Another NEW Savannah XL on its way

[Kyle Communications]

Here is a better pic of the finished plane..this is what went with the paperwork to RAAA

 

 

 

[eightyknots]

Here is a better pic of the finished plane..this is what went with the paperwork to RAAA

I'll write it in the approximate colour of your lovely looking aeroplane:

 

I am so happy for you, for achieving those two milestones!!

 

(kilometre-stones don't quite sound right do they?) What a great week you've had.

 

I hope you enjoy your well-earned South Seas cruise. Instead of floating on that ship, I bet at night you'll be dreaming of flying.

 

 

[rankamateur]

I'll write it in the approximate colour of your lovely looking aeroplane:I am so happy for you, for achieving those two milestones!!

(kilometre-stones don't quite sound right do they?) What a great week you've had.

 

I hope you enjoy your well-earned South Seas cruise. Instead of floating on that ship, I bet at night you'll be dreaming of flying.

Every second letter should be white then, but I guess that would make them hard to read.

 

 

[eightyknots]

Every second letter should be white then, but I guess that would make them hard to read.

Hi Rankamateur, Every time I look at your avatar, I see a stunning green coloured plane. Is this a factory-supplied colour? Do you have a larger pic of this plane?

 

 

[rankamateur]

Hi Rankamateur, Every time I look at your avatar, I see a stunning green coloured plane. Is this a factory-supplied colour? Do you have a larger pic of this plane?

The picture is the original picture of the red S from the factory, uploaded into Picnik, which has since been taken over by Google. There is a function in there that girls(I have three daughters) use to change the colour of there lipstick in their facebook profile pictures and such, I took Holden SS comodore "Atomic" green and pasted a square of it in the corner then played with the colour palette until I got a near match then overlayed the red with the paint fuction using a narrow brush setting, all while watching tele at night, and that is the result. I will PM you and get your email adress and send you a bigger one if you like.

 

 

[Ballpoint 246niner]

Yep the weather at the moment is worth bottling. Best run we've had for I can't remember. It will always be remembered that much brighter tho with your achievement.

 

I think solo is the flight you look forward too, but passing your test is the one you always respect most in years to come....

 

 

[bobcharl]

Congrats Mark on both your final inspection and a successful flying test. What a week!

 

Bob

 

 

[samuell]

Plane looks great .Enjoy it as much as u can ,nothing better to clear the head than flying time.

 

 

[rankamateur]

Plane looks great .Enjoy it as much as u can ,nothing better to clear the head than flying time.

Cruising the south Pacific would do it for some people!

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Hi All

 

I got back on saturday morning and in the mail from the previous week was my pilots licence that didn't take long it was sent in the same express post bag as the aircraft documents. Today is my birthday and what better present could I get was in the mail this morning the licence and paperwork for the Sav came today. So took the afternoon off...seeing I am the boss I can do this to finish the little jobs to do. Finished finalising all the markings for the fuel tanks in the wing roots fitting the joystick cover and sealing up the wing root holes with aluminium tape. All that is left to do now is the 3 minute full power engine run and fit the 2 outside brackets that fit at the rear top of each door these cover up the rear of the door flap where you can get to the wing mounting bolts my brackets are a little different they have more room in them as they cover over the parachute straps I had to leave them off for the inspection. Will try to get that done tomorrow but the weather looks like crap increasing rain for tomorrow then rain for friday and blow your head off windy for saturday so if the weather is stable then sunday could be the big day

 

Mark

 

 

[nathan_c]

Nice work mark, the savannah looks amazing. Im jealous! I was at caboolture gliding 2 weekends ago and I looked at the hangars to see if you had it out or at least the door open so it was visible. I was going to come say hello :)

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Hi Nathan

 

I was away on the cruise starting that saturday just got back last weekend. I will be poking around this weekend doing the final touches and have to do my full power engine run will be tomorrow or on saturday...the plan is to test fly on sunday if the weather is ok...supposed to be windy on Saturday if not will do it on Monday...hangar 91 is where I will be or maybe taxiing around the place

 

Mark

 

 

[nathan_c]

I wont be there gliding this weekend unfortunately so I wont have a chance to come over to the hangar. Ill make an effort next time Im there to have a look if your hangar is open and if it is Ill come and have a jealous look at the plane :P

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

Here is a better pic of the finished plane..this is what went with the paperwork to RAAA

That's a beauty!

 

[Akromaster]

Very nice Sav Mark...Never really liked the look of the sav, but what a difference a colour scheme makes. Yours and the blue one on RAA members market makes me want to get one!

