Opinion on cheetah - owners preferably

[Stephan van Tonder]

thanks guys. Where does the safari fall in license categories though - probably firmly in PPL?. So I won't be able to fly one on an MPL anyway. As far as the new coming LSA license with an all up weight of 600kg?. Safari in or out of that?.

[John Boucher]

Irrelevant... I'll still take a Cheetah any day and I am not down playing the BB's.

I agree with Morph regarding the covering of the Cheetah. Trylam is the covering of choice and is easier to keep clean.

The ease of repairs on the cheetah (should there be an incident) to the modular tubing construction is also a plus point.

[Stephan van Tonder]

John - yes I'm pretty much set on a cheetah - trylam covering. Going to go visit Pierre Dispan this weekend - he is out Krugersdorp way and has built his own from the kit. Get an idea about the amount of work and what is needed etc. Looks like he has gone with the jabiru 2200. Now does anybody know an easy bank I can rob?.

[John Boucher]

If you are going to do the JAB 2200 (85hp) installation, speak to Pieter de Necker for a decent prop...

There is also a Cheetah (TD) with a 2200 in Tempe I think. Maybe call Jack Onderstall and have a chat with the owner.

An acquaintance built one at John Weston but installed a Verner engine - was a total balls up and still is till he puts a decent power plant up front. As for the building, the guy was a dominee and found it to be quite easy!

[Stephan van Tonder]

I'm still not sure about power plant. Until I haven flown one with less than 100hp I'm thinking of either 912uls or jab 3300. I really hate underpowered planes. Flown in a cessna 150 and a cherokee which I think was 120/140hp and that is just annoying where a 235 hp cherokee was a pleasure. Yes maybe not the best comparisons but when there is trouble too much HP is always safer than too little.

[Splitter]

Stephan I build a Cheetah about 1 1/2 years ago and it was very easy. The instructions they supply is good. I installed the 912 ULS and it was exellent and very fast. It is good to build your own aircraft as you will really understand its workings then and know exatly how and where to look for what in preflight inspections. I really recommend it as it is a nice project and I really enjoyed it. It took me about 3 months every evening and weekends to complete the project.

[John Boucher]

Buy the kit and get your backside into the air!

[Stephan van Tonder]

John trust me on this one. If I had the cash in the bank right now I would have picked it up tomorrow morning

[African Grey]

Here's some additional info..

Another great point (for me) is having Rainbow Aircraft on our doorstep. Anything wrong and its only a 15 to 20 min flight to Springs. Vladimier and Alexi are always ready to listen to us as pilots and value our input - really top class guys Most problems I've had are resolved in a day...! Spares are mostly off the shelf too.

Ask 3-wheels about this morning...got him to come with me to Rainbow for a few things I wanted done....rather at the factory than me hassle about it here at Circus. Vladimier signs off the job card and Volia after a breakfast in the East we are on our way home again.

Coming back to circus at 13:30pm / 30 Deg C - 15knts crosswind...all the Cheetah owners will back me up on the following (912s Remember).
Airbourne in the drop of a hat - 70m at most. Cruise comfortably at 95mph - 2 up (3-wheels must be close to ???kg ), burning 14l/hr at 5000rpm. Kiev 3-blade Prop is the way to go....! Give it horns and it will do 100mph and cruise at that...here at the reef....but the fabric gets taught and in hot thermic conditins, bobs around a bit. Encountering heavy turbulence slow it to 80mph and it becomes incredibly stable, the airframe flexes slightly and that with the fabric absorbs the bumps like no other A/C...BIG BIG PLUS WITH RAG AND TUBE AND EXPECIALLY THE TRILAM......ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
Again, here it from 3-Wheels he could not belive it. Life span on the Trilam tested to 20G's (photo's to prove) after approximately 4000hrs in the sun of which 1500hrs where flown....the fabric although faded still held it's shape and did not tear at all...!

On the A/C itself, I had a student wanting to do "Advanced Training" with me on the Cheetah - was training on a 582 then. His definition of "Advanced Training"was heavy cross winds that he would not normally want to fly in. . I called it dangerous flying, but took him to FAVV in 18knts....found a 90 degree runway. Approached at 65mph (with flaps...more on this later) weathercocked it nicely and fed in rudder just above the tarmac and we greased every landing...amazing in crosswinds but you need lots of practice to keep the speed constant and wings nice and level... I've found that the Cheetah prefers 1 notch of flaps in heavy crosswind - you have more control...!

Pheeewww....I really enjoy the Cheetah but then again it suits my needs perfectly...Side by side, Rugged, Great handling, long range tank, local spares, Excellent factory support, excellent training aircraft and not too shabby in the speed department. Do yourself a favour and do a spreadsheet and compare values of all your requirements and make your decision on this. The Cheetah is very good value for money. The 912s for me is the perfect combination here at the reef....the ventral fin is also a must.

ps. If anyone tries to reach me. Please rather send me an sms...!
Some days I fly for 3 hrs and the folk moan because I do not call back...then before I can answer all my messages, I must fly again - more messages - viscious circle. In the Cheetah I can reply to sms's and arrange things

AG

[3wheels]

Ask 3-wheels about this morning...got him to come with me to Rainbow for a few things I wanted done....rather at the factory than me hassle about it here at Circus. Vladimier signs off the job card and Volia after a breakfast in the East we are on our way home again.

What a great bunch at Rainbow, we flew in and things just happen. Vladimier has a great set up and is very willing. Great to see service like that !! ( Rare in SA)

(3-wheels must be close to ???kg )

Yes "pork - chop" ....I mean African Grey actually 105 KG and with Russ at close to that as well !! the Cheetah performed like a dream!


I am really impressed with the Cheetah, a great arie at good value. As Russ said, do a spreadsheet and there is not much, if nothing that competes head to head with this plane.....and a pleasure to fly.

One day when I'm big, I'm gonna get me one of them Cheetah's !!

[Stephan van Tonder]

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate those answers. Thanks Russel great to hear from another instructor using them everyday. I saw the same thing Heavy crosswind - 1 notch of flap and keep the speed at 75 and she does fine. I'm going to make a plan and visit rainbow one weekend and have a look at the factory - Vladimir said they are there most weekends. Will see if I can pop past there tomorrow morning after flying.

[John Boucher]

Stephan

AS you can see, there aren't any dissatisfied Cheetah owners here....

The only thing I would want Alexei to change is the brakes... I wonder how far they are with the new ones / discs?

[Chunky]

I Flew ZU-SMC That is used at Russel Birds Airschool. Aircraft flkies like a dream. Smooth Powerfull and very responsive.

The exeact version sold at Panorama includoing a hanger for less that 300k the other day.

Well worth the money.

[Stephan van Tonder]

oh man. If anybody hear of a deal like that going again please tell me !

[Dre'man55]

Cruise comfortably at 95mph - 2 up (3-wheels must be close to ???kg )

Even I have flown it, excellent. Russ before you chirp don't even go there

Piece of cake to fly, if you can fly a plane of flight sim you can fly this one. This thread has even got my azz itching again.

Only have about 5hrs on the type but maybe should get that conversion done?