Van's Aircraft Operational Update

Van's Aircraft Operational Update - February 27, 2022

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2 жыл бұрын

Rian and Greg of Van's Aircraft provide updates on a few recent topics, including progress on manufacturing and operational changes that are currently underway at Van's.
Mentioned in the video:
Most recent written ops update:
www.vansaircraft.com/feb22upd...

Пікірлер: 43

@SSAzoo 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update gentlemen. Since you are transitioning to the “train/batch” production system, can you publish where one sits in a specific production run for a particular airframe’s kit? Knowing where my -10 EMP and Wing order sits in the production queue is extremely helpful. Customers can more effectively plan for family/time/financial/storage/hanger concerns when this information is available.

@spadgerdog 2 жыл бұрын

Having finished the watch, I will comment. I have been building RV's since 1994, 7, 8 - 2 12's and now on a 10. On speed dial with Barb, Anne, Kim and Nancy. I was privileged to fly with 'Da Man' in his 10, at his house a couple of years ago. The quantum leap forward that has happened in the last 3 years is astonishing. Vans has evolved and is still evolving. Partly from demand during lockdowns various, partly because they are just darn good airplanes and kits ! What do you do as a growing company ? I think the current balance of steadily increased production with an absolutely stoic employee base is the way forward. The Store is now awesome - I was a beta tester and happy to help. Today was a good day....... Wing servo in, cables in, lighting in, trim cables in, pushrods in..... Keep pounding the rivets and you guys - keep filming the updates 🤣 Mike Newall Old Blighty

@flyboy98 2 жыл бұрын

The organisation that you guys are bringing into the operation is amazing. Well done Vans!

@BrilliantDesignOnline 2 жыл бұрын

Transparently sharing the actual process is very encouraging. The facility I work at in Montana is having a difficult time sourcing aluminum sheet stock, also. To hear of your shipping woes is a view to what is happening nationally.

@carriewilliams39 2 жыл бұрын

These video updates are great! Fifty years and still going strong . . . 🛩

@riverrat7411 2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking it would be a LONG wait for wings after the last video. But I got the email! All in all, I had a very minor slow down so thanks to everyone up there for the extra effort. And Im glad to report when I got the email, I got back in the garage to finish the emp kit so Im no longer in the house at night driving my wife bat crap crazy. I think she may even like me again. Now when things get organized, what can we do to get an East Coast warehouse to make shipping time and cost not so painful :-)

@unclefreddy2009 2 жыл бұрын

Another fantastic transparent update. Love the leadership you are all bringing to Vans. Next update it would be great to hear about some of the IT business process and systems updates you may be doing internally if you think it’s worth sharing with your customers. I’m referring to any improvements you are making with order processing so that you don’t end up with the “wait a week for us to get to your email” type of issues. For example I wanted to delete a couple of items from an order I have (fwf kit) and it’s going to take a week or more for someone to manually read my email and remove things, send out new info to me etc. seems like there needs to be some streamlining of internal systems and I’m sure your staff is frustrated too. Sounds like there may be the electronic version of paper shuffling still going on. Such amazing changes there, and you and your team are doing a great job. Thanks!

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

Some good insight on your part. We are making some important IT changes now, and will be making more substantial ones in the not too far off future in our ERP system, which needs a bit of foundational rework. It's all an opportiunity to grow for the future.

@williambrewer6346 2 жыл бұрын

We appreciate everyone at Van’s Thanks

@Susieandchris 2 жыл бұрын

With a world of lots of companies going broke i am just glad you are going leaps and bounds . Thanks for the video it really helps with not feeling like a mushroom especially with us overseas . Well done guys.

@christiangraves9340 2 жыл бұрын

Great update, looking to start my rv14a build in the next year or so!

@morkbov 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update. As I proud owner of a 14A kit, I'm supporting your efforts and I do understand the hurtles your going through about delays. Keep on the good work.

@71phoenix19 2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate these periodic updates. looking forward to the next one that should be fairly soon now. You teased the insight into the details about the laser cutting research and development in the last 2 videos now. When will we get to see that? I used to work for an outfit that produced parts for airline and military aircraft. aluminum is one material that we didn't cut with the laser due to a variety of reasons. I'm really interested in how those were solved. whether type of laser or power levels, feed rate...

@micklee8670 2 жыл бұрын

Was great to get an update today for my 7QB . Hopefully start number 3 soon

@garrettellis2673 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for the update highly appreciated, the update. Look forward to the next video/ email update. Looking forward to receiving my order /empanadas/ wing / fuselage / finish kit / engine / propeller. Thank you and thank everybody who works at Vans. The powerhouse behind the company.

@SuperJoker167 2 жыл бұрын

Great video Gents! This is not only very informational on Van’s Aircraft, but it is great lesson on manufacturing.

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@robertkunselman650 2 жыл бұрын

December 22nd newsletter. “In addition, we are committed to providing information updates to customers. Regular communications will take place on at least a bi-weekly basis beginning next week.” What happened to that promise?

@alangarrett1181 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate the update. Looking forward to the updated train schedule!

