Any Sapphire flyers out there ?

[mechfx]

What is the best place to get info on the Sapphire ? any owners groups or books/manuals out there ? I think I bought one this morning !

 

cheers, Art

 

 

[BigPete]

Hang in there Art, :thumb_up: there must be some somewhere - I'm just a Jabiru jockey.

 

Hey, maybe there all out flying. :big_grin:

 

regards

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

 

[eastmeg2]

What is the best place to get info on the Sapphire ? . . . I think I bought one this morning !cheers, Art

Either you did or you didn't.

 

Or maybe it's just that you had a hard Saturday night, or was it on eBay?

 

My own experience of Sapphires is limited to knowing that they fly faster than (most) trikes and that they are a tidy looking little plane with Rotax 447 or 503 engine options and probably a good candidate for the HKS700E 4-stroke.

 

And they're a tail-dragger, so you'll need that endorsement to fly one.:gerg:

 

Cheers,

 

Glen

 

 

[Ultralights]

I have test flown a Sapphire when i was looking to buy an aircraft... i wanted one, still do, but ended up with a vampire instead.

 

how do they fly? very well. very light on the controls, well balanced. visibility is fantastic with mid mounted wing, you can see above and below you. very slippery! fantastic glide ability! get used to GA style 3 deg approaches to keep the speed under control (if it doesn't have speed brakes)

 

they are very Strong and sturdy aircraft, i have seen one crashed at Nerranderra a few yrs ago.. and the pilot walked away without a scratch.

 

there are plenty around, so longevity is proven.

 

and also, there are plenty of Sapphire pilots on here.

 

 

[eastmeg2]

Hi Ultralights,

 

Can I ask what made you choose the Vampire instead of a Sapphire?

 

Was it the resemblance to a historic military aircraft, or the option of HKS 4-stroke being available on the Vampire, or something else?

 

Cheers,

 

Glen

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

One of Scott Wintons classic designs. They really get along on not much power. Probabily only need a 447 in them, but a 503 would be perfect. Personally didn't have a good time with the 447 in the area of air cooling for some reason. Never had much of a problem with the twin carbed 503, and the latest ones with dcdi are brilliant.

 

There was one for sale in Townsville, not a bad looking machine if you are looking for one.

 

 

[Ultralights]

when i went looking, i had narrowed my choice to 2 aircraft, Vampire or Sapphire.

 

there are a few reasons why i chose the Vampire over the Sapphire, firstly, when i was ready to buy, there were no sapphires for sale. secondly, i am a Aircraft structures guy by trade, (sheetie) even though now i specialise in fibreglass aircraft structures, and finally i love the Twin tail look. if the right sapphire came along when i had the cash in the bank, then i would most likely own a Sapphire. the right Vampire came along when i had the cash ready, so you could say Fate decided.

 

 

[facthunter]

Saphire.

 

A lovely concept plane that looks like it will fly. It is a taildragger and there is a good reason for that. Pusher tricycle gear aircraft want to sit on their tails when you get out of them. The only way to stop that is to place the mainwheels further back than they would be ideally. This causes the nosewheel to drop onto the ground after the rear (mainwheels) contact the ground and you have to modify your landing technique and not hold off too much, to prevent damage to the nosewheel or forward bulkhead.

 

I am not an expert on saphires but I have known a few pilots who could be called such. The plane very sensitive in pitch, but you will get used to that quickly. They perform well and do not need a large engine. The worst thing about the smaller rotax's is the bulky and ugly exhaust system that sticks out the side and spoils a very "clean" aircraft. As the design evolved there were some versions that were built to a different weight limit, being lighter. You would be better with the other version. The HKS would be more power than you need by far, and remember when thinking of engines that a pusher is harder to get cooling air to. The smaller rotax's are fan cooled, belt driven. Those small engines are out of production now.

 

IF you are a big bugger the cockpit may be a bit cramped, but I can fit into one (I am wide but not tall) Also do not run one into a wire fence same as with a glider or a drifter, or you may lose your head. I reckon they are a beaut aircraft if you could get a good little clean cowled power unit without that rotten expansion chamber. Nev.

 

 

[mechfx]

Thanks for the replies, keep em coming.

 

This one is an early version with the thicker wing profile (no Flaps, half screen) and running a 377 at the moment.

 

Tail dragger training hopefully starts next weekend. I'm not the sort of person who rushes into things so I'll be taking my time.

 

I'm still not sure what comes with the plane so I'm not sure what I'll need to get a hold of. (a copy of a POH would be handy ???)

 

There is another Sapphire at the Oaks and another I saw at the Wedderburn open day last weekend.

 

About a year ago I saw one on a trailer at the servo near Marulan and had a chat with the owner who had just bought it and was heading South I think.

 

And Obviously there is the "Sapphire on a stick " just off the highway at Holbrook.

 

I've always appreciated the shape and was intending looking for a plane later on, but when the situation presented itself and with Christmas coming up and I've been a very good boy then, well I couldn't let it pass.

 

The very few regrets I've had in life are related to things I sold which I should have kept or things I didn't buy that I should have taken home.... Wasn't going to let this one go.

 

Can anyone relate ????

 

Art

 

 

[Ultralights]

i think the only reason they are pitch sensative is they have an all flying tailplane, but do not have an antiservo trim.

 

 

[facthunter]

All-flying tailplane.

