LUVTruck.com

phpBBV3 Message Board
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:44 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 6:47 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV

Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:41 pm
Posts: 6289
Location: Camarillo, CA
As many of you know I am retired. I work on special projects for a friend of mine who owns a airplane repair shop to help with the cost of my airplane. I became a "expert" in a plane called a Paris Jet. The expert claim is not my words but from the FAA. A friend bought a Paris Jet that was in a shipping container, wings, engines and tail were in a separate container. We hired a expert from France who spoke no English. We had the manuals in English and French, we would point to a section and we would put that part together, if done right he would give us a thumbs up, if wrong he would turn his back to us. That plane was done and auctioned off at the biggest Air Show in the U.S. Another guy bought a Paris Jet at my home airport. We have been taking care of it, his friend did a "hot start", that caused a explosion in the number 2 engine, we had to replace the complete tail section at that time. He was afraid of the plane after that along with the FAA restricting pilots from flying that type of plane without special training every year. He donated the plane to the C.A.F. A guy from the Houston area bought it sight unseen. He contacted my friend and wanted the plane back to flying condition as a toy for him. Matt then asked me if I wanted the job. I have a love hate relationship with these planes, there are only a handful left flying. I didn't want to say no so I contacted the soon to be new owner. I told him it would be 45 hours for the annual, 5 hours for the fuel and engine service, 16 hours for a detail of the paint and interior and any problems I found would be extra. I also told him the plane burns 130 gallons per hour of fuel, there are other planes out there that would be cheaper. I was trying to talk him out of it. He asked about upgrading the panel, I told him we used a company in Chino for that, budget around 110K for what he wanted. So with our labor rate of $90 per hour he would have close to 200K in a plane worth 90K. After a day he called back and said he likes the look of the plane and wanted to do all work. I said we need 20 hours payment to start work and he needs to contact the other shop for the panel upgrade. Less then an hour later his assistant called and paid, the other shop called and said they were paid. For the last month I have been working on this plane for 3 days per week. I found 15 extra hours of work needed, when all was said and done he paid as fast as we could bill him and send videos of the work done. Looks like I finally get to meet him on Wednesday. We wanted to come out Tuesday but I told him I was having surgery on my knee that day. I have never meet him yet but I can say he is a man of his word. He paid on time, no questions asked. I spent some extra time as I wanted to keep up our end of the deal. He did ask if we would come out next year to do the annual on it, offers to pay us more for travel. Here is the old girl, I actually will take pride in showing him his toy for the first time.


Image

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 7:01 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV

Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:54 pm
Posts: 6584
Location: Pelahatchie, MS
Looks like a killer power to weight ratio...

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 7:20 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 20, 2002 12:49 am
Posts: 3245
Location: North Mississippi
Good lookin plane. I wish I had money.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 7:37 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV

Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:41 pm
Posts: 6289
Location: Camarillo, CA
I might be able to afford the plane, I can do all maintance but I can't afford the $1000 per hour in fuel. I was thinking I was done with these planes, the new owner made a offer I could not refuse so I did the work. I will say usually in airplane maintance most owners with money act as if they own you. This guy was very happy with the videos of the work we did, called us every other day and was excited to see work done. He thanked us a thousand times. I don't mind working for those types of owners. I was just going to wax it but end up clay baring it, cleaner/polish then waxing it. I went the extra mile because he will be thankful and has been a great customer. Here are some pictures of the previous annual to show the work that goes into the plane. I showed these here before. This is John Travolta's old plane. It was in the movies Look who's talking, he took a girl flying in it, at the time it was white with a blue stripe.

Image

Image

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 9:18 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:11 am
Posts: 2803
Location: Baytown,Texas
Does it look like you'll be coming out this way ?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 9:22 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV

Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:41 pm
Posts: 6289
Location: Camarillo, CA
We don't know yet, he will be talking to us next week about it.

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 10:35 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:52 am
Posts: 1124
Location: Hot Springs AR
You have a great retirement plan, Nice work 8)

_________________
Image

Three Amigos


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Work
PostPosted: Fri May 30, 2014 11:04 pm 
Offline
Addicted to LUV

Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:41 pm
Posts: 6289
Location: Camarillo, CA
The way I got retired was no fun. I have days that I am very happy to be retired but there are days I would give anything not to have the injury that caused me to get retired. This is why I only work on certain projects, it's hard to count on me for 5 days a week every week.

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group