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From: gmm@bunker.UUCP (Gregory M. Mandas)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Aviation Hardware, the price of flying
Message-ID: <534@bunker.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Sep-84 11:57:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: bunker.534
Posted: Tue Sep 25 11:57:43 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Sep-84 05:39:35 EDT
Lines: 37


 >From ittvax!decvax!genrad!wjh12!harvard!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!TLD@MIT-MC  >Sun Sep 23 13:57:00 1984
 >Subject: Sources for hardware
 >Newsgroups: net.aviation
 >
 >From:  Thomas L. Davenport 
 >
 >My racing car uses a number of aircraft-quality components, especially
 >fasteners and rod ends.  I'm looking for a better source of supply
 >than my usual (read: expensive) motor-racing sources.  Can anyone
 >suggest places for me to look for this sort of hardware either in the
 >Boston or Baltimore-Washington areas?  Alternately, are there good
 >mail-order sources?  Where do the experimental aircraft folks buy
 >their hardware?  Surplus is fine.  Any leads will be most appreciated!
 >
 >-Tom-

My greatest flame on the aviation industry is the cost of parts.
During an anual I was once made to to replace the rear seatbelts in  
my Cheorkee 150 for a cost of $30 a pair. I could have bought
a pair of auto seatbelts for far less (~$15)  with the same breaking 
limit. A HAM friend of mine bought a digital pocket ham radio for $250 
with more power and capabilties (read: memories, station selection, LCDs)
than you basic $700 COM.

You can blame the FAA for strict certification requirements or the 
aviation equipment manufacturers for the mark-up on an item with
a limited manufacturering run or the FBO for trying to stay afloat
in a market place inflation has hit hardest; But all in all I think 
you will find that when you purchase a part from and aviation supplier 
the price will be higher than any other source. 

I hope I am wrong. Let us know how you make out. [with the parts :-) ]


Greg Mandas
ittvax!bunker!gmm