REQUIRED ITEMS

 

Although the kit contents are relatively complete, there are several items the builder is required to purchase. Additionaly there are probably many small items that the builder will choose to obtain due to their own preferences or non-standard items. While I can understand that avionics are a unique choice for each builder, it would be nice if CHR offered a complete package option for these plus a reasonably priced package for seats and dust boots. More importantly, it would have been much more convenient if ALL the various hardware items for the engine conversion, basic wiring etc. were included in the basic kit. A complete finish package including placards and the required safety items would also be a nice option as would a package of quality avionics. While US builders have convenient access to the suppliers and reasonable shipping costs, each foreign order incurs a large overhead for shipping and brokerage.

 

INTERIOR

There are no interior finishing supplies with the kit or directly available from the factory that I am aware of. The builder has the choice of just painting the various surfaces through to installing a full custom leather interior, but regardless of choice they will require seats of some sort. Other sources of these materials and expertise are local auto upholsterers, aircraft fabricators, etc. It would appear to me that most builders have chosen to go with some kind of covering on the various sheet surfaces (such as leather, auto trunk upholstry, carpet) and custom seats (either with the Safari-familiar suppliers or local fabricators).

It's my understanding that the factory has arrangements with two different third-party suppliers that they can put a builder in contact with. I would recommend that if a builder is thinking of going this route that they contact these suppliers early on, both due to lead times and also because I believe there are changes to the amount and style of interior fabrication that must be performed prior to receiving these interior assemblies.

Update: CHR's website now has some information on the custom interior package and the price was listed as $7,750 USD before it was removed (I assume the price has only gone up). While I have seen the completed version of this package and it is very impressive, to me this seems like a ridiculous amount of money for basically the two required seats and a bunch of fancy trim. Like many other builders, I'm going with a couple of local custom-fabricated seats and basic items such as control boots and carpets. Most of the various interior panels will just be left in paint ... perhaps sometime in the future these panels may be covered but it doesn't do anything to add to the functionality except perhaps to cut down on a bit of noise while making it harder to remove the panels for maintenance.

The following items were required for my kit. Since I have not seen a packing list from recent kits and these lists are not available on CHR's website, I don't know if some of these items are now included in the basic kit.

 

ENGINE & Related

The factory does have optional engine packages available for purchase. Since they did not offer a 360 engine when I purchased my kit, I chose to use a pre-assembled XP-360 and required the following items before actual installation:

 

AVIONICS and WIRING

While all of the required instruments and sensors for VFR flight are provided, there was no radio equipment or support supplies in my kit. Even if one doesn't technically require a radio, as a minimum they should use headset[s] if they want to retain any of their hearing. Since I plan to fly within controlled airspace, the following avionics related items were required to be purchased separately:

Due to the climate I plan to operate in, I have also chosen to install an external power plug along with an indicator, switch and over-voltage protection as illustrated here. I also managed to find a good set of 20' 4 gauge booster cables on sale at the local automotive store and I've cut the clamps off of one end and replaced them with a Piper type power plug. In addition to the booster cable function, one could use this combination during wiring checkout without having to obtain and install the life-limited main battery.

I haven't determined if it's needed yet, but I will be checking the intensity of the various panel lamps and then determining whether some kind of a light dimming system(s) is/are required.

Additional general wiring items that will be required are:

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

OPTIONAL SHOP MATERIALS

For many builders it is impossible to build without making a few custom enhancements. This usually takes extra material and I'd suggest that the builder have a bit of 1/16" and 1/8" 4130 plate steel available. Aluminum angle is always handy for making brackets and I keep some 1" x .063" around ... it can be trimmed to size and is much easier to use than custom bending a 90° bend every time one makes a bracket. I also used .080" aluminum for my instrument panel and a few other pieces (.090" would have worked just as well).

 

PAINT / FINISHING

The amount and type of painting supplies will be very dependant upon both what type of product one is using and how much of this work is contracted out. Even if one contracts the main painting, they will probably need some supplies such as Metalprep, Alumiprep, Alodine and primer (for faying surfaces).

The builder should also obtain the MSDS safety sheets for all the various chemicals used in these processes since many of them have extensive health warnings.

 

PLACARDS

Each country has different requirements for placards, but it's a fair bet that some will probably be required. One has the choice of going with custom designed placards, simple P-Touch / Dymo tape or ones that are generally available to amateur builders. The aircraft suppliers have the standard placards and that's a simple route to go. I also looked at the catalog for AV/Grafix and they seem to have just about anything that the builder might want.

One of the key items required before certification is an engraved stainless steel data plate. Although these are available from the various aircraft suppliers, they are generally the older style that have a lot of unnecessary fields. A much simpler one is the EAA Data Plate which has only the three required fields. For those that like to do mail order of these kinds of items, I noticed that Aircraft Engravers has both the plates and will engrave them.

 

SAFETY ITEMS

Canadian aircraft are required to carry both a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. For certain flights, there is also a requirement to carry survival gear that is appropriate to the season and location.

 

 

SUPPLIERS

Although I'm sure most builders have come up with their own favourite list of supplies, I thought I'd include links some of the suppliers that I've used or would consider using. All of these companies do mail-order.

General Aircraft Supplies

Avionics, Wiring Harnesses and Electrical Supplies

Electronic and Electrical Supplies (small volume mail order)

Aircraft Tools

Metals

Specialty Hardware

General Hardware

Unique items that may be of interest to builders

 

When all else fails, I found that a trip to the local automotive speed shop can turn up some interesting items. On my last trip there I found that MSD #8825 bushings appear to be exactly the same as the vibration isolators supplied for the instrument panel. Autotechnica has a line of electrical items that include guarded toggle switches in various colours. Most importantly, I found they had a great selection of Aeroquip hoses and fittings like the most common AN series ... unfortunately they didn't carry the fittings I was looking for.

 

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Last updated: August 01, 2009