A little Savannah love.............

[Guest Maj Millard]

I have recently been doing what is really a 700 hourly on Savannah Classic 19-4209. She was the first of her type into the country, and the first kit to be completed by Ian Ellis at Casino. The kit was delivered on 24-11-2003, and she flew just over a year later on 30-11-2004. Originally she had slats, but was refitted with the new leading edges and VGs in 2009, when the current owner purchased her.

 

She is not a hangar queen and flys often, that is when the retired cane farmer is not off on one of his 2-3 month world cruisers !..............Lately there has been an obvious knock from the nose- gear leg during taxi ,and the battery was hard to keep charged due to an unknown electrical short somewhere.

 

So after a pretty detailed 100 hourly service and inspection which included changing most of the fuel lines, we fitted a new battery and I installed a battery isolator switch in a suitable position on the rear cargo ledge. During some under panel checking I noticed the Xcom VHF radio body was hot to the touch when switched on, plus it hadn't been working too well either lately.

 

Off it went to the helpfull Xcom service centre , and $204 later is back in the aircraft in working order . I also fitted a radio master switch, so the radio and other avionics can be left off during starting, and shutdown, to avoid any electrical spikes. I also fitted some switch guards to the ignition switches for added safety.

 

Next the annoying knock in the nose leg. After removing the muffler-can for access, I removed the leg completely to find that the lower nylon bush plates had worn badly, allowing the leg itself to contact the alum plates. The bungee also appeared due for renewal, and was also removed. It had become hard and not real flexible anymore. I couldn't find any cracks in the lower brackets after a good clean up, so they will go again.

 

These brackets on later model have probabily been beefed up, and I know Mark Kyle has made his of stainless which doesn't sound like a bad idea, as they do have quite a job to do. The leg itself had some minor scuffing, but is otherwise fine. Some of the rivets attaching the lower plate to the belly are loose, and I may drill them out and replace with -3 bolts, for a more secure attachment.

 

The red nylon buffers under the main landing gear leg are also gone, so they will be replaced also.

 

This aircraft is a great flyer, and the airframe showed few problems. Nothing that a bit of lubrication and a new bolt here and there didn't fix.

 

One thing I like about the Savannah is that most critical things are easily accessible, with few exceptions. I am also fitting an access hatch to the right side of the top cowl, so that the oil and coolant levels can be checked prior to flight, without the need to remove the top cowl every time.

 

So off to Reg Brost for some bits, and she'll be ready for the next 700 hours in true Savy style. Of course all this new stuff will have to be tested, so I may get to fly her again next week sometime.....Both myself and the owner flew her a couple of weeks ago, but he decided to ground her with the bad knock in the nose leg, which was probabily the right move.....My four favorite aircraft to fly : Lightwing, Storch, Savannah and Drifter .....I have been lucky enough to fly all four in the past two months !........Maj....

 

 

 

 

 

[rankamateur]

I have shared a few motel rooms with Tom Abell for various airshows and fly-ins that he has exibited at and he once told me his pink savannah was one of the first six kits he imported but that the first one flying was Alby Mangles, that being the Yellow and Blue one offered a couple of months ago in the members market.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

I have shared a few motel rooms with Tom Abell for various airshows and fly-ins that he has exibited at and he once told me his pink savannah was one of the first six kits he imported but that the first one flying was Alby Mangles, that being the Yellow and Blue one offered a couple of months ago in the members market.

Got any dates there ?............4209 first flew on 11/12/04 per the logbook........Maj....

 

 

[Hongie]

600kg Mtow on the placard? I didn't realise any saves where 600, let alone 19-. Mind you, I have no doubt that a Sav would sneer at 600 or more

 

 

[rankamateur]

600kg Mtow on the placard? I didn't realise any saves where 600, let alone 19-. Mind you, I have no doubt that a Sav would sneer at 600 or more

These ones upgrade to 560Kg only. but it takes a lot of work. Not just a couple of plates riveted in the wing strut plates.

 

 

[Tex]

Maj,

 

What do you use to cut out holes in the (fiberglass) cowl?

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

normal holesaw

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

or a dremel

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Some I use a jigsaw on ( variable speed one) but I 'll probabily use a small saw on this one, or maybe even a hacksaw blade. I'll post some photos when I do it ok............Maj....

