Kyle Communications

Well taking good advice and checking that everything is all there..its a big job. I got some large green bags with ties on them to put "kits" of parts into. So far have done the fin, rudder and main stab. Finding all the parts at this end of the build is the main issue...there is just so many parts in that box. I have taken most parts out except for the obviuos ones like fuselage sides and wing sheets etc. I have taken out all the boxes and seats and wheels and engine parts and they have all been stored on the shelves. I think at this stage I will get all the tail feathers and wing parts out of the bex and sorted to make sure everything is there Then make a start on them. There is a lot of parts for the fuselage so will leave all of them in the box then once the others are all collated and ready. I will put the lid back on the box so it can be used for the table.

I have one question though. I have a few ribs in the stab and also some of the wing ribs that are not bright alu..they look tarnished did any one else have these. The stickers have been put over the metal already like this so it no doubt left the factory like this and they must deem them to be ok I would like any opinions if possible on this. I will of course clean everything with isopropyl alcohol before I paint the etch on and assembly. I have attached a couple of pictures to show what I mean these are from the stab. I will have to chase up a few tools tools like the riivnut inserter and also the rounded riveter for the trailing edges of the main surfaces on the flaperons etc anyone know of a good source for these at a reasonable price?

Another question..in unpacking the box there is a left and right panel that looks a bit funny I haven't determined where its from yet but I summize its from the main fuselage to around the firewall/nose section. Its curved nicely then at one end is got a fairly sharp bend in it you can see it in the pictures..just asking the question if this is normal in the kit. Better to ask the question and look silly than not to ask the question and be a fool. They were in slightly different areas of the box but under some other heavier parts

Hi All

well after 2 weekends spent cleaning out the shed I am going to use to build the Savannah and gurnying out the floor putting some shelves in and bolting them to the wall I opened up the box and started to go through all the parts. And wow is there some parts in that huge box. I started to sort out the bits into groups..the first was I thought I would start with the tail feathers...well it took me well over an hour of looking but managed to get all the rudder and fin parts and have most of the stab and elevator bits collected and in their right groups. It is very impressive every single part is numbered and barcoded even the ones in the bags so there is no way to muck anything up...provided you can read of course. After having a good look through the main box but not really through the cartons that come with it that have the instruments and engine bits etc I have come to the conclusion that this kit is extremely great value for money. The amount of alu that is bent, shaped, cut and lasered is exceptional and all the other bits and pieces that come with the kit you can not go wrong with selecting the Savannah as a build kit. Will start to get the fin and rudder done this weekend. A word to people if you want to build one. The etch needs to be applied to the mating surfaces of the 6061 and the advice from a lot of guys was to get the "Shur-Line Paint Buddy" it has a handle that the paint goes in and has a 25mm roller fitted to it. They are available at Bunnings.....sorry not any more they have been deleted from the importer so if you want one or twp get into Bunnings or Home Hardware and snooker a few if they have them still there on the shelf they are a great idea and make life easy by the look of it. I managed to find a HH store that only had 4 on the shelf which I promptly bought at $12 each and I found a Bunnings that only had the spare rollers left so I snookered all those as well at a stupid price of $1.00 for a pack of 4 roller so I took all 9 packets :) they originally were $15.00 for 1 card of 4 rollers.. so I have plenty of spares.

I would think it doesn't matter if you have a factory built or a kit they are exactly still the same just that the guys who assemble the factory built ones have made a lot of them, truth be know they just get a kit off the line and open it and build it. From what I saw of Blairs factory built its EXACTLY the same as mine in every single way. The main difference is about $25k to $30K The difference also of course with the building of your aircraft there is also a enormous amount of pleasure and knowing every single part of the aircraft as well so its a win win. Will get some pictures this weekend and post them.

Other great news is there hopefully will be a first ever landing at my new strips up at my property on friday week on the Queens birthday weekend. A friend of mine who flew the Savannah he bought from Kyabram in Victoria will be flying from Kilcoy up to Monto and may call in to my place for a quick coffee so I will christin the strip. I will be there the Thursday night after driving up. Denice and I will drive to Monto on the Sunday from Booyal (about 2hr drive :( ) to catch up with all the Savanah guys and no doubt many chin wags. I look forward to meeting up with as many Savannah owners, builders and wanna be builders on the Sunday for advice and question time

Regards

Mark

Hi John and Bill

Well I think it will take me about a year to get mine done especially with the way work is going at the moment but I want to get it done as quickly as I can and certainly I will fly in for coffee John. I called in last time I was out your way but you were away flying...funny about that :)

Yes Bill I heard your savvy didn't last long when it was advertised and you had a factory built on order. I saw Blairs from Gympie the first factory built one and gave Reg and Blair a small hand to do some assembly over 2 days. It was beautifully made really well done. We need a few of the factory builts around to get some training done. I know my bum will be in one for some serious get to know you time in the left hand seat of the Savannah before I fly mine and I am sure once they are available for training there will be lots more Savannah kits and factory built versions sold

