Choosing a first plane... too many options.

[Kununurra]

Well done Geoff

 

At the end of the day the one person that had to be happy with this purchase was you and it sounds like you have achieved what you wanted. You will always get plenty of advice on any purchase it is like lifting the bonnet on a car, people flock around.

 

Enjoy your new aircraft.

 

Cheers

 

 

[Modelmakeroz]

MM After 6 months I still had the same problem. Indecision about what to buy. The problem that I had was that I loved everything that I flew in and wanted them all. Obviously that was not possible and rather than spend a lot of money on something that I may outgrow in 12 months I went for a cheaper option. I also originally wanted a factory built so I could put it online. Many people tried to talk me out of that one but the most convincing argument was the day the Minister for War and Finance said to me I thought this was supposed to be all about you. Obviously once I decided that 19 rego's were in the mix, that made the choices even harder. So I finally decided on something cheap that I would not lose to much on if in 12 months I wanted something else.I bought an X-Air Hanuman. So why settle for the Hanuman?

 

Well even though I had lost a fair bit of weight, carrying capacity is a huge consideration for me. The Hanuman has that. Even with full tanks is still has 215kgs to spare.

 

They are very well priced.

 

They are very solid. When you walk around it and look at things they scream professionalism in the design. Of course that needs to be carried through to the builder but it is a very good starting point.

 

It has a very large cabin equally as roomy as the Foxbat.

 

And it handles very well. It is very similar to the Foxbat to fly, but you do need to be more aware when landing her. She does glide well but once you get down to the flare point you do need to be close to the ground. Once you flare it really does tend to slow down very quickly.

 

She has 3 stage flaps but really is happy to take off without flaps and land with one stage. I have about 20 hours in her now and have not yet been game to put the 3rd stage of flaps out. I think if you did she would be almost happy to stop in midair. Unlike the Foxbat, when you give some flaps, the nose does not tend to drop to maintain speed she just seems to sink faster with a very similar attitude. I am not sure about that yet, I am still coming to grips with it.

 

It also has the folding wings, as do all the Hanumans which is nice to have I guess if you need it for storage or trailering but I haven't folded them yet and if I can keep it in a hangar where I don't need to I will be happy.

 

OK so for the negatives.

 

Performance. She cruises at 80 knots no probs so that is not a negative.

 

Mine has the Jabiru 2200 motor. 80hp (supposedly) I think if mine has 80 horses they a very small ones, maybe not even as big as Shetland Ponies. Admittedly mine is an old motor. Serial number in the 200's. It has an unknown history. And to be honest I think half the horses are simply missing in action. I have flown a J160D with a new motor and it is streets ahead of mine.

 

The other problem with it is that it needs to be flown with 1 eye glued to the CHT gauge. Seriously they can start to climb at any time for no apparent reason. As a result of this she simply does not climb very well at all. I have spoken to several other owners and they do not have the same problems, so I may have an issue with my motor or with the installation or both.

 

I bought it at the right price being well aware of the faults and the intention of changing the motor anyway so this is not a real problem for me.

 

The other thing is the wheels/tyres look very fragile to me after the Foxbat especially. The undercarriage looks strong but the wheels and tyres do not look fit for purpose to me anyway.

 

My solution is simple. Replace the motor but that is a topic for another thread if anyone is interested.

 

In summary the Hanuman is a well designed well built aircraft that should suit many first aircraft buyers with plenty of room and carrying capacity. I bought mine with the intention of flying it for 12 months and moving it on. I am already rethinking the moving it on bit. It handles well and I believe it will land in a very short space once I get to know her better. And once she has the new motor I hope she will be able to get out of very short spaces as well.

Thanks Geoff,

I was thinking of sending you a PM to see how you were going with the Hanuman. Useful weight sounds just that, useful. Sounds like the third stage flap is for STOL, certainly something for the future.

 

I haven't flown behind a Jab engine yet, I am so inexperienced I've only been behind 2 Lycosaurs and a Rotax. Didn't like the Lycosaurs at all, gutless and noisy.

 

I'm thinking a nice indicisive look around right now could be a good thing. I want to concentrate on getting trained, then licenced. Another thing I want to do is get to meet fliers in my (and other) area. I've met a few and they have been great, however finding things out has all been word of mouth including finding an RAA instructor. Web searching would have been ok if I had wanted to pilot a ship.

 

I haven't had a life long ambition to fly, I've always been jnterested in aviation but never actually imagined myself flying. Oshkosh was a turning point, we got in early and spent 9 days going around with my mate Ron from Wisconsin. I had never heard of LSA, RAA or Jabiru before let alone Rans, Vans, Sonex or Zenith. On about day 7 my missus said, "So when are you gonna build a plane?" Yeah righto you're just taking the piss outa me. If it was feasible I'd help Ron build his plane.

 

A couple of weeks after we got home Ron died, without getting to build his Flying Chipmonk or get his licence. That really put a burr under my saddle. From there began my initially bumpy journey towards flying.