 

 

[Ultralights]

interesting post, my savannah is 30 hrs off its 1000 hrly, i already have a pile of parts the replace and upgrade, didnt think of the nylon plates, and thanks for reminding me to order a new bungee for the nose gear. fortunately the red nylon buffers on the main gear are still there, though they have moved around a bit, one is in its original position, the other is in the centre.

 

With the Xcom radio, recently my one has been tripping the circuit breaker occasionally, and when you reset the circuit breaker its displays PTT fail momentarily before normal ops, until it does it again. last flight it happened a few times, yet not once in the 10 hrs before, but a few time before that. any ideas? the radio was sent for overhaul approx 250 hrs ago, and the PTT switch replaced 10 hrs ago.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

interesting post, my savannah is 30 hrs off its 1000 hrly, i already have a pile of parts the replace and upgrade, didnt think of the nylon plates, and thanks for reminding me to order a new bungee for the nose gear. fortunately the red nylon buffers on the main gear are still there, though they have moved around a bit, one is in its original position, the other is in the centre.With the Xcom radio, recently my one has been tripping the circuit breaker occasionally, and when you reset the circuit breaker its displays PTT fail momentarily before normal ops, until it does it again. last flight it happened a few times, yet not once in the 10 hrs before, but a few time before that. any ideas? the radio was sent for overhaul approx 250 hrs ago, and the PTT switch replaced 10 hrs ago.

Well there was definitely a problem with ours, the very hot outer case was what got my attention. The invoice stated the following was carried out to repair it.

 

"replace damaged. MSP430 uController, elastomers, D200, reprogram, realign, and test to specs". Whatever that all means !

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Stage 2 on the cowl inspection flap............the upper line and the two rounded curves were cut by hand with a new small blade. By leaning the blade over on the corners you can get a nice corner curve. A jigsaw with a fine blade would work also for those who don't want to do it by hand. All tools used shown.......the hatch has been cut out in the second photo...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ultralights]

nice file work there!

 

 

[John Nooyen]

I have 19-4081. First flew in Oct 10 2004. Still as original with the slats, and the 560KG upgrade.

 

Found the same. the nose-leg nylon plates, bungee, and other minor wear and tear items.

 

Still on the original brakes. Plenty left.

 

 

 

[planedriver]

my savannah is 30 hrs off its 1000 hrly,

Geez Rob, you've been giving her a bit of of a work-out. She's certainly no hanger queen. Thats a about 500hrs since we last caught up.

Keep well.

 

Kind Regards

 

Planey

 

 

[Ultralights]

yep, it works hard! actually, was going to put another 3 or 4 on her today but sadly stopped by a flat tyre, so hired a robin and did some aerobatic flying instead. great day over the coast, but a little bumpy everywhere else.

 

 

[Ballpoint 246niner]

I just ordered a bunch of parts for mine coming up to 600 hrs in 2 years and the new bungy was top of the list, there is a factory approved mod for the nose leg bracket doubler and mine was LAME fitted at around 260 hrs, with nearly 1700 landings all is good. Other than working rivets and the control hinges and bushes which wear she is going great guns. A solid investment and great all round performer.

 

I have in my hangar at present also the WAC Spirit first of type in Oz and it's interesting to see the lineage and differences that Max has applied to this new venture. Many good things. Any enquiries feel free to contact me.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

yep, it works hard! actually, was going to put another 3 or 4 on her today but sadly stopped by a flat tyre, so hired a robin and did some aerobatic flying instead. great day over the coast, but a little bumpy everywhere else.

That's no excuse !..didn't I sell you some spare wheels ???..........Maj......

 

 

[Ultralights]

yes you did, but didnt need one unti now, wheel is all fixed, ready to be installed this weekend and go flying.

 

 

[facthunter]

Wheeling and dealing Eh!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Keeping the wheels of progress turning !.......................

 

 

[rankamateur]

Are Matco wheels one piece? If not why would you change them from the ICP ones?

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

I do believe Matcos are one piece........I sold Ultralights some wheels from an ICP aircraft that didn't need them anymore !

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

We're on a roll now !.....................

 

 

[rankamateur]

I do believe Matcos are one piece........I sold Ultralights some wheels from an ICP aircraft that didn't need them anymore !

Rick(WA) sold a set straight out of a kit that was going on to Matco wheels and big tyres instead. I have Condor tyres on my wheels too but can't see any need to change the wheels and brakes.