Regards

Mark

Hi Mark

Well after much research when I was looking around the Savannah ticked all the boxes for me. I have about 30hrs in a C172 back in the mid nineties and was canned on my PPL because I had the onset of type 2 diabeties that was picked up during my medical for the PPL which by the way is well under control and has never been any issue and previous to that around 80 hrs in full size gliders in the mid eighties. The build I will enjoy I am sure I wont have too many issues with it other than reading the manual from what I have been told. But there is a thread on the forums about the age of most RAA pilots and I have to say its only later in life that most of us get the means to be able to make most of this happen...well certainly in my generation. I have mentioned previously about buying our retirement property I am not that old yet but a couple of years ago I realised I would be 55 and was eligable to collect my super and didn't really have any firm plans on what I wanted to do and where I wanted to do it. After about a year of looking we found a block that really suited everything we wanted to do and bought it in early January. Last week I had a bulldozer there doing a fair amount of work and one of the jobs for him was to level the ground for a airstrip or two. Attached is a couple of pics to show them although no finished when I had to leave and come back they are looking pretty good. The main strip direction is probably 350/170deg and the cross strip is probably 310/130deg. The approaches to the main strip are fantasic the cross strip is not that good but very acceptable both strips are around 400 mtrs long. The cross strip was only just started in the picture you will see what I mean. The Savannah is just the ticket at this place. I have been making up the wheel bases for the box today so it can be leveled and moved around. Will take some photos when I get them under the box hopefully tomorrow.

Mark

Hi Ron

Well I have got my Savannah in the garage now. Spent last weekend cleaning out the garage and getting ready to do a few things. I have got some 18mm form board and I also have some high quality castoring wheels which I will attach to the form board. The sets I put on either end of the box have the brake levers on them and the other 4 wheels will go in the two other middle sections so the box will have 8 wheels spread across it and because of the plates they are mounted on I should be able to get the top of the box level. I have got a stack of new clecos and decent pliers now. The biggest issue is I want to start to get into it but this next 2 weekends and also during the weeks are flat out here so will just have to grin and bear it. I do have one major mod I have decided to do and that is I will save about 5 kg at least in weight I hope as I will not be using any of the instruments supplied. One of the local guys up here has a Brauniger Alpha MFD in his Borabee which has everything in it all in the one panel he is going to put it in his Savannah and it is super accurate in all of its measurements here is the link for it Bräuniger Flugelectronic (Products :: AlphaMFD :: Operation) and as a backup asi and other instruments the Garmin GPSmap 196 https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=208#imageTab . So that will take care the only other thing I need of course is the radio. I have the instrument panel supplied I will get a new one lasercut exactly the same outside and just replace the whole panel with the new one. The Euro is really great at the moment for us now so will order the Alpha with the 912s sensor package in the next week or so which will save me heaps. So I will have a panel and complete instrument set up for sale if someone wants them. I have had a bulldozer up at my property for a week doing a heap of work putting in a new dam and roads around and through the property but also has cut 2 strips for me both are around 350 mtrs long with great approaches on the main strip and not too bad on the cross strip. Now all I need to to win the lotto so I can retire and spend all of my time building the Savannah :)

Mark

Thanks Ron

I watched your thread with interest as you were building yours. Yes there are lots of ideas out there and I will wade through them all and select the ones I think will be the best for my build. Its not long now the aircraft should hit the wharf in under a week and then not too much longer before the drive down to the warehouse to pick it up. Was over at the outlaws place today getting the shed sorted out and shifting a few things into another shed to give me plenty of room. One question is most seem to use the box it comes in to do the building on.....I am thinking of making a specific table to build it on this way I can make sure its exactly level through the whole surface. What do you think is the box good enough to use...it would save a lot of work I suppose. My concern was boxes of this size usually have a few ups and downs in them..suggestions would be appreciated

Mark

Hi Bill

Finally being the operative word :)...well the dollar has made it possible also a bit more cash has come my way due to some asset sales so finally it will be here in a few weeks. I do have to thank you for the couple of flights I have had with you and showing me the flying attributes of the Savannah...from that first flight I was hooked. I have had a flight of the technam and I have to say after flying the savannah I was let down a lot by the Technan. I thought it would have been much better. It needed heaps of rudder all the time with any power applied also it would never stay trimmed for level flight very long. The savvy felt much more nimble and certainly has a much more powerful rudder. For what I want to do with it the savvy is the best aircraft. We bought our retirement property up at Booyal about 21km west of Childers about 20km due north of Mt Goonaneman. Its 125 acres, there used to be an old airstrip on the property on the western side but thats all overgrown now and too much work so the eastern side is much better. It will give me 2 strips roughly 80 deg apart the shortest one is about 350 mtrs and the longest one is almost 500 metres. So eventually Denice and I will fly up there most times rather than drive the 3 hrs it should only take about 1hr 20 to fly there from Caboolture or Kilcoy. The short strip of 350 mtrs is east west and in the direction of where my dad is walking in the pic..the long strip will run from left to right but over towards the eastern side of the property from the far tree line over to the full right hand side of the picture so heaps of room. I have a D8 dozer coming in about 2 weeks to knock over some trees for the house site and sewerage system also to push a wall up for a nice big gully dam. While he is there I will be getting him to clean up the areas for both airstrips

So the next few years will be great I cant wait till I can retire and stop working I can fill my days in with plenty to do and hopefully do plenty of flying trips as well.

