Build log documenting construction of my Van's RV-10 airplane.
Started RV-10 on June 29 2022.
Builder #42638
RV-10 Fuselage and Finish Kit Arrival
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Aside from working on my wings, the last few months I have been busy preparing to receive my RV-10 fuselage and finish kits.
I originally placed the order for my fuselage kit back in November 2022 with an estimated availability date of August 2023, however with recent events over at Van's this date got pushed back. I was finally sent a final payment request in January 2024, and received the email that the fuselage kit was ready for pickup on January 31.
After Van's initially announced their business challenges, I took a chance and placed my RV-10 finish kit order on October 30 2023 hoping to lock in the original pricing and my place in line, fully expecting that it would be a year or two before receiving that kit. However, in January 2024, Van's also requested final payment for my finish kit (at the same time as the fuselage kit), and I was notified that the finish kit was ready for pickup on February 21.
As I had marked both kits for will-call pickup, I asked Van's if I could pick them up together. Van's was more than accommodating with this request, and also called me to ask which laser cut replacement parts I needed so they could include them in the fuselage kit! With that I planned a trip up to Oregon, flying up on the evening of March 7 and drive back to California (SF Bay Area) the following day.
Flying from San Jose, CA to Portland, OR
Early in the morning of March 8, I picked up a 20' U-Haul truck and drove it over to Van's in Aurora, OR just south of Portland.
Arrived at Van's and parked outside the gate
After a quick check-in at reception, I was given a code to the side gate and asked to drive to the back of the building where I would get help with loading the crates on to the truck.
The first thing I noticed after heading back was the big white tent right behind the Van's main building. I don't recall this being here when I visited the factory back in November 2021 for a factory tour and demo flight. Peeking inside, there were a lot of parts, crates and quick-build assemblies. Even through the recent events, Van's appears to have been busy with manufacturing and packing kits.
Tent full of crates, parts and quickbuild assemblies
Found my fuselage and finish kits
Within a few minutes, a Van's employee arrived with a forklift, and loaded the crates onto the truck.
Crates being carefully moved around. Note the second tent in the background. I assume that one was also full of RV parts
Fork lift swung the crate around into the truck,...
...and then came the scary part in which the fuselage was balanced on a pallet so the fork lift could come around the back, and push the crate into the truck. The forklift driver knew exactly what he was doing though, and made it look easy!
The fuselage crate being lift off the pallet...
... and pushed into the truck
One crate loaded, one more to go
The finish kit crate was not as long as in Van's 'crate dimensions' doc (probably due to backordered seats), and went in sideways easily
Both crates loaded, and ready to start the long drive back home
In addition to the kit orders, about 10 days prior to making the trip up to Van's I also decided to order a few additional parts for pickup. Some of those parts were showing as backordered in the web store, so I wasn't sure if they would be available for pickup during my trip. However, when I turned up at the factory, every part I had ordered in the webstore order were sitting on the counter, and I was able to pay for them right there and take them with me.
Luckily those parts were not too big, so I was easily able to find a place for them in the truck where they would be safe.
Larger additional parts (spars) secured in the truck using a ratchet strap
With both crates and additional parts loaded on to the truck, it was time to leave Van's and begin the road trip (~650 miles) back home. I started driving at around 9am having spent about 45 minutes at the factory.
Driving past Van's on the way out
The drive back to CA was really nice. Weather was great (which was a pleasant surprise after the recent rains and storms), and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery on the way back, stopping at several rest areas for short breaks.
Great weather and beautiful scenery on the way home... Mount Shasta in the background
About 12 hours after leaving Van's I arrived home and backed the truck into the driveway ready to unload the crates. The following day I got to work unpacking everything.
Arrived home in the late evening, and backed into the driveway so that I could unpack the crates directly from the rear of the truck
Crates were in great shape after the drive. They didn't move an inch, even without strapping them down
Finish kit crate opened. The paper/cardboard fun begins!
Top card/paper layer removed. Doors and cowl becoming visible
Landing gear and engine mount zip tied to the crate, with a lot of hardware packed under the engine mount
Finish kit doors, landing gear mounts, spinner and other smaller parts
Engine cowl was larger than I imagined
Engine mount
Wheel pants and spinner
With the finish kit out of the truck, the fuselage kit was next
Fuselage kit top removed. All parts look secure
Top braces removed. Now to figure out how to take out the cabin top
I decided to remove one side of the crate, which made lifting and sliding the cabin top out much easier. There were lots of parts securely packed in boxes underneath the cabin top
Most steel and smaller aluminum parts were packed into a large box. This box was completely full, and here it is after I had removed about half of the parts.
Skins were taped to the floor of the crate underneath a protective insulation sheet
Skins unpacked! The largest were the two bottom skins.
Smaller parts ready to be inventoried
Center section spar and more small parts
Longer parts, along with rudder parts that I will not be using
Now that all parts are out of the truck, I get to spend hours inventorying everything, and also figuring out where to store everything as I won't need a lot of these parts for a while. Won't be able to build much while doing this, but fun times ahead!
Powder coated parts and center spar section stored under the workbench
I installed a pulley system to allow me to store the cabin top next to the garage ceiling
Cabin top secured out of the way. I also used additional ratchet straps for added insurance against anything coming loose
Pipe insulation was cut into 6" sections, and put under the straps as well as at the cabin top corners to protect both cabin top and humans from collision injuries!
Fuselage skins store across 2 6ft racks installed above the garage door