 

Ak

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Hi to everyone who has put up with my ramblings on this thread. SHE FLYS

 

The story so far was yesterday I did all the finishing off bits and pieces then got setup for the 3 minute full power run. Wow thats scary sitting in the plane lashed to my work van and also standing on the brakes while this engine is roaring away for the longest 3 minutes I have ever spent there really is some serious power in the engines. Today dawned and looked reasonable Bill had flown out to the Gatton breakfast and let me know when he was leaving Gatton so I went up to the hangar and filled the tanks to around 25 litres each ready for him to arrive. Everything was set ...Bill arrived and we got her ready to fly. Bill took off and went out towards Bribie to do stalls and test a few things then came back and did a touch and go and then on the second circuit a nice sideslip and landed and bought her back. We discussed what he thought and about the trim and stick position which needed some adjusting for optimal use but fine to fly with. I then jumped in Bill's Sav with him as I wanted him to check me again as its been almost 3 weeks now since I last flew so did a couple of circuits with him and I was ready to go and fly my pride and joy.

 

I surprisingly was not nervous at all just focused on what I was about to do. The takeoff was uneventful but different to Bills aircraft. My prop is set coarser than Bills and my Sav surprisingly really gets moving and leapt off the ground the climb out seemed really fast as well. I flew out to Hazelton up to 3000 and did a few stalls and turns for about 10 mins then came back joined the circuit did a touch and go then came back again and landed for a full stop. With Bills comments on the trim setting for level and the stick position after I flew her he was right so I then adjusted the trim tab on the elevator and also the stick position for level flight then took her for a fantastic late afternoon flight to check what I had done and I now have the stick slightly too far forward so will adjust that and also a final adjustment of the trim position and thats really all I need to do. At this stage she flys dead straight so probably no extra trim tabs like on a few Savs both homebuilt and factory built I have seen, she pretty much flys hands off now not even any rudder trim either I think.

 

I am very contented tonight as I write this it been not quite 2 years since the kit was delivered but only really got fair dinkum in building her in August last year but I am so very happy with the way she flys and performs. I filmed Bill doing the test flight I have edited it and it is uploading to youtube now so will post a link to it when its done. Had to use my dad's older video so please excuse the 4x3 format and the not so good quality as my good one crapped itself a couple of weeks ago.

 

Some have asked me why I didn't do the test flight myself. I am a very low time pilot and I have made a couple of mods to the aircraft especially where the flap lever is concerned so I wanted a very confident experienced pilot to fly her first to make sure there were no untoward turns or when using the new flap system there would be no issues that could get me flustered. I think this is also why I was quite calm and focused when I flew her as I knew she wouldn't bite me

 

I must thank Cosmick for shooting some pics of me flying my first flight with my camera so at least I do have a record of my first flight in the aircraft that I built...what a project and what satisfaction I can only recommend this highly to anyone considering building their own aircraft

 

All the flying pics are of me flying there is one with Bill in there just before the test flight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pudestcon]

Well ain't that something else?

 

I've got a big grin for you Mark, but I bet it's not as big as the one you've got on your face!

 

Well done and thanks for keeping us up to date with what's been going on. It's great to follow your journey.

 

Happy flying.

 

Pud

 

 

[Cosmick]

Congratulations Mark,

 

She is a lovely bird, you should be proud.

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Video is up of the test flight

 

 

 

[pudestcon]

Video is up of the test flight

Ya gotta be happy with that Mark.

I reckon I detected just a slight bit of tension in your voice as Bill fed the power in to take off, and the relief when you could see it was flying as it should. And the sense of satisfaction during the discussion with Bill after the flight.

 

Bloody good stuff mate.

 

Pud

 

 

[corvairkr]

Absolutely awsome Mark! What a massive achievement you have a beautiful looking aircraft there, well done.

 

Jason

 

 

[bobcharl]

Mark,

 

What a wonderful achievment.Your sense of satisfaction must be huge. She looks and sounds just great.I wish you many happy hours flying your pride and joy.

 

Its been a pleasure to share your journey with you via this forum Mark.Thanks for that.

 

Good luck,

 

Bob

 

 

[rankamateur]

As far as the comment in the video about constant speed prop from the factory, approved for factory built, ICP have approved Airmaster constant speed unit and Bolly blades for use on factory built planes, I believe.

 

 

[ave8rr]

Congratulations on the successful test flight Mark.

 

Now for the 25 hours (or more) test flying.

 

Cheers

 

 

[eightyknots]

Hi to everyone who has put up with my ramblings on this thread. SHE FLYS

Hi Mark,

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed your great progress reports and progress pictures and this spurs me on to get to the point where I can construct my own aircraft. Your aircraft not only looks good:score 010: but flies well and that must be a double sense of achievement.

 

Congratulations with reaching this fantastic milestone! I am sure that you will not find it to be a chore to fly off the required 25 hours . I hope you'll have many more great flying adventures in your Savvy. Well done.