RichTee Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 As the name implies...the Savannah belongs in Africa.....watch this space
RichTee Posted May 16, 2015 Author Posted May 16, 2015 Very fortunate to be part of a 4 man syndicate that acquired a Savannah S some 5 months ago....in that time we have all gone solo on this beauty and the hours are clocking up ! I've started this thread to hopefully share some of the amazing flights I have in her. I took her this morning on a 2 hr flight to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge (http://www.bumihills.com/ )...leaving 15min before sunrise and getting there just in-time for breakfast. We were back home by noon. Bumi is located on Lake Kariba in the Zambezi Valley...an area teaming with wildlife. There are no fences, this is untouched wilderness and uniquely these animals are truly wild...unlike so many "safari ranches" where the animals have been introduced. From the air we spotted zebra, herds of impala, huge pods of hippo and loads of elephants. The runway is "cleared" of animals by the lodge land-rover....its truly paradise. There can't be many places in the world where you "chock" your plane with elephant dung ! Herewith some pictures:- 12
Gnarly Gnu Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 Thanks for the photos Rich, fabulous! Have a good friend from Zimbabwe, I'll show him...
Neil_S Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Hi RichTee, Great photos - thanks for posting! I have also just bought a Savannah S and you are right - I don't chock the wheels with elephant dung Cheers, Neil 1
dan tonner Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Hello Rich, Absolutely enthralling photos! Here in eastern Canada (Nova Scotia) we use ice for chocks....this year, even in May. But I do have a Canadian made Tilley hat capable of safely traveling through an elephant. Washing before wearing is recommended. I expect to make the maiden flight in my VGXL kit-built this month. I will try to share some of the N.S. landscape (in pictures) with you. Fly safely; all the best. Keep those magnificent pics coming. Dan Tonner
mAgNeToDrOp Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Welcome RichTee. Awesome photos and love the paint job on the Sav. I grew up there and have good memories of houseboat trips on Kariba, magical. Would've loved to be able to fly in there. By the looks of the airstrip that hill could make for some interesting approaches when the wind is curling around it....
RichTee Posted May 18, 2015 Author Posted May 18, 2015 Dear mAgNeToDrOp, Thanks for the comments, so sad that many Zimbos are scattered to the 4 corners of the globe !! Its such an awesome place with great potential but politics have stuffed it up ! Thankfully Kariba's much the same and the same goes for Hwange, Mana Pools etc etc. There are 10 Savannah's now flying here as she is such a great plane to explore such areas. Yes...I'm sure that hill and Kariba winds have made many a pilot say words like drat and darn. Thankfully for my flight it was smooth as silk. On the way in I did a fly-over Tiger-Bay, Kiplings and Tashinga as these strips are all within a few miles of each-other...there must have been about 10 elephant on the Tashinga runway....I need to get a GoPro sorted as it would have made another great photo. Cheers, Rich 1
Marty_d Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 My old instructor told me not to worry about sheep in the field (when looking at places for forced landing) - as they help to slow you down. Elephants, on the other hand... 1
RichTee Posted July 7, 2015 Author Posted July 7, 2015 Been out of action for a month or so, very sad story involving a rabbit hole, a front wheel and a prop strike. Anyway herewith another pic....giraffe delaying take-off on the way home..... 1
happyskipper Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Howzit Richtee - from a neighbor in Pemba, Mozambique. My aerie is in SA, and I want to bring her up here permanently......... Lotsa hoops to jump through! Any time you feel like doing a LoooonG x-country, give us a shout!! 1
RichTee Posted July 7, 2015 Author Posted July 7, 2015 Howzit Richtee - from a neighbor in Pemba, Mozambique.My aerie is in SA, and I want to bring her up here permanently......... Lotsa hoops to jump through! Any time you feel like doing a LoooonG x-country, give us a shout!! Thanks Happyskipper....eish that would be a long one...800nm odd.....perhaps when I get big and have an RV :) 1
Guy s Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 G'day Tee and like your photos, bugger on the rabbit hole. I get excited too when I'm building my Savannah but I don't quite get that psychical reaction. 1
Marty_d Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Another Savannah in Africa[ATTACH=full]36728[/ATTACH] 9 months later... 1 4
RichTee Posted August 31, 2015 Author Posted August 31, 2015 This weekend's trip to Mana West (http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/camps/ruckomechi-camp) 4
eightyknots Posted September 1, 2015 Posted September 1, 2015 As the name implies...the Savannah belongs in Africa.....watch this space Strange, every time I "google" ICP Savannah, the address that comes up is in Italy!
johanlochner Posted September 1, 2015 Posted September 1, 2015 ZU-DEB is also in Africa.... Just further down! I would love to fly your area sometime. Nice pix J
RichTee Posted October 20, 2015 Author Posted October 20, 2015 Hey Guys, Recently formed a trust here in Zim with some fellow Savannah pilots with the aim of using our planes to help our National Parks Authority and other wildlife concerns.....they really need all the help they can get to try to preserve the amazing wildlife we have in Zimbabwe...with particular urgency on our elephant population. Please have a look at our FaceBook page and like / share promote. https://www.facebook.com/flyingforwildlife?ref=hl Many thanks, Rich 3 1
Neil_S Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 Hey Guys,Recently formed a trust here in Zim with some fellow Savannah pilots with the aim of using our planes to help our National Parks Authority and other wildlife concerns.....they really need all the help they can get to try to preserve the amazing wildlife we have in Zimbabwe...with particular urgency on our elephant population. Please have a look at our FaceBook page and like / share promote. https://www.facebook.com/flyingforwildlife?ref=hl Many thanks, Rich Hi Rich, Good on you guys!! That is a brilliant initiative, very worthwhile. I wish I could join you. Let us know how you go in helping to preserve your wildlife - I hope you are very successful. All the best, Neil 1
eightyknots Posted April 26, 2017 Posted April 26, 2017 Hi Rich Tee, It's been a couple of years since we heard from you. Any more pictures?
RichTee Posted May 8, 2017 Author Posted May 8, 2017 My appologies for going "quiet"...herewith some pics from flying this weekend in Mana Pools National Park under the trust Flying For Wildlife (www.flyingforwildlife.org)... 4 1
dlegg Posted May 8, 2017 Posted May 8, 2017 What you pilots are doing is just fantastic....thank you. 1
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