 

True U/L and I don't really like that feature though it seems to get used a lot these days. If you place your wrist or lower arm on your leg , and use you thumb and index finger, you can steady it . Wouldn't like to be suffering from a hang-over. You get used to these things. I would like an appraisal of most aircraft to be compiled listing all these characteristics for reference. Handling notes were available for the pilots who ferried damaged

 

(or just needing repairs/overhaul ) aircraft, during the last war in England. They didn't get an endorsement, Just read the notes. They jumped from things like Hurricanes to Wellingtons or Liberators. The notes are very practical and where necessary, quite critical of adverse handling characteristics that some feature. After all if the pilot is not told, he/she might find out about the aircrafts vices the hard way. Interesting reading. Nev

 

 

[Ultralights]

come to think of it, when i was flying Steves demonstrator, it was sensitive in pitch, but stable, i had no problem with it, very easy to control, it flew hands off quite well.

 

there was an aircraft i flew at the Oaks some time ago, based on a KR2, that i found difficult to control in pitch, so much so that i returned immediately to the field and got out of it.

 

that i would describe as being very unstable in pitch axis and difficult to control,

 

whereas the Sapphire elevator is very powerful, hence requiring a very light touch, but still very stable in pitch axis.

 

 

[barandbrew]

Hi Art

 

I had a Sapphire until some months ago when a mate wrote it off.

 

Mine had Flaps and a 503. The orginal canope was like yours but I purchased an enclosed one from Steve Dempsey it made flying much better and increased cruise speed. The Sapphire is a really great airplane to fly very responsive and a lot of fun. However be warned if you do not have flaps or air brakes it can be a real pig to land.

 

Being so clean and light it just wants to keep flying so shallow approaches are a must unless you have heaps of runway. I used to use full flap and a slow approach and still had trouble on occasions. The Sapphire dosent have any vices in the air the stall is very gentle but can result in more hight loss than other aircraft I have flown. 85 knt cruise with little fuel burn and very responsive controls you will love it. Let us know what you think when you have flown her

 

Best luck

 

John

 

 

[mechfx]

how can we get the Sapphire its own section in the types area, "other rec aircraft " doesn't seem to do these great little planes justice...... Ian ???

 

 

[Admin]

how can we get the Sapphire its own section in the types area, "other rec aircraft " doesn't seem to do these great little planes justice...... Ian ???

I would like to see a few more threads popping up about Sapphire's before we create a separate forum for them

 

 

[bones]

Can anyone relate ????Art

Yep sure can Art right about the time i first laid eyes on one of these, hmmm i wonder who took this pic, thanks for the disk it turn up yesterday, im gonna put a couple of the vids on youtube and throw the links up here soon.

 

 

[mechfx]

its officially mine !!! papers signed today.

 

Taildragger endorsement starts next week (hopefully)

 

Art

 

 

 

[wanabigaplane]

What? Asking about Sapphires?

 

That's great news!

 

I started at The Oaks in the SRFC. I am still a member.

 

:thumb_up: I have a Sapphire. I love it.

 

thumb_down Glides forever. When landing I could side slip it till just before the stall.

 

:thumb_up: Got my certificate in a Lightwing, then stepped straight into the Sapphire with no troubles at all.

 

thumb_down Two stroke powered with belt driven fan. 447

 

:thumb_up: I heard Tim Winton took the motor out of one and went slope soaring!

 

thumb_down The long wings make hangerage a challenge.

 

:thumb_up: 83 knots cruise. No wheel pants, no flaps.

 

thumb_down Stock standard elevator is very sensitive.

 

:thumb_up: My spring centring mechanism worked a treat - could fly hands off..

 

thumb_down Fuel capacity limited for cross country

 

:thumb_up: I once flew it on a trip half way around Australia.

 

thumb_down The cockpit is just big enough for an ordinary person and a credit card

 

:thumb_up: But with great effort I could pack in enough gear to go camping.

 

thumb_down I use AOPA, but ERSA is a legal requirement in the cockpit.

 

:thumb_up: ERSA is much smaller when you tear out the unnecessary pages.

 

thumb_down The long wings tend to tangle with road signs if you land on the highway.

 

:thumb_up: Dissassembly to put it on a trailer is not too hard.

 

thumb_down It is stored in bits around the house at the moment

 

:thumb_up: I will complete the repairs one day and fly it again.

 

Wanabigaplane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Lightspeed]

I have recently brought a Sapphire and are currently sprucing it up. I have built a new dash, installed Black Max brakes and currently have the 503 out and having Richard Eacott looking at it. The motor is mounted in an upright position. I have yet to do Tail Drag and Two Stroke Endorsement. Hope all is going well with yours enjoyed your you tube video Thanks.

 

[ATTACH]11687.vB[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

[Guest burbles1]

I would like to see a few more threads popping up about Sapphire's before we create a separate forum for them

How about getting rid of "Legend Cub" (no posts), move Remos to Other Aircraft, THEN create a new forum for Sapphire.

 

 

[Guest Lightspeed]

I would love to see a Sapphire forum and meet up with other Sapphire owners so many questions and such a steep learning curve.

 

 

[dazza 38]

There is a story in the Aviator Magazine at the moment on the sapphire and a bit on the stabilator-centering system added the the a/c when Don Bowd owned the business in the 1990s.PM me anyone for the details, im worried about copy right.

 

 

[mechfx]

It would be great to share as much information as possible.

 

Here's an example of how good they can be, from the Queensland Ultralight Assoc. Newsletter.

 

 

 

[Guest Baphomet]

That particular Sapphire is a lot like grandfather's axe, I know, I assisted in the rebuild.

 

Baph

 

 

[dazza 38]

PM sent Lightspeed.