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I think it might be "neat" to say you flew something you built but more power to those that do. I just have no interest in getting in something that missed all the QC of a manufacturer. I've heard too many stories and don't want to be one of them. lol
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That's how I feel when I look at a Piper or Cessna, actually. Some of the things I've seen in the last twelve months on certified aircraft:
- Cooling baffles installed backwards (Cessna)
- Cables tied to engine mount by wrapping electrical wire around the cable and mount tube (Piper)
- Mis-rigged control surfaces compensated for by dropping a flap (this is per mfg. BTW - both Cessna and Piper)
- Lots of cracked plastic on fairings (Both Cessna and Piper)
- Loose stabilator (Piper)
- Loose vertical stabilizer(! - Piper)
My point is that certified or not, the maintenance of said aircraft is dominant over the QC of the manufacturer. Put another way: I trust myself, with a second pair of eyes from another RV builder, over the eyes of a local A&P who has schedule pressure to get things done while working for less than he'd make down the street at the auto garage.