Neil_S

Hi OK, I've been using AVPlan on an iPad mini for several years (on a kneepad, obviously in portrait mode) and found it to be fine. I always have maps with me too. Cheers, Neil

Totally agree! It also now houses an original 1913 BE2A/B propeller which my grandmother bought in the 1930s, and which my brother and I donated after our mother passed away a few years ago. As a result we managed to negotiate our way into the following weekend's flying display for nothing as well! Luckily the weather was good and we saw the Edwardian planes flying as well the more recent ones. Brilliant and unforgettable. Cheers, Neil

Have just done exactly that. Mine came up for renewal mid-April, so it seemed like a sensible thing to do...... Cheers, Neil

Good on you! Go for it!! Cheers, Neil

Hi Guy, I landed at Peterborough a few months ago. It's 800m limestone strip - fine for a Savvy! N.B. it is managed by 12 Apostles Helicopters (as they use it as an emergency alternate), not the owner (who is a LAME). The landing fee was $15 from memory - done in advance by credit card as prior permission is required. Be aware of the 12 Apostles helicopters operating frequent sight seeing tours along the coast from a location just to the east, and it is in a Fly Neighbourly zone. Cheers, Neil

Hi Grant, Landings is one of those things that takes a while. Something I found helped when I was learning (and now!) is just after you flare to look at the far end of the runway - it gives you a much better perspective than looking close ahead - and try NOT to land i.e. try and keep the plane just a few inches above the runway. She will settle down when ready. HTH Cheers, Neil

Here are a few that I took. A great event, especially considering the shortened timeframe they had after the council's intervention. A bit of a crosswind that kept some of the oldies on the ground (although not the UFO!), but clear skies for most of the day. Looking forward to 2022's show! Cheers, Neil

Hi Guy, Looks like a great trip! I would simply add to what some others have said - plan for low cloud especially along the coast. I had 3 attempts to fly to the 12 Apostles from Penfield (Sunbury) when my brother was visiting a few years ago, all thwarted by low cloud along the coast. Let me know when you plan to be at Lethbridge and I will try to get there in my Savvy to say "Hi". Cheers, Neil

It was in the Tyabb Flyer Newsletter, of which I am also a recipient. The important thing is to click the link above to sign the petition. Cheers, Neil

Congratulations, Adam! Your first solo is something you will never forget. Good luck with the rest of your flying, whatever you end up doing. Cheers, Neil

Hi Stevron, I went to a fly-in at Porepunkah a few years ago and the local people/pilots I met there were great - so I am hoping this guy was a one-off. I wouldn't let one sad bugger put you off. Good luck with organizing your fly away - I do the same thing for a bunch of pilots at Penfield.... Cheers, Neil

Hi guys, Try the free 30 day trial of AVPlan. It sounds like it has the features you are talking about wrt waypoints (I have made my own within it). I also only use the features that I find useful (eg not the IFR stuff). I find the Head-Up display with stuff like height AGL, altitude, groundspeed, track, and surface wind speed/direction from the nearest airport (if available) useful too. It has ERSA info and weather radar overlay etc. Give it a whirl. Cheers, Neil

Hi Eightyknots, FYI - when I picked up my Savvy S we flew it from Archerfield in QLD to Penfield in VIC, stopping overnight in Narromine. That's a trip of roughly 750+ nm. That's the longest trip I have done, but have flown plenty of 3-4 hour trips round VIC or to NSW since. I have found it very comfortable over such distances. Lumpy, turbulent weather does, of course, make for discomfort, but that's going to be the case with any LSA. My hangar-mate flew his Savvy XL to Alice and back recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Cheers, Neil

Hi, Although an issue with quite a few LSA type planes, just remember that the Savvy has a low wing loading, so flying out of places like Alice means in hot weather you will get bumped around a lot. Even in southern Victoria I get bumped around a lot in Spring/Summer weather here when a bit gusty and warming up. I try to be back on the ground by 10.30/11.00 in the morning. The Savvy is roughly 50 kg/sq m or 10 lb/sq ft wing loading....don't know about the Foxbat, I'm afraid. Cheers, Neil

In fact (n)oodles of advice, and more than won ton of information! ?

Congrats on losing all that weight! I weigh less than 60kg and am 5ft 4in, so I guess that's why I haven't had an issue! I like your new bracket - but as mine's a factory-built I couldn't really modify. Do you know of people using electric flaps on the Sav? Cheers, Neil

Crap! Lots of building, masses of roadworks.....

Which may be why I, as a small European, have had no problem with it in nearly 400 hours flying in my Savvy! ?

Yes - I have it. I really enjoyed it. Cheers, Neil

Hi Ian, Loaded quickly for me, and looks good IMO! Cheers, Neil

I think the above proves that any concept of personal responsibility has gone the way of the dinosaurs.....

Hi Toppee, Port Campbell is helicopters only, but I have recently landed at Peterborough, which is only slightly further up the coast and a bit nearer to Timboon anyway. Landing fee is $15 and needs to be paid in advance. It is managed by 12 Apostles Helicopters from Port Campbell (they have it as an alternate in case of bad weather). Call 03 5598 8283 for info, (or [email protected]) HTH Neil

Hi Peter, As you are in Mallacoota I have just realized a friend of mine with an A22 Foxbat lives in your neck of the woods (near Deddick Valley) . He flies from his own property there (quite a challenging strip!). If you like I can open a conversation with you to give you his email. I am sure he would be happy to share his experience of the Foxbat with you. In addition I hope to get to either/both Parkes (AirVenture) or Narromine (Ausfly), so if you get to these we can meet up for a chat re the Savvy. I also expect Pete Gillespie, the Savannah dealer (based at Bendigo), will be at both of these. Cheers, Neil

Hi Peter, Yes - I have been flying a Savannah S for the past 4 years and am very happy with it. I'm afraid I haven't flown either a Foxbat or a Zenith, so cannot really comment on these. The features of the Savvy that drew me to it were the STOL capability, and the long range tanks (over 8 hours + reserve). I am getting 13-15 litres/hour with a TAS of around 90knots. So it suits my purpose and is not too hard on the pocket. I also liked the S as it made the fuselage shape rounder and less agricultural. In addition it had the adjustable seats (good for someone vertically challenged like myself, while still accommodating taller passengers). The price was also more reasonable compared to others with similar capability. HTH Cheers, Neil

Hi Peter, The ICP website has this info. You will need to select English as the language each time, but no big deal. Link below :- [/url]https://www.icpaviazione.it/?page_id=254&lang=en Cheers, Neil