Below is a picture of parts which came in this week, which are part of the steady flow of work in my hangar. The represent three elements of a typical work week.
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On the left, CNC machined stainless steel exhaust stacks, the basic element of all the Corvair exhaust systems I have made in the last 15 years. (Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems) The same aerospace shop in Florida has always made these for me, and they like to make them in quantity. They start as solid American 304 stainless bar stock, and they are not cheap. The bin pictured has over $7,000 in parts in it. Over the winter, I will weld these into many exhaust systems so we start the 2019 season with a lot of systems on the shelf.
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The four Gold oil filter housings look common to our engines, but if you look close, they are 2601-R models, the “R” designation is for ‘reverse’, they are the mirror image of our standard part. The only common use for these are Corvair/Sonex installations. Look at this picture: Waiex engine, 3,000 cc / 120HP Corvair of Gordon Turner. , and you can see the difference. These also have to be made in batches, and I sell about 20 times as many standard ones, so I only order the “R” model once a year or so. Even though it is a small part of what we are doing, I still invest in the parts to make sure every builder can have an optimized engine.
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The last part is a Dual points distributor I sold to a Pietenpol builder in Australia…..about 15 years ago. It has been flying a while, and it has just come back for a check up. Think of it, its logged about 22,000 miles aloft. Its the kind of thing a do nearly every week to support a fleet of 500 or so flying corvair powered planes. If your out in your shop working tonight, don’t worry, in another 15 years I’ll be here for you also.
Funny – that is something I occasionally stress over. When I finally have enough cash to pull the trigger on building my 3.0L for my Waiex, will you still be around? Keep on doing what you’re doing! Thanks, Kevin
Kevin, 2019 will be 30 years of working with Corvair flight engines. I’m just coming up on 56, I feel pretty good, I like the work, and being realistic, my alternative career as the next Jacques Cousteau has not really planned out. I will be here, don’t give it another thought.🙂
Funny – that is something I occasionally stress over. When I finally have enough cash to pull the trigger on building my 3.0L for my Waiex, will you still be around? Keep on doing what you’re doing! Thanks, Kevin
Kevin, 2019 will be 30 years of working with Corvair flight engines. I’m just coming up on 56, I feel pretty good, I like the work, and being realistic, my alternative career as the next Jacques Cousteau has not really planned out. I will be here, don’t give it another thought.🙂