Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hao!seismo!harvard!wjh12!genrad!decvax!ittvax!bunker!gmm 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