stopover, I meet some of Mark's crew, and
they seemed to be a nice bunch of folks. For what it's worth, Mark
said that he is having the cage fabricated by a subcontractor in
Fresno, California now. But, I don't know how long that has been
going on, so I don't know if my cage will be from the same source as
the guy in your club.
My kit pickup schedule is for mid-September, so I guess my first
builder report will be regarding the kit pickup. :-)

Regards,
--Dave

Hey Ron,

What about me? I brag about my gull too... :-)

George
J2 driver in Texas.

Flying here, flying there, flying ... flying ... everywhere. Yes
indeedy flycampers. The weather has certainly been cooperating with
us here in Oregon. Been to the beach a couple of times, great fun to
land the TG on the beach where no one else is. Went to christmas
Valley to visit an old Friend I haven't seen in 30 years. I decided
not to do the Alvoord desert flyin this year. I went last year and
still have desert alkali dirt imbedded in my camping gear. Flying
the northern California area is next up.
Sheeeeeesch, somebody call the Waaaaaaammmbulance. Break out the
Violins!!! Has anyone heard a grown man cry so much? Ron's right
though I confess when I showed up with my 45 HKS in hand and told
him he either hand over the TG or I blow away his brand new (to him)
KITFOX which evrybody on this list KNOWS is a far superior airplane.
(Heh heh heh)He begged me PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAASE don't shoot my new
sweety. Yup I felt just like Snidely Whiplash in a rerun of the old
Dudly Doright cartoons. I confess I wanted real bad to put that poor
thing out of its misery but whith his carrying on sooo....I had a
weak moment I guess and took the TG away from him to console her. He
was soooo grateful he went out show everybody (couple hundred people)
how well his new "sweetheart" Kitfox flies and LANDS. But I'll let
Ron brag on that story. LOL. I'll fly up one of these weekends Ron
just so you can say hello to a real sweetheart again.
Oh and by the way Ron You really don't want to make the mistake of
thinking that the Titan is as good as a Thundergull. A friend of
mine just completed building his (40K) invested and it is one
beautiful plane but he confessed that right now he would rather have
his old Rans S-14 back. What does that tell ya.


368

From: Ron Carroll <RonCarr@q...>
Date: Tue Sep 16, 2003 5:24pm
Subject: Re: Re: Quiet List

Hey, I had a Rans S-14 before I had the TG. It was a VERY nice plane. In
fact, when I first flew the TG I wanted my 14 back. Seems I always make
poor decisions. I am considering another S-14, if I can find a good one in
good condition. Mine had a 503 DCDI, and all the same goodies your TG has,
except for the EIS. They fly like a fighter, and look sexy.

On the other hand Don, I always feel good when I hear how much you like the
TG. I'm usually afraid the buyer will be disappointed flying a plane I
thought to be good. Carry on, it makes me happy to know that you are so
pleased with it.

Ron

--- In ThunderGull@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Carroll" <RonCarr@q...>
wrote:
> Hey, I had a Rans S-14 before I had the TG. It was a VERY nice plane. In
> fact, when I first flew the TG I wanted my 14 back.

I would very much like to talk to you about the S-14. Two very
different mission statements but a fine looking aircraft. Why isn't
the climb rate any better than is advertised? Anyhow, I am in Florida
but would like to call you to discuss the S-14/TG if possible.

award003attampabaydotrrdotcom.

Ask away, but write directly to me at RonCarr@Q... , as we'd better
not use the TG group for a discussion about a RANS.

Ron

--- In ThunderGull@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Carroll" <RonCarr@q...>
wrote:
> to what I was accustomed to. It is a 1887 model called a "T-1".

Now, that's old. Before the Wrights, huh?

I can tell you from vast experience that the S-14 is a VERY nice airplane. I
fly my J2 with one all of the time. He has a 582 on it and can out climb the
heck out of me with my 503. It might be different if I had the 582 also, but
I'm quite happy with the 582.

George

Ron, this is my first builders report that you said you hoped to
hear about. I also have some new info regarding the fitting the
shell to cage problem you mentioned.

Regarding fitting the shell to the cage. It seems that EarthStar
learned something from your friend's problem. My kit came with the
shell clecoed to the cage, where EarthStar had made a trial fit
before I picked up the kit. That actually made the kit
transportation a little easier too, since two bulky parts were
already assembled into one unit. When I get to working on the cage I
am going to have to remove the shell again, but I can already see
that it does fit.

I am only able to work on the kit on weekends, and I logged a total
of eleven hours on it this weekend. I got all the ribs installed and
riveted the first day. Today I got the mid spar sections and the
left and right rear spars installed and riveted. So far, the manual
has been pretty clear and easy to follow. This weekends work only
took me through the first three chapters of manual Section One, so
I've got a very long ways to go. The manual has seven sections with
about 10-16 chapters each.

When I went through the manual I noticed that there are several
missing chapters that I have to ask Earthstar about. Since I can't
get any email response, I guess I will just have to call. The
missing chapters mainly concern the shell to cage assembly, and the
engine installation. I am guessing that they are missing because
they are being updated, but I would like to know for sure.

Well Ron, that was my first "periodic builder's report". :-)
I will not bore the others on this list by doing this too often, or
going in to too much detail. If anyone wants any more detailed info
I can answer by email offline?

Regards!
--Dave