STC value ?

[jatkins]

I was in contact with Harry at Del Air, about his STC for the Hoskins fuel computer,
for the 170B, after a "conversation" about a few other things, I got back to the subject, of the
fuel computer STC, ( paperwork, and permission ) Harry came up with a $500 figure.

I feel that this was rather high, I have purchased a number of stcs ( paper work + permisson )
for 180 gear legs , I think was $200 or $250, double puck Cleveland brakes $125.

So am I off base feeling that $500 is out of line ? ? ?
I believe I can obtain an stc for $500 -$600 if I do all the leg work myself,
but it will take a considerable amount of time.

John

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

John, at first blush I'm always taken back at the prices lots of folks charge for an STC. In some cases it is probably true they are taking advantage of a system that is known to be complicated, cumbersome and time consuming meaning expensive, to navigate. It may not have been that difficult, time consuming or costly to get that particular STC for them but it is for most and so they charge for it. After all they can, it is theirs to do what they want.

And so we have to decide do we really want that piece of equipment or modification. Do we want it now or 3 years from now and certainly at greater cost than $500 after we have developed our own. I payed $475 for an STC which was nothing more than a paperwork shuffle and something people had done for years with no paperwork to make my C-85 legal in my Clipped Wing Cub. I was happy they weren't charging $1000.

Also makes you appreciate the philosophy adopted by this association so far to sell their STC at an extremely reasonable cost considering what others might charge.

[jatkins]

Thanks for the reply Bruce,
I completely understand what you are saying. I just came away from the conversation, feeling that I was
being taken advantage of. I understand market value. I obtained my own STC for my panel re-design,
It took 6 months and $600. ? It was alot of paperwork, back and forth, but a complete new one piece panel
is a huge amount of work, vrs installing a fuel computer. ( my son is a mechanical engineer )

I am looking at starting the process,for the fuel computer,
and the R/H wing mounted landing light as well, at the same time.

John

[GAHorn]

Your other option might be field approval, or go the Hoskins for their assistance.

[jatkins]

Hi George,
I am in Canada, we do not have field approvals , here ( that I know of ).

I first went to Hoskins,and I found out, that they got bought out by Sandia Aerospace.

Sandia Areospace has since sold it to Instrument Tech,
I spoke with a very helpful guy at instrument Tech,
who revieved all their STCs and told me they do not have one for
the C 170, but he told me Cessna held the C 170 STC ??

So I called Cessna, and the next day !!!!! I recieved a call back,
the guy from Cessan told me that Cessna did not have the STC , and Del Air has it.

So I called Harry at Del Air, and Harry wants $500 ! ? ?


John

[GAHorn]

Doesn't sound as if the mfr wants to sell very many of them.
What's entailed in the installation? Any major alteration of the aircraft? If not.... then install it, and log it.

[jatkins]

They do not manufacture these any more.

I had one on a light twin I flew back in the mid 80's for 5 years, and really liked
it. It a simple, easy to use little unit. I see you can pick them up around $100.
plus the transducers, for another $100 or so.

[GAHorn]

There's a whole row of used surplus jet engines sitting on the ground at DWH airport that can be had very cheap too... but the STC is expensive.

Again, what's entailed to install the Hoskins?

[jatkins]

George,
You are correct, not difficult to install.

Install the instrument in a 3 1/2 inch, instrument hole.
Then 5 wires to hook up.
3 wires to the 3 wires on the transducer.
Plus one wire to power with a 5 amp cb.
One wire to ground.

The transducer, a flow scan 201, installed on the fuel ine.

John

[c170b53]

In Canada, you could go the "one-off" route, a limited STC just for your aircraft but that "cost" makes the EI FP-5 equipment seem cheap. If it was important to install a fuel computer, a simpleton like me would install 175 wings instead. Computation; after 5 hours of flight look for a place to land with 24 hour fuel pump services.

[hilltop170]

John-
So you get the Del Air STC, instrument unit, and transducer. You've got $700 into an obsolete fuel computer with no support.

For $595 you can get a bullet-proof, excellent accuracy/dependability, current production Electronics International FP-5L http://www.buy-ei.com/Pages/FP-5P/FP-5P_Overview.html fuel flow system complete with a 2-1/4" unit, transducer, and STC. It's easy to install and EI has great product support.

Merrill Field Instruments in Anchorage http://www.merrillfieldinstruments.com/index.htm can have you one in a few days. Talk to Brian. They regularly ship to Canada.

[minton]

I agree with Hilltop. There are alot of out of date, unapproved, NON TSO'd, NON STC'd units for sale out there. For the Cannucks thats bad news in more ways than US buyers.