A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

[Guest]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 10 Nov 2007)

Gents,

Call the fellow in the red text below:


To all Taylorcraft owners:

It seems some folks are uncertain about the AD and the sealed lift struts we produce here at Airframes. inc. Let me try and clarify things. When the AD came out we started getting calls asking us to produce them from our customers. We have been producing sealed lift struts for the PA18 supercubs (which has a similar AD)for the past seven years and have made well over a thousand of them. After conferring with the FAA. it was decided to get an STC to comply with the Taylorcraft AD as this could be accomplished the fastest. The STC states clearly that these struts comply with the requirements of the AD. This is the equivilant of an AMOC letter. Apparently The FAA hasen't gotten around to posting our STC on thier site yet. We make thousands of different FAA-PMA approved parts for many different airplanes and are intimately familiar with part approvals, we hold many STCs and PMAs including one that has an amoc. Our FAA engineer has graciously said that people with questions may contact him. His name is Dave Swartz and his # is 907-271-2671.
Rest assured that not only are our struts the fix for the AD they are the best choice as they are much stronger than both the originals and the competitors.They are also the lightest weight. I chose to charge the same amount for the T-craft struts as we charge for the supercub struts. 1800 per set. I am happy to save the T-craft world all this money as I am a T-craft afficianato myself.
I have about 800 hours in T-crafts.My first airplane was a T-craft which I dearly loved, I have had two more since and still have one, N95090. I taught flying in a 1946 BC12D with no brakes on my side and I met my wife when she was my student in it. Of all the planes I have owned and flown I enjoy the T-craft the most.
If anyone has any other questions, Call us at 907-892-8244 and myself or Levi will be happy to answer them.

Sincerely,

Lee Budde

President, Airframes,inc.

yes! amen, do it, call Dave Swartz

[Guest]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated Oct 2007)

Robbie,
I called Wag Aero yesterday and talked to Tom O'Neal. He is supposed to call me Monday after checking on getting the AMOC. When I hear from him I will let you know. Tom said they have hundreds of PMA's and for some reason getting the paperwork from the FAA for the Taylorcraft struts has been much more of a problem than anything else they have done. If you hear anything please let me know. I called Univair and they said it could be months before they get the pre-war's and F19s added to their PMA. I am getting some struts for a Cub and was hopeing to order everything together to save on shipping but I may order my T/craft struts from Alaska Airframes if it looks like it will be a very long time before Wag Aero has the AMOC.

Hi Buell,

Aany further word from Wag on their struts? Dave

[Guest]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 10 Nov 2007)

List below is updated as of December 12, 2007 (10 November 2007)

Prices below are for four struts only, 2 front and 2 rear. I kept it to 4 struts only so its a fair compare. Don't compare a price with jury struts included to a price witout them. Just keep it to comparison of the four needed struts.

Shipping is not included but I often hear a shipping cost of $100-$125

********** I only list FAA/PMA sources below **************

1) Univair about $1896 => http://www.univairparts.com/
paperwork required=> "log entry" and copy of Univair AMOC in a/c records
approved for BC12-D/D1 & BCS12-D/D1 aircraft only, other approvals may come later

2) Tayorcraft about $3235 => http://www.taylorcraft.com/zencart/
paperwork required=> "log entry" only
approved for all a/c listed on AD but no struts have yet been delivered
note after 11/15 price is higher

3) Airfames Inc about $1800=>http://www.supercubs.com/taylorcraft_lift_struts.html
paperwork required=> "log entry" and 337 for Airframes Inc STC
approved for use on all A-643, A-696, A-699, A-700, and 1A9 TCDS aircraft
* base strut includes jury strut clamps too

4) Wag Aero about xxxx => coming soon, we think

Thanks go to Mike Burnett for supporting info used here

[UNIVAIR]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 10 Nov 2007)

Darryl, no that's not correct,

"Talked with the FSDO today and they agree if a part is a PMA replacement part then all you need is a log entry no STC, but hold on."


Its not a replacement part according to Dave Swartz.

One can have a PMA but that means only that you can make and sell it that does not make it a replacement part, it could be a modification part.

Hope that makes sense.

To keep from getting lost in semantics. Think of a Line.

Think of things in terms of Type Design and Supplemental Type Design. On the Type Design side of the parts line are original and PMA (replacement) parts on the the other side are items that were not part of the original design or modifications. On the Type Design side of the line - No 337. On the STC side of the line 337.

This is how I teach my salesmen.

