How is your friend sure that he is out his engine deposit? I know there is speculation that the deposits are gone but I've not seen anything from Vans or Lycoming saying that. I also have a deposit on an engine and I'm patiently waiting for official communications.

Your friend may or may not be out their engine deposit. Nothing has been announced either way. To say they’re out the deposit is, as of this moment, putting the cart before the horse.

I do agree that posts have been deleted from VAF. But from what I have seen, the only posts deleted have been posts that break the rules that are set. I’m not personally aware of any that have been deleted that say something bad about Van’s, but don’t also break the rules of VAF.

I agree that the rules can be strict, but it’s a privately owned site, so I guess we can take it or leave it. Up to us.

VAF is currently redoing their website and changing to a new format.

I'm not a fan of the updated VAF website, but it absolutely does remember your viewing history as long as you are/were signed in.

AOPA ran an article on Vans. They are paying a turn around company $975,000, and they are figuring on a 30% price increase for kits. Some laser cuts parts approved for use. They are giving current customers the option of accepting or rejecting the new deal.

So if you put up 30% deposit then the cost increases basically eat all that.

If the customer still wants a Van's that looks to be the case. Would that price increase result in higher values for used Van's? Maybe a boost to those owners.

But don't the current customers forfeit all deposits if they opt not to accept the new deal?

How likely is it the company closes and the designs are sold to a new company.

Similar to how all the Eclipse slot holders lost their deposits and partially built airplanes were sold to new owners under the new company. The new company has no obligations to the old customers.

Could the same happen with kit production once replacement parts come in.

Are the replacement parts being produced overseas to arrive in a container shipment sometime in the future? If so could there be one shipment or container that gets held up basically affecting all kit sales?

As per the Vans website replacement parts are being produced at Van's in Aurora OR. Vans at some point purchased a second punch machine and is operating 3 shifts producing parts.

I have been following this closely since I have an RV-14 complete kit on order. Realizing that I am taking some risk, I agreed to the new pricing after being informed that my kits would not contain any LCP and that the kits would be complete with no more than 5 missing parts. That being said my slow build tail and wing kits are scheduled to ship around the end of the month. Final payment was made with a credit card after confirming with the issuer that I am covered if Vans does not deliver the kit. No word on when the quick build fuselage will be delivered by I would prefer later next year since I will have plenty to keep my busy. If chapter 11 does not work out then Vans could be forced to shutdown. But the modern RV kits (10,12, 14 ) seem certain to be produced by someone in the future so I am betting one way or another that there will eventually a fuselage to go with the wings and tail.

But don't the current customers forfeit all deposits if they opt not to accept the new deal?

Thanks Mark, good to hear replacements are being produced in house and in this country.

As per the Vans website replacement parts are being produced at Van's in Aurora OR. Vans at some point purchased a second punch machine and is operating 3 shifts producing parts.

I have been following this closely since I have an RV-14 complete kit on order. Realizing that I am taking some risk, I agreed to the new pricing after being informed that my kits would not contain any LCP and that the kits would be complete with no more than 5 missing parts. That being said my slow build tail and wing kits are scheduled to ship around the end of the month. Final payment was made with a credit card after confirming with the issuer that I am covered if Vans does not deliver the kit. No word on when the quick build fuselage will be delivered by I would prefer later next year since I will have plenty to keep my busy. If chapter 11 does not work out then Vans could be forced to shutdown. But the modern RV kits (10,12, 14 ) seem certain to be produced by someone in the future so I am betting one way or another that there will eventually a fuselage to go with the wings and tail.

Just hit the website... saw that the company is an ESOP.

That type of organization, governance and ownership can be a challenge.
Would not be surprised if the cash flow issues cropped up post ESOP.

Sometimes it works, but often can be a stumbling block to good decisions and hard decisions.

Vans just posted an update on third party orders. Engines, propellers, avionics.

For Lycoming engines, 100% of the 25% original deposit is protected if you accept the terms of the new pricing which is a 12% increase in the original order price or 2024 prices, whichever is less.

For me, it is an increase of about $6000 for my Thunderbolt IO-390. I can live with that.