Roee Kalinsky's RV-7A Project

2007.10.09: Van's packaged the finishing kit in a 97" x 49" x 27" wooden crate weighing 318 lbs., and shipped it via a trucking company called ABF.  My experience with the trucking company was pretty good.  They were able to deliver the crate directly to my house -- not just to a shipping terminal.  I was able to set up an appointment (a four hour window) for the truck to arrive, and they also promised to call 30 minutes before the truck actually arrives, which they did.  The shipping cost from Van's facility in Aurora, Oregon, to my house in San Diego, was $348.96, payable directly to ABF (not Van's).  The payment options were to pay the driver by cashier's check, or to pay by credit card in advance over the phone.  I opted for the latter simply for convenience.  When the truck arrived, it became apparent that unloading the crate will be a little tricky.  The truck bed was about 5' off the ground, and had no lift gate.  Between the driver and I we were able to wrestle it safely off the truck and into the garage, but a lift gate or a couple of extra hands would have made the job a lot easier.  The driver by the way was a very nice guy, who also at one time pursued a private pilot's license.  He sure got a kick out of seeing the fuselage in the garage, and when I told him the contents of the mystery crate we just unloaded!

2007.10.18: Unpacking, inventorying, and inspecting the contents of the finish kit.  One bag of hardware missing (BAG ???-?), some funny-looking surface defects on the wheel pants, a pretty bad void and cracks already forming in the empennage fairing, and you guessed it -- a couple of minor scraches on the canopy, right through the protective sheeting.  I still need to consult with some other builders, and then with Van's, to decide what's workable and what needs replacing.