Mike Sellers
Univair Aircraft

[Buell Powell]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated Oct 2007)

Hi Buell,

Aany further word from Wag on their struts? Dave

Dave,
I just talked to Tom O'Neill @Wag Aero. Tom said the problem has been communicatin between the Chicago FAA eng and the S.A. office that approves the AMOC. They did finally talk to each other and Tom is expecting positive results Friday for getting the AMOC but does not want to prommise unti that happens.Possible problem is that Mr. Anaul will be out of office except for 3 days the rest of the month.They have a set made and are going to install next week to check for any possible problems but expect not to have any. Bottom line is that Tom is very cautious and does not want to give information that would lead us to expect the struts to soon even though it seems to me they should be abe to supply them soon.Will post when I hear something unless someone hears first and post it before I hear anything.

[flyguy]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Alrighty, In reference to Airframes PMA. Did someone approve the PMA with the struts listed as a replacement part? Is there a PMA form/document somewhere with a FAA representative's signature on it that shows the struts as a replacement part, or is it just a case of it being listed on the FAA site incorrectly?

It is not an insignificant question. As an example, my 85 engine was signed off on a 337 without any airframe modifications. The FAA is not interested in correcting that "decision," or changing the paperwork. They have told me so. My engine installation is legal, but the airplane is not really a -85, by definition.

I have had these type of discussions with our local FSDO in the process of writing a Repair Station and QA Manual and I put it here as a matter of interest, perhaps it will, in the end, not have earth-shaking significance for Taylorcraft owners, but I assure you that if an owner was on the other end of the question of a signature, it would be made very clear how important it is to us.
Darryl

[Guest]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Alrighty, In reference to Airframes PMA. Did someone approve the PMA with the struts listed as a replacement part? Is there a PMA form/document somewhere with a FAA representative's signature on it that shows the struts as a replacement part, or is it just a case of it being listed on the FAA site incorrectly?

It is not an insignificant question. As an example, my 85 engine was signed off on a 337 without any airframe modifications. The FAA is not interested in correcting that "decision," or changing the paperwork. They have told me so. My engine installation is legal, but the airplane is not really a -85, by definition.

I have had these type of discussions with our local FSDO in the process of writing a Repair Station and QA Manual and I put it here as a matter of interest, perhaps it will, in the end, not have earth-shaking significance for Taylorcraft owners, but I assure you that if an owner was on the other end of the question of a signature, it would be made very clear how important it is to us.
Darryl

Hi Darryl,

I agree it is not an insignificant and I failed to ask it.

I don't know the answer but I do know that I have found other errors in the RGL lib data in the PMA section.

When I asked Dave Swartz if he ever questioned the RGL accuracy he said "only every day".

Univair struts were listed in the RGL as a modification part a few weeks ago but on the Univair catalog I think I saw it as a replacement part, also saw Aeronca parts listed as replacements for Piper part numbers.

So I guess I could be convinced of either answer.

In my opinion the most significant result of all this churn/crap is that most folks will get the correct direction regarding the paper work involved. Besides being generally good, legal and correct it may effect a pre-buy inspection and future sale.

Dave

[Jim Hartley]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Just picked up my struts from Airframes Inc. Stopped by to check out there operation and Levi asked if I wanted to take my struts with me. I said; "hell yes"... First class operation! One week wait.

Jim

[MJB]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year from Deadhorse, AK. Todays low was -44 F ambient.

Santa was seen performing his preflight, all seems well.

[David Bloomberg]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

I just called Airframes, Inc. to ask about a set of lift struts. They do not produce them anymore because the part of the company making them was sold on January 1 to Northern Airframe (ph: 907-688-0530).

I then talked to Chris Bauer at Northern Airframe who said the FAA paperwork will take 30 days to go through to allow Northern Airframe to make and sell the struts. He is taking names on a list for orders, but it will be at least 30 days before they can start making new struts for shipment.

[flyguy]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Well, that isn't as bad as I guessed. I was thinking at least 90 days. Hope some people that know how to weld went with the sale of the paper and whatever else.
D C

[David Bloomberg]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Chris said the company bought all of the jigs and other equipment and three employees who did the work at Airframes came to the new company. He said there would be no problem getting the sign off from the FAA, but the paper work has to be processed.

[Ray36048]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

Univair Struts.....

I did not see this mentioned before. The Univair struts come WITH adjusting screws. They do NOT come with clamps.

[Pearson]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

I bought struts from Airframes Inc. They came about 10 days after I gave them my credit card info. They came with very easy to read instructions, adjusting screws and new clamps for where the jury struts attach. I haven't had time to put them on yet. But they look like they are well made and I am very happy with them.

[lfries]

Re: A list of lift strut suppliers (updated 12 Dec 2007)

When did you purchase yours. I ordered Nov. 29 and I'm still waiting.