@keithmoore4776 2 жыл бұрын

Hi from York, UK, thanks for the update guys, it's a great initiative and is appreciated. Hopefully ordering my kit soon!

@pd2781 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update! Much appreciated and the communication goes a long way when there’s so much uncertainty. Great job making changes to scale in a way that’s sustainable and forward-looking.

@waltcannon2413 2 жыл бұрын

So... I feel your pain and appreciate all that you are trying to do under trying circumstances. I am an aviation production professional myself and I get it. You have had to change a wheel on that train you describe, while it is flying down the track. Of course the bottom line for all of us builders is the simple to ask question "when can you deliver what I ordered?" I have an entire RV12is finished (engine and avionics) and waiting for wings I ordered last August. That represents a serious investment for me and I cannot even begin the process of certifying it (E-LSA), because you have not been able to deliver the final kit yet. So far, since last August, try as I may, I have not been able to get a single bit of information on when I might expect the kit to be ready. I love your company and the product (built an early RV-6), but am certainly feeling frustrated at the moment. When and who would I expect is going to let me know if I have a seat on that first RV-12 wing kit "car" in the "train", and most importantly, when is that car pulling into the proverbial station 🙂. Would I expect your team to reach out....or is it up to me to keep calling and trying to drag some idea of how long the wait my be from members of your kit team?

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Walt. We understand completely. Our team will reach out to you when your kits train/cars' schedules are available, in order to let you know. We're working hard on the info to share, and as soon as we are able we will do just that.

@spadgerdog 2 жыл бұрын

I coordinate containers here in the UK. Done 4 so far. My current container left Vans in late November - it is still stuck in Rotterdam. The world has gone crazy !!! My Chemseal will be out of date at this rate ;-)

@joemahan311 2 жыл бұрын

I feel your pain of being busy… but what about that high wing??? Oregon/Washington needs a back country airplane for me to build and compete with Trent Palmer!

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

It's coming. Just not quite yet. :)

@bk1bennett 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the update. Any idea of when other items on back-order, like RV-14 rudder pedals, will be cleared?

@brent1041 2 жыл бұрын

I’m just waiting for more details about the upcoming high wing RV15

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

We're looking forward to being able to share more details. The team working on the RV-15 project is not our regular factory production crew, so it has essentially no impact on kit production. We actively manage our teams' work to ensure both paths stay clear and that we can make good progress on the multiple efforts at our company, without having to rob from one to pay the other. They're pretty much independent and co-exist quite well. If it came right down to it, we'd mothball a new airplane project - if that's what it would take to ensure the day to day business needs were met. That's not the situation here. Lots happening, all of it exciting.

@stephensimpson5283 2 жыл бұрын

It’s ok guys. We know it’s worth they wait. I’m not going anywhere. 😀

@filkster 2 жыл бұрын

Waiting for the 7 finish kit I ordered last may, should I even call about the FWF kit of start sourcing it myself?

@Dragonrc. 2 жыл бұрын

Any work on cleaning up aircraft plans/manuals? From seeing others go through the process there are some issues with the manuals not being correct, old data and or just missing information.

@jeremyskeen9679 2 жыл бұрын

Can you guys speak to how customers are listed and prioritized when a batch of kits is shipped? If you produce 100 units of RV 10 wing kits, are those sent out to the first hundred people that place their order? Or is there some other metric or variable that I’m not understanding?Seems like the emails being sent to customers regarding crating and shipping should be prioritized based on order date. But from the online forums, it doesn’t seem like that is the case. People receiving notification of crating and shipping when they have ordered after other people. Doesn’t seem fair. Maybe I am misinterpreting this, but some clarification in this area would be helpful

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

Delivery priority is based on order date, for a given sub-kit, and individual parts availability matters as well. Keep in mind there are often several possible kits (especially finish kits) per airplane, so it's always relative to the available parts. In addition, customer initiated delays can result in re-ordering of delivery, but we do best we can in that situation to still prioritize based on original order dates. There were a few kits that fell slightly out of order last fall, due to some internal communication and coordination issues, but that is not the norm and we prioritize based on oldest-order-first for a given kit.

@jeremyskeen9679 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the explanation.

@pamagee2011 2 жыл бұрын

Boy how disappointing to hear about these price increases

@FlyVansAircraft 2 жыл бұрын

We're disappointed to have to make the increases, as well. We're keeping it all as low as we can.

@stevefreeman8700 2 жыл бұрын

Lycoming up as much as 25% in one year....that is way ahead of inflation. Until people say "enough" and stop buying, companies like this will just keep screwing us. There are literally 1,000's of excellent engines that can be found and rebuilt without supporting the predatory pricing practices of a company like Lycoming. I have to cut Van's some slack because they are caught up in a different kind of supply chain nightmare but Lycoming has basically been selling the same product for decades and decades with a few modifications here and there. They get the prices they get because if you want this kind of engine, what choice do you really have? 25% in ONE YEAR!

@stevefreeman8700 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry...9 months on -8 Finishing kit and nothing but crickets from Van's. I don't need it yet so I don't really care. They can say whatever they want but communication at the actual customer level is a joke.