Anyone with a Dominator close to Pensacola, FL?

[13brv3]

Greetings,

Subject pretty much says it all. I'd like to see a Dominator in person before I order one. Ideally, I'd like to find someone who has one at an airport within a few hundred miles of Pensacola. The "airport" would have to be capable of easily handling an RV-8. Does anyone have one nearby that they wouldn't mind showing me?

Thanks,
Rusty

[Timchick]

Stuart has one. He lives North of Mobile, AL.

[Joe Pires]

Greetings,

Subject pretty much says it all. I'd like to see a Dominator in person before I order one. Ideally, I'd like to find someone who has one at an airport within a few hundred miles of Pensacola. The "airport" would have to be capable of easily handling an RV-8. Does anyone have one nearby that they wouldn't mind showing me?

Thanks,
Rusty


How bout Wauchula. We're there every weekend and we have 3 in the hangar.

[Timchick]

Joe, I think Ron in NC is closer than Wachula. We're considered LA (Lower Alabama).

[MikeBoyette]

Heck in an RV8 everywhere should be close. Ron was down here in a few hours in his from NC.

[GyroRon]

Heck in an RV8 everywhere should be close. Ron was down here in a few hours in his from NC.


yeap, it was a 3 hour flight to Wauchula in my old RV-4......

Rusty, if you want to build a gyro from plans and you want the best overall performance, then just order the plans and start building already!!!

Your more than welcome to fly here and take a look at the two Dominators based on our field.

[13brv3]

Thanks for the comments. I'm not familiar with Stuart North of Mobile, though that would certainly be convenient. Is he on the forum?

Out of curiousity, I plotted out a trip to Wauchula, and it's 327 nm, or about 2:15 by RV-8. That's also just under $200 in fuel :eek: Goose Creek is 420 nm, so quite a bit farther than Wauchula.

I'm planning to make it down to Bensen Days, but there's a possibility I might be ordering something "to go", so I need to see one before then.

Cheers,
Rusty

[13brv3]

Rusty, if you want to build a gyro from plans and you want the best overall performance, then just order the plans and start building already!!!

Hi Ron,

I actually have the plans already, and am trying to decide just what I want to start with. At the very least, I'll order the pre-welded steel, but there's even a chance that I'll just go with a stock 503 Ultrawhite initially to build some time and experience. The single rotor "will" work on a Dominator, but it's not likely to be ideal.

Lot's to consider, and I need to sell the RV-8 to make time, space, and money available.

Cheers,
Rusty

[GyroRon]

Look Rusty, I will make this real easy for you. Just fly up here in the RV-8, and I will trade you my gyro for it. Heck I will even throw in 2 thousand bucks worth of training as part of the deal. How does that sound?

Do know that the plans are old, and Ernie builds some things different on the newest machines. Ultracruiser ran into some problems when he built the airframe per plans and then bought the steel parts kit from Ernie.... some of the parts did not line up with the holes Barry drilled in the aluminum as the plans called for. So I would talk to Ernie first, and Barry, and then order all the parts and build carefully.

Of course it is pretty hard not to go ahead and buy it turnkey from Ernie. He does not charge much for building the thing, and you get instant satisfaction, and piece of mind that it was built right and test flown.

If you get him to make you one, pay extra and have him paint the entire airframe, for some reason he leaves all the aluminum unpainted on the stock ultrawhites and within a year or two the airframe will look old and weathered, especially if you live in Florida near the coast.

[13brv3]

Thanks for the comments Ron. I'm hoping I can do just a bit better on a trade than what you offered though :)

I've heard about the differences in the plans vs. current construction methods, but have never completely understood what the differences were.

The most likely option for me is to get Ernie to supply as many of the pre-made parts as possible. It just makes sense to let him prepare the parts in his shop, where he has jigs, and pre-programmed machine tools. The parts will be more accurate, and as you mentioned, he doesn't charge much for this service. I don't really want to buy one completely assembled, because I want the repairman's certificate, and wouldn't feel right claiming to be the builder.

Thanks,
Rusty

[gyromike]

Rusty,

I don't know what Ernie charges for a rolling airframe (less engine, prop, and instruments) these days, but at Bensen Days 2005 Ron Barnes bought one for ~$7500 with rotor blades. He took it apart to paint it and won an award at B-Days 2006.

That's about the cheapest 'kit' you can find.

Here's Ron Barnes and his bird:
http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=20238&d=1144210870

[13brv3]

Hi Mike,

A rolling chassis is about what I have in mind to purchase, though it can be dissassembled when I get it. Having the main pieces pre-welded, and pre-fit will be perfect, though I'll have to make an engine mount, and do plenty of fiddling with engine systems. I'll need the nose pod as well, and don't quite know what sort of pre-rotator system I'll be able to use yet. Blades may have to wait until I get a better weight idea on the engine.

I'll work it all out with Ernie when I have the proper amount of money to send his way.

Thanks,
Rusty

[scottessex]

If you put down a deposit, (full payment) He will let you test fly one.:rolleyes:

[j bird]

Rusty,
All steel subassemblies, 6061 T-6 cut to size, cheekplates, rotor head, air shocks, wheel sets, seat tank, and tall tail, will cost about $4100.00 + shipping.
That would get you a rolling chassis.

[13brv3]

I've added the prices a few times, but I need to make a few decisions before I actually order anything. I'd also like to at least see one in person first.

I'm not yet qualified to buy the test flight, but it won't be long until I am :)

Rusty