American Spirit kit purchased
Jeff Knell
the American Spirit glider kit being offered by
Advanced Soaring Concepts of Camarillo CA.
In December, I put down the required %25 deposit
on a Spirit kit; my projected shipping date is
February 22.
Buying this 'new' of a kit is, of course, a gamble.
However, I did enough research to convince myself
that the risk is acceptable. My preference would
have been to wait until several owner-build Spirits
were flying. However, I was motivated to buy in '92
because ASC informed me that the price was going up
four thousand dollars in '93. The price is now
$18,980 plus crating and shipping.
The introductory price of $14,980 was almost more
than I was willing to pay for a kit. I really want
to build a Spirit, and I don't think I could have
gone for it at the higher price, so I took the plunge.
I regret that the price is so high, because it prohibits
many potential builders of this (hopefully) competitive
US-made Standard class ship.
ASC will have the Spirit prototype on display at the
SSA convention. Also, Tor Jensen, president of ASC,
is giving a talk at the convention.
If there is sufficient interest I would be glad to
post what I have learned about the Spirit, and provide
the names a phone numbers of the two people (not employed
by ASC) that I have talked to about this kit. One is a
glider pilot and repairman who has flown the prototype,
the other is a professional airplane kit builder, both of
which have purchased Spirit kits.
jeff
feitctaj
Dave Hagood
|> [deletia]
|>
|> If there is sufficient interest I would be glad to
|> post what I have learned about the Spirit, and provide
|> the names a phone numbers of the two people (not employed
|> by ASC) that I have talked to about this kit. One is a
|> glider pilot and repairman who has flown the prototype,
|> the other is a professional airplane kit builder, both of
|> which have purchased Spirit kits.
|>
I would be very interested to talk with both the people you talked
to; I would also be interested in your experience with building the kit.
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|
David M. Hagood Martin Marietta Astronautics Group |
|
Voice: (303) 977-9657 When in danger, or in doubt, |
E-mail: hag...@den.mmc.com Run in circles, scream and shout. |
Fax: (303) 977-1530 |
|
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static char *disclaimer = "My opinions, not Martin Marietta's." |
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