Warbird Information Exchange

Hi guys, I'm looking for a bit of advice re the amount of hours that should be spent on an annual for an O-1G Bird Dog.

My aircraft is in good condition and required a new battery, a repair to a rocket rail bracket and brake master cylinders redone [I supplied the kit and battery]

The dude hit me for 49.5 hrs labour for the annual plus brakes 17hrs and repairs etc a couple of hours.

Any thoughts?

You got hosed. An annual inspection on an aircraft like that should be billed about 12-16 hrs. Any defects will be above and beyond the inspection.

I agree that might be excessive. I checked the cost of full annual at my local FBO for the O-2 recently. I normally do owner assist with a freelance IA so it's pretty cheap. But I was checking just in case I wanted not to do my part in future. The cost for a twin was just under $2600. I can't remember if they quoted a per hr maintenance charge on the site.

Think I would talk to guy about it.....or find a new maintenance person.

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The annual on the F-4 takes,....oh nevermind, I wouldn't believe it either !

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Agreed this should have been about 25 hours all in. What is the guy's hourly rate?

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All I did was press this red button here...

HOSED!

Didn't you discuss the probable time needed for the annual prior to work starting?

That is an incredibly simple aircraft to inspect.

18 hrs for me, assuming the aircraft really is in good shape, and your logbooks are in good order. Sticking rebuild kits in brake cylinders, bleeding the brakes and function test would be another 3-4 hrs.

If he's only charging $25/hr, then he is making up for it by overbilling his hours. Seen that trick lotsa times with the local rent-a-wrench guys.

How do you know your aircraft is in good condition? Are you an A&P? Every pilot I've ever met, has thought his/her aircraft was in good or better condition, even if it was a trash heap (with a pretty paint job) trying desperately to commit Hari Kiri.

I stopped pointing out botched/illegal repairs to owners because it would just infuriate them. They felt their logbooks were a better representation of the aircraft's past, than all the physical damage I could point to. If I was doing an annual, then the issues had to be addressed.

My bill was $5900.00 for a Dog.

My FWP-149D Piggie was around $6K too....

*I also owned an 0-2 for 15 years and even that was not too excessive.....

I think I'm a soft touch!

I would definitely tell your mechanic that you are getting lots of questions about 49 hrs from other birddog owners. If he doesn't offer a detailed and logical explanation, then I'd be parting company with him, IF, I was a REALLY nice guy and a soft touch.


Me personally, if he couldn't justify all that time, I'd ask him to radically adjust it downwards and refund the difference. If that failed, I'd implement other methods to publicize his business practices. Word travels fast in aviation communities.


Just curious, but what does he charge per hour?

the guy charged me $69/hr his normal shop rate is $85/hr...

I've queried the hours and got the run-around. So its bye bye from me and anyone else I know....