gmm@bunker.UUCP (Gregory M. Mandas) (09/25/84)
>From ittvax!decvax!genrad!wjh12!harvard!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!TLD@MIT-MC >Sun Sep 23 13:57:00 1984 >Subject: Sources for hardware >Newsgroups: net.aviation > >From: Thomas L. Davenport <TLD @ MIT-MC> > >My racing car uses a number of aircraft-quality components, especially >fasteners and rod ends. I'm looking for a better source of supply >than my usual (read: expensive) motor-racing sources. Can anyone >suggest places for me to look for this sort of hardware either in the >Boston or Baltimore-Washington areas? Alternately, are there good >mail-order sources? Where do the experimental aircraft folks buy >their hardware? Surplus is fine. Any leads will be most appreciated! > >-Tom- My greatest flame on the aviation industry is the cost of parts. During an anual I was once made to to replace the rear seatbelts in my Cheorkee 150 for a cost of $30 a pair. I could have bought a pair of auto seatbelts for far less (~$15) with the same breaking limit. A HAM friend of mine bought a digital pocket ham radio for $250 with more power and capabilties (read: memories, station selection, LCDs) than you basic $700 COM. You can blame the FAA for strict certification requirements or the aviation equipment manufacturers for the mark-up on an item with a limited manufacturering run or the FBO for trying to stay afloat in a market place inflation has hit hardest; But all in all I think you will find that when you purchase a part from and aviation supplier the price will be higher than any other source. I hope I am wrong. Let us know how you make out. [with the parts :-) ] Greg Mandas ittvax!bunker!gmm
jcp@brl-tgr.ARPA (Joe Pistritto <jcp>) (09/26/84)
Speaking of HAM equipment manufactures, I believe ICOM (a Japanese manufacturer of hand-held radios), is making a quite reasonbly priced aviation band hand-held type radio. -JCP-
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (09/26/84)
I don't think it is ICOM (but it's probably the same bunch of japanese engineers anyhow). There are two handheld COM radios that I know of. One is the TERRA which is big and Klunky. The other (the manufacturer escapes me) uses the exact same box, keyboard, (and probably microprocessor) as my Kenwood TR-2400. -Ron