CGS Hawk

[Big-D]

Anyone know where I can see one or better yet go for a demo in one in Gauteng somewhere

I have heard great things about this little airy

D

[Thunderboy]

last year they were at the Krugersdorp fly In which is this saturday

[Johan]

Contact Dave Austin 082 782 7113. He is the agent and lives in Hermanus.
He can advise you on who bought planes in Gauteng.

[Big-D]

THanks Johan, will do

D

[Rudix]

I know there is one @ Groblersdal, ask Elize here on the forum.

Fly safe,
Rudi

[The Agent]

Also at Wonderboom.

[Dish]

For goodness sake D mate, why dont you just finish your challenger conversion and buy a challenger. the hawk is just a knock off of the challenger anyway :D :D :D :D :D

Just kidding mate, it does loook good though doesnt it.

[Big-D]

Wanna go for a spin with you first Dish :D

[Dish]

No problem mate. Look forward to it. :D :D

Plane is currently at Phil having some work done. Im changing some stuff that i wasnt crazy about, i.e moving the brakes back to the joystick, (they were on the left just in front of the throttle) which irritated me because it made doing final checks on the threshold a little cumbersome. Mag drops etc.... Im changing the cockpit configuration to accomodate analogue temp gauges etc, wasnt crazy about the electronic version, ... installing a second PTT on the rear stick, .... getting my radio which has been a little problematic lately wired and completely sorted.... installing a bracket for a GPS (pilot 3) somewhere on the dash... Touching up a few things that i wanted to change and just in general "personalising" the plane to suit me. Double and triple checking cabling, and everything.... a good solid going over.

When (not long now) AFF is back in the air she will look GORGEOUS. Wasnt ugly to begin with, but i promise, she will look fantastic. Lear jets will turn green with envy.

:D :D :D

then we can fly my mate...

[Big-D]

Ja I just spoke to your destructor - Reckon I will go give 3 axis a bash again - Weather kak enough lately to miss a few trike flights and explore the other side of flying

Mods to your ride sounds nice man
:D
D

[Dish]

Cool - we have buckets of fun man !!!

[Morph]

i.e moving the brakes back to the joystick

I had mine on an old volla type handbrake on the RHS. worked brilliantly and could be locked on when warming up etc

[Dish]

Yip - it wouldnt have been bad on the right either. But i just found my left hand a tad busy as the throttle is on the left, the brake was on the left and my mags are on the left, so i would find myself leaning across with my right hand... yanking the brake (which couldnt be locked), trying to power up, and then dropping the mags.... all while stretching across, it was just cumbersome... i quite like the idea of it being on the joystick as that allows freedom of movement for the left hand to do the necessaries.

I suppose its very much a personal preference and to each his own, but this should simplify proceedings a little...



if not i will change it again.

[AndyCAP]

Hi Big D

I had a look at the first CGS Hawk Dave Austin was building (at the time) in Hermanus in Dec 2005. The fuz was on its wheels and seats were in etc so i could get a reasonable idea of the room.

For reference I am 2 m (6'6.75") tall and weigh 110kg (although I probably was bout 117 kg at the time )

the front cockpit room was ok, but headroom was marginal for me I was a bit concerned about the flap lever which is mounted on the upper frame to the left of (my) head. Admittedly, the instrument panel and doors (I think they are just zip close covers i.e. not framed) werent fitted, so I really wanted to re-look at the finished product.

Dave brought one to the EAA show at FAWB in May '06, but unfortionately it was still on a trailer when I visited and it wasnt possible to get in.

My personal opinion is that the Cheetah offers the most room and since I wasnt seriously in the market at the time I didnt bother any further. In general my impression was that the Hawk was more of a microlight (not meant in a derogatory manner at all! ) in terms of construction & feel than the Cheetah - which although of similar construction is IMHO finished to a better standard.

i havnt looked at the pricing recently, but suspect that the Hawk is cheaper.


I'll see if I can find some of the pics I took of the hawk and post them for you te get an idea

[AndyCAP]

Here are some pics of the Hawk CGS

The first 4 pics were taken in Hermanus during construction of the first CGS Hawk in SA (Jan 2006) I am posing as a crash test dummy ! Sitting in the rear seat was really an academic exercise since I really battled to get in and I suspect it would be impossible for me to get in once the wing and covers are on - at least it gives an idea of the space in the rear.

In the first two pics you see me holding a curved bar across the window frame posts . The outer edge of this illustrates the inner curvature of the windscreen, but in reality its mounted much higher to the top of the fuz frame - near the root LE of the wing. Dave and I checked - it may be possible to lower the front seat about 2cm or so which would improve headroom a bit