ransom wrote: Not to detract in any way from what an incredibly idiotic, pointless, shiny happy person maneuver that was, but... $30k? I'm having trouble seeing that figure for two scratched panels, even thinking in terms of having to remove every rivet that overlaps them, and form, polish, and rivet replacement panels in... Again, of course, the asshat who did this shouldn't have cost the owner 30 cents, let alone 30 large...
Can't see how big the panels are, or what is behind them, and if it's is structural or not, that plus the aircraft tax = $$$$
kazoospec wrote:alex wrote:Not sure about this, but I don't think just any "body guy" can work on an airplane. My guess is this has to be done by an FAA cert'd "body guy". EDIT: Also, its my understanding that the skin on these things is, to a certain extent, structural. Not sure its as simple as pulling a piece off and putting a new one on. If I recall the old assembly line photos correctly, the plane is usually carefully jigged and supported while the skin is being installed.dculberson wrote: But it's polished Aluminum, can't they just polish it out with the panels in place? Am I an idiot for thinking so?My thoughts exactly. Unless we're missing something obvious to more knowledgeable folks, seems like this could be sorted by a decent body guy and maybe an hour's time, to the extent that any evidence of damage is invisible.
First major thing is finding a shop with a repair certificate or an A&P (oh hai!) that's qualified to do the work.
Second you need to determine the damage limits. I'm not sure if B25s are a monocoque airplane or not right off hand but regardless if the damage surpasses the limits it'll need to be replaced you can't just blend out scratches on an aircraft, beyond the repair limits, because it becomes a stress point when you pressurize and depressurize the fuselage.
That means drilling out the rivets, replacing it with the correct aluminium for that aircraft (possibly a PMA part $$$$$$ depending upon where it is and what type of documentation it falls under), reriveting it with a buddy since it takes 2 to do that with the correct AN or MS rivets, and painting it with what looks to be an epoxy based paint. Since it's a show plane it has to be done flawlessly.
Airplane tax is an understatement especially on rare or limited production aircraft.
In reply to The0retical:
B25 wasn't pressurized and I don't think they were constructed as a "Monocoque" aircraft. It'll have internal framework, but I think it'd depend where it is located and just how much of the skin in that section is load bearing.
And agreed, aircraft parts = $$$$$$
Semi-monocoque. It is stressed skin. That E36 M3 will not just buff out. That is a safety problem. $30,000.00 is not out of line.
Remember, a ring, hone, and valve job on a Merlin engine is $50,000.
I've politely, but firmly told people at Oshkosh to not berkeley around with airplanes before.
Wouldn't it have to be inspected after the repair as well?
And...I'm inclined to believe that this falls in to the accidental / damaged by equipment category. I have a hard time believing that anybody who attends Sun-N-Fun would be that much of an a-hole.
In reply to Woody: Don't forget, there are a bunch of mouth breathing people who have spawned chilluns that might be interested in this stuff.
Woody wrote: Wouldn't it have to be inspected after the repair as well? And...I'm inclined to believe that this falls in to the accidental / damaged by equipment category. I have a hard time believing that anybody who attends Sun-N-Fun would be that much of an a-hole.
Depends on the class of repair.
If it's a major repair then you'll need an IA or an inspector from the FISDO to sign off on it if there's some modification.
Minor repairs the A&P can sign of on without an extra inspection provided it's covered by the repair documentation or the 43.13.
Most of the time airshows are pretty tame compared to a lot of other shows I've been to.
Yamaha and Appleseed: Thanks for the info. I was writing and getting called to go do work at the same time so I didn't do too much research into the B-25 structural mechanics. Most of my experience is on Steerman, Aroncas, Luscombe, various other light aircraft, Embraer 145s and 170s, and some more modern stuff.
Woody wrote: Wouldn't it have to be inspected after the repair as well? And...I'm inclined to believe that this falls in to the accidental / damaged by equipment category. I have a hard time believing that anybody who attends Sun-N-Fun would be that much of an a-hole.
I have a hard time believing that some who is drunk enough to do that has the physical ability to do non cosmetic damage to stressed metal of reasonable thickness.
wearymicrobe wrote: I have a hard time believing that some who is drunk enough to do that has the physical ability to do non cosmetic damage to stressed metal of reasonable thickness.
SWMBO (Detention Officer at the County Jail) says:
"You'd be surprised."
Some (real old-timey) nazi who got bombed/shot at by the old bird? If I saw a plane that shot me down 65 years later I might just key it as well...
Joey
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