Motor glider decisions.

[Tjoek]

Rudix

You are welcome to come look at my project. Perhaps not the best example of "fast progress", but can guarantee you that mine won't enter the market as unfinished project. My plan is to have it ready for test flight May 08.

Regards
Tjoek
Whisper kit 40

[Rudix]

Rudix

You are welcome to come look at my project. Perhaps not the best example of "fast progress", but can guarantee you that mine won't enter the market as unfinished project. My plan is to have it ready for test flight May 08.

Regards
Tjoek
Whisper kit 40

Hi Tjoek,

Sorry it took me so long to reply, have been away and VERY busy since getting back.

Thanks, will contact you !

I have now done plenty research and I agree the Whisper is stunning, I think the choice is made, I am a bit worried where to hangar a plane with wings that long but there are ways around that. I have an option on one but if that does not work I might just go for a fast build kit, I am having a workshop build at my place anyway.

Thanks for all the advice :D
Regards,
Rudi

[Griffin]

Have you thought about what motor to fit?

[Rudix]

Have you thought about what motor to fit?

The one that I have an option on has a VW (Limbach) but I would much prefer a Jabiru or maybe a 912S.

I have just ordered a Jabiru 3300 for the KR, should solve the CofG problem

Regards,
Rudi

[PhilWest]

Rudi, i have copied the info below from the Whisper Forum. This guy bought the fast built kit (No 41) and using AVLEC to build the Whisper. Must say it is very costly doing it this way...what other motor options are there and what is the approx. cost?

Taken from the Whisper Forum below....
_________________________________________
How much does a Whisper cost?

Paid to Date:

Whisper AC - Deposit on Kit 13,000.00
Whisper AC - Payment on Balance of Kit 48,047.00
AVLEC - 50% Deposit on Build 74,500.00
Whisper AC - Wing Pair 55,062.00
Shadow Lite - 120HP Jab Motor & Airmaster Prop 180,715.04
Whisper AC - Fast Build Payment 42,921.00
Dart Aeronautocal - Instruments 26,743.26
Century Avionics - Nav/Coms 68,774.93

Paid to date: 509,763.23

Still to pay:
AVLEC - Final Build Payment 74,500.00
CAA Various Fees - ESTIMATE 4,500.00
Avionics final installation - ESTIMATE 5,000.00
Contingencies Upholstry etc. - ESTIMATE 20,000.00

Final Build Estimate:
613,763.23


Aircraft Equipment:
Fast Build Kit
Dynon 100 EFIS
Garmin GNC420 GPS
Garmin GTX 327 transponder
Jabiru 120 HP motor
Airmaster VP propeller

Estimated time to complete project 18 months

This is a pretty realistic view at how much a proper build will cost if built by a third party. I would have loved to have built my own plane, but I cannot even hit a nail into soft wood without buggering up the wood and the nail. However, even considering this cost, I think the aircraft is well worth this expense.
________________________________________

Johan

[skybound®]

Jabiru factory in George have been doing a few kits too. I think they are getting close to their third delivery of a fully built kit.

I hear the numbers are pretty close to the half bar mark complete.

[Tjoek]

You should compare apples with apples (e.g. equipment levels). The above prices are quoted for a ready to fly aerie with no expense spared insofar as equipment levels go.

I am confident that I will finish my Whisper with 120 hp Jabi well under R450k.

[PhilWest]

Hi Tjoek

How much will you save if you buy the Basic Whisper kit?

[Tjoek]

I would guess about R50 to R60k (not sure), but it is A LOT more work. If you buy the fastbuilt, all major structural and allignment work is done for you, including the wings. However, there is still substantial work (i.e. elbow grease) needed to micro finish the wings.

[skybound®]

Absolutley Tjoek. You can get in for far less than that half a bar. The last time I did a detailed costing on the whisper which was about 2 years ago, materials were just a little over the R200k mark, without instruments, and with a VtroubleU motor and using the basic kit materials (not fastbuild).