rmorton

Not sure my Savannah will be as detailed as that!

If we weren't snowed in I'd be right over

at the factory they haver relatively short low benches with a plain plywood top and steel frame. the dealer explained that it doesn't really matter too much about flatness as the frames are self jigging and when all those clekos are in place the structure is square and rigid. I guess it would be a good idea to check all the same. I was going to get some of that felt protective cloth they use on floors to prevent scuffing and scratches to the aluminium.

Agreed! I like the way you have primed the rivet lines, and white is a good choice for internal areas too. As for clekos I have asked for a shipping cost from Browns so will let you know what they say, you can instantly add 20% vat though :( I will hold fire on the order until I have done the first assembly as I have plenty of time and am in no rush... other than to get started! I am now worrying about the transport as it has decided to snow here and that can last several weeks making a trip to Italy rather hazardous.

I had to ask about the panel layout and decided to go with standard for now and maybe make my own later. You have me worrying about the clekos now. I will wait. till the kit is here and see what they include. When I spoke to both Centrenoyer and ICP they both said you must use the black paint on surfaces that are in contact with each other, but use it sparingly. After that as Marty_d says it depends on the use and environment you will keep the plane in. You can get Alodine from Aircraft spruce in Germany, but it isn't nice stuff. Do you have the name of the place where you are thinking of getting the clekos?

Did the kit come with any? If so how many?

How many do you think you need ?

Indeed that is where I am getting mine from and I have to say they are very good. I am really shocked at the difference in price in the two kits! Is the German version somehow different? 6000 euros pays for a shed load of administration! I will let you know how many cleko's come in the kit when I get it, I havent heard of anyone not having enough. I find myself getting obsessed with certain aspects of the build now. I have got over the what propellor I am going to use and will decide that later in the build when I have the engine. My current obsession is safety wire and suitable pliers(for locking off nuts and bolts) as well as the paint /sealant to use to show if a nut has been loosened. One other obsession is the corrosion protection that everyone says you dont need unless you go on water. AAAhhh hurry up 25th I can't wait much longer...

Which French dealer did you try? It is the same problem for me in a way, it is nearer and easier for me to go directly to Italy, but the French dealer must do the registration and paperwork. I am however lucky that the Dealer I used is very good and willing to help. I havent looked for additional Clekos yet as I was hoping there would be enough in the kit.... They offered to deliver to my house for very reasonable price but I would have to organise unloading from a large truck and it couldn't get to our front door. Still ICP is only 3 to 4 jours by car from here.

Tha Thank you, and congratulations on your order too. I have gone for the Kit 2 with, hooks to hang the plane from the roof, electric flaps, carpets, exhaust with cabin heat, straps for the parachute but the chute I will order later, Parking brake, adjustable pilot side seat. I will source the engine separately and have an option on a 80 hp Rotax fully rebuilt, so hopefully that will work out. How about you? Which options did you choose and what about delivery? I am currently struggling to fix a suitable date to go and collect it, hopefully the 25th or 26th. I started clearing and preparing my garage in June and so far have managed to move the same pile of junk from one side of the garage to the other enough times to tile underneath.

Because they can't respect the weight limits for ULMs in France if they have bodies ;)

Well I have gone and done it now! Just ordered my Savannah S kit and options from Italy, just remains to pay for it and pick it up in a couple of weeks :) Just very slightly excited......

Hello, does anyone have a drawing of how to make a shroud to provide cabin heating on a standard cylindrical exhaust ? Rotax 80HP engine that is.

HAHA youve more to do than me!! much more room than I have though, spent most of my time moving the same stuff from one side of the garage to the other to tile the floor, which is now almost done bar some grouting.

Who are you trying to kid we all know a real mans garage can't be cleaned up in any less than a life time! Looking forward to seeing this one progress. The damage looks bad but I guess when you start to strip it back it soon becomes what can be salvaged and what needs to be replaced.

OOOooohhh that is nice. The Czechs make some amazing stuff!

Great idea this, shame I don't live in Australia

I don't want to upset anyone in Australia but I think the answer is that you have kept the self deprecating gene from you British ancestors. We have a tendency to love all things foreign and slag off anything home grown, no matter how good it is. Jab have a poor reputation in Europe but that is more to do with the logistics of maintaining the supplies for spares and service, added to which is an abundance of home (noticeably non British) grown equipment. I hope Jabiru will survive and develop it is always a good thing to have alternatives and choice, and Australians should be mightily proud that have such a company and are the only country I know that still produces a radial engine! Keep it up.

First of all congratulations! I have done 21 hours and not soloed yet, my son did 8 and went solo. For me the problem has been that I started with one instructor and have changed 4 times before settling down with the current chap. I also have to fight my child like sense of amazement that first of all we are flying and secondly that the pilot is willing to let me take the controls.

What a difference a day makes! That is a very neat installation and it all looks very spacious under there. I am considering either the Avmap system including 7" display with separate efis and engine monitor, the MGL 8.5" lite box that seems to do everything or if money becomes no option the Dynon skyview in 8.5" (but this option is very confusing and seems to need lots of "extras" to get close to the MGL. In addition to the minimum altimeter, airspeed etc I will have a Trig radio and Transponder (already being prepared) and possibly a seperate clock/timer from MGL. The flaps will be the Flybox switch and actuator. It is all very confusing and I am not really sure about the "additional" bits that link it all together. Still good fun and passes the time whilst I await the kit :)

Fantastic!

Hi Phil that is brilliant little site you have there! I really like the airfield too, more runways than Heathrow. You really brought home one of the problems with the ultra light scene, which is its origin in small field operation. It seems that there are two ways to learn (here in France at least) one is to get your basic skills to get off the ground and then back safely and the other is to learn more or less how they teach the PPL. I am lucky and am learning more or less the PPL route, so airfield etiquette is a major part of what we learn, partly due the shared airfield and partly due to the instructors being all PPL trained. There are plenty of places that offer training that seems to end when you do your first solo , but that wasn't for me, I need to have the discipline that my current club offers to feel safe in the air, especially as we operate under the flight path of a major airport.

Hi Dan thank you that is very useful I had read about the new panel arrangement but not seen one before. I am toying with the idea of either an Avmap based system or MGL's efis. What I might do is order a spare blank panel or cut one for myself and make up two options. Is the original square cut out for the trim indicator, or the switch? It isn't clear what comes with the kit as they offer an LED trim indicator as a rather expensive add on. Your phot of the cockpit waiting for the instruments looks a little scary in terms of wiring but I guess all makes sense when you actually put it together. I like the carbon finish to your panel, is that a vinyl wrap or did you really cover in carbon? Many thanks for the post Richard