 

 

[Modelmakeroz]

Paramotor / powered parachute, chuck it in the ute mate.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3rGXEmAOQ

 

(awesome pre-flight no? Don't think he even glanced at the fuel).

Less preflight than my chainsaw.

 

 

[Modelmakeroz]

I did one long trip and set it up carefully. I won't do it again. It scares the hell out of me. The blast of air from trucks going the opposite way, Bumps and the possibility of chafing.Fully enclose and sit on foam, and make sure all your cables etc don't rub on anything. I guess it's possible to make sure there is no possibility of damage, but it isn't easy. Nev

RA and Nev,

Thanks for the advice. Where I came up with the idea was after seeing a couple at Oshkosh down in the area near the untralight barn with a Kitfox and a trailer and Chev van and an awesome collection of photos. I wasn't planning on the Gibb River Road, but you have really made me think. Why shouldn't I fly over the road less travelled, can't do that with a road rashed plane can I. Probably impossible to safely fix in a remote area too.

 

 

[Modelmakeroz]

Just remember that it will need to be a factory built aircraft for you to complete your Pilot Certificate in it

A trike is probably one of the more practical solutions to the problems of a dragging a plane round the country

 

Cheers

 

John

John,

I don't know anything about trikes. I don't even know anyone with one. There are a mob in WA that do training for about GA pricing and the trikes themselves seem awfully dear for what they are. Am I missing something?

 

 

[Downunder]

John,I don't know anything about trikes. I don't even know anyone with one. There are a mob in WA that do training for about GA pricing and the trikes themselves seem awfully dear for what they are. Am I missing something?

I believe it's not that difficult a conversion when you have a RAA 3-axis. Plenty of second hand 912 equiped trikes going for very cheap prices (compared to purchase price). Remember most are factory built.

 

If you're in WA, I know a bloke with one for sale. Lots flying out of Bunbury.......

 

I would think a trike would be the better option trailered too.......

 

 

[Modelmakeroz]

I believe it's not that difficult a conversion when you have a RAA 3-axis. Plenty of second hand 912 equiped trikes going for very cheap prices (compared to purchase price). Remember most are factory built.If you're in WA, I know a bloke with one for sale. Lots flying out of Bunbury.......

I would think a trike would be the better option trailered too.......

Thanks,

I get to WA a fair bit. I will keep what you have said in mind. It could be worth a look once I am licenced and experienced. I like the way JG drove and flew around the US with his Kolb in a modern day covered wagon. Also liked his descriptions of flying around Oz in his Savannah. We have been across the country a few times by road and of course I get to play freight in a 737 or bigger quite often. So much of the country would look great at 500 to 1000 feet.

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

 

 

[gandalph]

(awesome pre-flight no? Don't think he even glanced at the fuel).

Darwinism at work.

 

 

[Happyflyer]

Paramotor / powered parachute, chuck it in the ute mate.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3rGXEmAOQ

 

(awesome pre-flight no? Don't think he even glanced at the fuel).

I guess he figures if he runs out of fuel the parachute is right there and ready.

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

Maybe it's a Rotax, reckon I read on here somewhere they never stop.

 

And the subliminal message in the name.... what could be more consistent and unfailing in our lives than a 'tax?

 

 

[Modelmakeroz]

Why trailer around Oz......just buy a jab, and fly around, then fly around again, then just for the hell of it.......fly around again.Me n her ( wife ) get about a lot, jabs everywhere, other brands not that often. Get it well serviced, do a couple of mods......then off you go.

Russ,

It is about logistics options. Get somewhere, camp then radiate out looking around. I have done plenty "see what I can on the way" trips. I'm thinking of the time not too far away when deadlines will be less important.

 

I have been following and will continue to follow yourself and a couple of others I saw who trusted your own judgement and bought Jabs. They are nice looking little planes and it seems some other manufacturers also think so, with the amount of clones out there. My research into Jab began last August while I was at Oshkosh when a chap I met from the Watertown WI chapter told me about his 6 cyl Jab engine in his homebuilt and how good it was. The stuff Rod Stiff has posted on "Jabachat" floored me, here I was with nothing but positive feedback and trying to find out more, then Thud.

 

One thing that is important to me is freedom from leaded fuel. So I'm interested in real information from owners how they go on modern fuel including any issues to watch.

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

 

 

[JerzyGeorge]

Still in training raa ATM. Definitely got the flying bug. Looking for a good starter plane to finish my hours in but will also serve me well as i progress. so many unreal options availible its hard (almost impossible) to chose

I was in exactly same position as you are, decided to go for Savannah VG , you can find one in very good condition for 45-50 k$ . It is perfect plane for newly graduated pilot. Very forgiving , easy to maintain and cheap to run.

On hind side a bit slow but if you can afford model S the latest one it is the best one.

 

Of course there are many others , cannot comment have flown only Jabiru and Savannah.

 

I have own VG model for almost two years and cannot fault it

 

George