Grey Beard mothers are just that way Ya know

Bill, unfortunately this kind of thing happens all the time and does indeed result in losses. A great example of this occured here just a few weeks ago. A fellow bought a Butterfly, its an older glider like trainer with an engine in the nose and tricycle gear. Something over six foot in span.

The airplanes wing were two piece and split on two piano wire rods in the middle for transport. He purchased it somewhere and the rods were missing. He was told to replace the missing rods with proper piano rod, instead he went to the hardware store and bought wood dowel rod instead.

Needless to say on its first flight the wings colapsed in the middle just flying level and that was the end of that airplane and never saw him agine either. Thats the unfortunate part of these all to common situations.

Its a bad plan for a new flyer to start making major changes or major substitutions on their trainers untill they get some time under their belt.

John