Sharks
Hi Bruce,
I dont believe I tarred all with the same brush. You acknowledge yourself that there are sharks out there. Shoot me down for this one but here goes –
It is a fact that, virtually without exception, it costs a lot more to rebuild an old aircraft than it will be worth at the end of it.
There arent that many people out there who can justify the cost of this work. This compounds when you understand that you are unlikely to get a quote, only a cost estimate. Whilst this isn’t surprising – nobody knows whats under the fabric – I’ll wager that the cost of the inevitable ‘extras’, with your whizzer in a thousand bits, is calculated with a different head on than the one that gave you the initial cost estimate. Its the way of the world. Put your hand on your heart and tell me you dont believe it goes on.
There are a lot of people out there in the vintage aircraft business chasing too little work. Some have been struggling for years despite their undisputed ability to produce excellent work.
Unless your whizzer is particularly rare, my advice is to find one thats been done and let the vendor swallow the losses that they will undoubtedly have incurred in the restoration.
Aircraft restoration is a high ‘open chequebook’ risk area where many fear to tread.
Having said all of this, our aviation heritage would be all the poorer if the fantastic skills that exist out there are lost, and there aren’t people around who see value in the aircraft beyond what it costs to fix up and operate.
I don’t know what the answer is. for we live in a world where Joe Soap will think nothing of paying nearly a hundred quid an hour to have his car serviced but will balk at less than half that for skills the well paid mechanic ( sorry-Technician!) in the nice, modern, warm(!) car workshop couldn’t shake a stick at.
How many youngsters are learning the artisan skills of aircraft woodworking? Where do they learn it? How can they afford to learn it? I see a major skill shortage looming.
I’m fortunate in that my aircraft are looked after by people I know, trust and respect 100%. I fear that such a relationship is all too rare for the reasons stated.
H
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