Regards

Mark

Hi Bill

Its fine I will buy them and make sure I have plenty and a good set of pliers. I am really looking forward to building the aircraft. I think I will do it as per the blog on the american site..tail feathers first then the wings. Then by that time I should have made room back here at my place and I can do the fuselage here which does take most of the time.

Mark

Hi Walter

I am always willing to go for a fly :)... I have sent a email to Reg to see what price he has on the clecos and pliers and as you say its better to have more than not enough. I see you are in Witta..I should be up at Witta for a Brisbane CNC user group meeting on the 1st of May at Berganns Rd. Gympie isnt that far but usually I am just looking to the left as I pass Gympie airport on my way up to my property at Booyal. I will certainly keep in contact and try to organize something. This next month or so I am totally flat out... every weekend is booked so far its that crazy time of the year for me.

Mark

My kit wont be here for 3 or 4 weeks

What size clecos are required to build the Savannah and does anyone have any suggestions where to get them from. I see 50 are supplied with the kit but this will not be enough...how many extra will I need and any particular brand recommended? also the cleco pliers

Regards

Mark Kyle

Hi Walter and the other guys who have responded

I am all ears when it comes to tips and tricks...I am counting the days for when I get the call to go and pick up the box. I will first of course sort out all the parts as many builders have suggested and I will certainly be removing all the sharp edges. I have been over to Laurie Stricklands place a couple of times now and had a look and taken quite a few pics of his XL build. The etch prime does sound like a good idea what brand did you use. Although mine will be hangared all the time when its finished but of course it does get exposed to the elements and corrosion is the enemy. I have been going through a lot of the posts and have been saving all of the relative info about tips in building. And I still have around 4 weeks until it arrives so I should have a pretty good folder to go with the build manual.

Walter is your Savannah the one that is painted similar to Bills

Regards

Mark

Hi Guys

Well are many years of wishing and looking and annoying Savannah owners I have finally ordered my new kit this week. It should arrive here in Brisbane ready for pickup first or second week in May. I hopefully will start on it within a couple of weeks once it gets here. I wont be building it here at my place in Burpengary as I haven't got enough room at the moment even though I do live in shed heaven here. It will start off at my mother in laws place about 10 minutes away until everything is sorted out here. She has a fairly big shed that is reasonably clear it will just need some tidying up. I would like to thank Bill Grieves for the couple of flights I had in his Savannah and also in John Gilpin's Savannah for their expertise and knowledge and also for just being really approachable and putting up with me and all the questions I had. It will not be a fast build but I may do a build blog on one of my websites with pics etc as I haven't really found any in depth blogs on building a Savannah, will see how that pans out. I have looked over pretty much every website about savannahs and of course any tips will be gratefully appreciated.

Regards

Mark Kyle

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I have recently been looking at a Bushbaby has anyone got one of these and tried it with VG's to see if it lowers the stall and turns it into a bit more of a STOL aircraft

Where are some pics so I have drool please

Hi Mogas

I have been looking seriously at a Bushbaby but watching the videos they are all landing pretty hot. The stall with flaps is 33knots. I have been looking at a Savannah which has a stall speed of 23knots and is a stol landing aircraft. I have flown one and it was awesome. Have you tried or thought of fitting VG to the wing of the Bushbaby?. Do you know if anyone has at all?....I am sure this would dramatically improve the stall performance yet not affect the top speed. I am no expert on these matters at all but if you can drop slats off the front of a wing and replace them with VG and still maintain the same stall this can only be a good thing for the Bushbaby.

Regards

Mark

Thanks for the info John. I was told there may have been someone around Kingaroy doing training in a Savannah this is why I asked the question. But after your comments I realize you are correct and there are no factory built ones. I have some 30hrs up in a Cessna 172 back in the mid 1990's and about 50 hours in gliders in the mid 1980's. I had a flight in a Technan P92 and this was after the first flight in the Savannah and I liked the Savannah most of all. Looks like I might have to do the training in the P92

Regards

Mark

Does anyone know of a instructor doing RAA training in a Savannah in SE Qld area. I would like to get some time up in one as I get ready to order and build my own Savannah. Just waiting for a property to sell then I will get the kit ordered. I have had a couple of flights in one from the right seat and I love the plane and confirms my choice on type. I have had a flight in a Technam and I was not that happy with it compared to the Savannah. I deally I would love to do all my training in my own aircraft but time to get the kit and build I would prefer to get hours up while I am doing it and also this keeps the enthusiasm at a premium as well.

Mark