Aerocet 2200 faqs??
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 6:19 pm
I am not posting this as a form of advertising. I just keep getting emails asking the same questions. I really doubt anyone will ever buy as set of 2200 Aerocets for their 170. The reason? Even though performance is far superior to Edo 2000's, they have large hatches that can store 100 pounds each, water handling is far superior in step turns, you can actually walk to the sterns, one person on each side and still have free board, the tops are flat and not round. I also believe that they are SAFER than floats with less buoyancy. I have flown a 170 with Edo 2000's and did the same tests I had to do for the Aerocets and it failed miserably in several of the tests. They were however, certified under a different set of rules and test requirements.
Price seems to be the determining factor for choice of floats. Aerocets are the same for the 170 as for the Piper Cub, 31,500.00 I have heard Edos now are under 20,000.00. The sad fact is that American made products which employ Americans here, cannot compete in price with Chinese made products manufactured abroad that employ no one in the U.S.A. I have had several people tell me that once parts for a complete kit are on the shelf they will then want to get a set. In order to do that I have spoken with Aerocet and with the DAR who helped me with this project. First a PMA has to be acquired. This would take quite a few months. After that both of them tell me that in order to turn on the machines they need at least four orders confirmed with non refundable deposits of about half for the kit from the deck up.
The reason for four orders is that it would be very costly to only manufacture one or two. Neither the DAR or myself can afford to build kits and have them sitting around. It would take selling 3 plus a bit of the fourth to break even on the cost of making the parts. On the fourth set sold a profit could be realized and a small one at that.
They are straight floats. Many requests come for amphibs. That would require Aerocet to make a certified pair of amphibious floats and then more flight testing to get them added to the STC.
Yes this STC covers the straight tail 172's if they have the taildragger gear box. At this point the 172 series with slant tails is not approved and that would require getting a 172 to do the geometry to make the struts as well as the fittings for the nose and main gear positions. Some of the process could be shortened somewhat and the flight test is already approved so it would not be as costly to add the 172 slant tail series. The problem is the small number of float kit 172's out there, also, the price will likely be the same as for the existing 170.
There are several Piper cubs flying with Aerocets. I think the Cub crowd tends to like to be able to talk about how much they have in their aircraft. The 170 guys, myself included, tend to be a bit more frugal.
All that said, if anyone is considering putting their 170 on the 2200's I would be happy to give you a demo ride so you can see for yourself how much superior and SAFER the Aerocets are compared to what else is out there and approved on 170 aircraft.
Price seems to be the determining factor for choice of floats. Aerocets are the same for the 170 as for the Piper Cub, 31,500.00 I have heard Edos now are under 20,000.00. The sad fact is that American made products which employ Americans here, cannot compete in price with Chinese made products manufactured abroad that employ no one in the U.S.A. I have had several people tell me that once parts for a complete kit are on the shelf they will then want to get a set. In order to do that I have spoken with Aerocet and with the DAR who helped me with this project. First a PMA has to be acquired. This would take quite a few months. After that both of them tell me that in order to turn on the machines they need at least four orders confirmed with non refundable deposits of about half for the kit from the deck up.
The reason for four orders is that it would be very costly to only manufacture one or two. Neither the DAR or myself can afford to build kits and have them sitting around. It would take selling 3 plus a bit of the fourth to break even on the cost of making the parts. On the fourth set sold a profit could be realized and a small one at that.
They are straight floats. Many requests come for amphibs. That would require Aerocet to make a certified pair of amphibious floats and then more flight testing to get them added to the STC.
Yes this STC covers the straight tail 172's if they have the taildragger gear box. At this point the 172 series with slant tails is not approved and that would require getting a 172 to do the geometry to make the struts as well as the fittings for the nose and main gear positions. Some of the process could be shortened somewhat and the flight test is already approved so it would not be as costly to add the 172 slant tail series. The problem is the small number of float kit 172's out there, also, the price will likely be the same as for the existing 170.
There are several Piper cubs flying with Aerocets. I think the Cub crowd tends to like to be able to talk about how much they have in their aircraft. The 170 guys, myself included, tend to be a bit more frugal.
All that said, if anyone is considering putting their 170 on the 2200's I would be happy to give you a demo ride so you can see for yourself how much superior and SAFER the Aerocets are compared to what else is out there and approved on 170 aircraft.