Building the new Bushbaby SAFARI

[Oupa-G]

Just to put all records straight the MGL autopilot is the best. If you own a Citation or a PC12 or a Baron with a reliable Century autopilot the adjustment is always a hassle. If you have a MGL system you can adjust the sensitivity in seconds and tune it just the way you want it. We are fortunate to have the "best brain" in the industry in Rainier. MGL is the market leader. I agree with Rainier that help from BMW would be very nice doing the work on the engine it would be very nice having factory support.
There are so many complicated aspects like detonation vibration etc A little change can have big dynamic effects at 7000rpm.

We are still lucky to have NTCA and we must fight for our freedom, I'm in Plett and on my way to The Whisper to do the final tuning.

Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

Went to Knysna to help Derek with the final tuning of the Whisper I helped with the making of the final loom and the final wiring diagram. We are very specific in the design and the redundancy aspects. We also exchanged the bottom plugs coil on plug coil for the old fashioned coil as used on the R1150. On the first run up evrything was spot-on and the Whisper should take to the air very soon. Derek was assisted by Warren Rosewell and his partner Francois. Also the good news is that build numbers have been issued for the other Safari projects so things are now moving.
Enclosed some pics.


Cheers Oupa-G

[Grumpy]

Hey fond memories, CCU old stomping ground.
How you doing Warren?

[Boet]

Hi Derek, she looks ZU- Ferkin Bloody Nice!

[Boet]

Oupa had some misfortune this weekend. The "Cape doctor" south-easter blew the doors out of the hangar where the Vansin is housed. The doors fell inwards on top op the aeroplane, but somehow, the tow bar, wich was still connected to the tailwheel, was standing straight up, and that kept the door from damaging the Vansin. Oupa says the wind just tore the welding loose from the main structure. Must have been some wind. Waiting with bated breath for some good news....

[Oupa-G]

I have been quiet on the net the last few days it was work and work. Coming back from Plett and the Whisper trip I was greeted by the by-product of the Cape Doctor This is why the rain is inland and for that I will gladly repair the hangar door. We had to wait because the wind kept on pumping and was threatening blowing the other doors of, but we will work through this one easily as I do not need a hangar build number I can just go ahead and fix it such that the wind will not do it again some time later. I also do not know if this is an incident that should be reported the tow-bar took the crunch, the question of course, is the tow-bar part of the hangar or is it part of the aircraft . If it is part of the aircraft should CAA be informed so I have to watch out I am getting into that paperwork spiral. Hope the festive season will save me from this .


Cheers Oupa-G

[Jean Crous]

OupaG, sterkte met die hangar se regmaak, ons is saam met jou bly dat die Vansen nie beskadig is . Van my en Hildegard beste wense aan OupaG en gesin vir die kerstyd en nuwe jaar.
Groete
Jean

[Boet]

Oupa het Saterdag verjaar. Hy moet nou beginne ophou verjaar, anders gaan hy oud word!! I did some more flying in the Banana boys`s aerie. It was hotter `n hell here today, but flew anyway to see what the beemer would do on a hot day. Kept on purring away happily, and max oil temp in sump was 103 deg C. Wind was pomping and very turbulent. Aircraft handles beeaudifull!!

[Oupa-G]

Boet I have flown when the OAT was 39C and the engine dissipates the heat well. The aerie is beautiful if it was not that I have actually seen the aerie I would say those pictures are actually photoshop but then of course they were taken with a Canon.

All my hangar dooors are now fixed and ready for the next big wind. Have put on extensions on the the rail slide. It is quite amazing what the wind does , when the one door was of the wind force sort of inflates the hangar and the the long span that is now the 15M span blows up like a balloon and the whole beam lifts and the dooors pop of their rails. Last nite finished my trike so it should be airborne in a few days. I changed the backup system from a single impulse to the new generation 60-2 setup with the EboXi in its latest form. On the Bosvark I have had a very funny thing happen the counterweight of the balancing shaft came loose and did some damage. The bolt which should be able to handle vibration because that is its main job , came loose. I will have to take the engine apart to inspect. The bolt was assembled ex factory without Locktite and I recommend proper torque as well as securing with Locktite as it is difficult to wire lock. The pre-stretch in the bolt should prevent loosening. This was a pre-used engine so the history is actually unknown. Will keep posted on my finding and recommendation.



Cheers Oupa-G

[Boet]

To all the readers of this popular thread, MERRY CHRISTMASS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. And remember to fly safe!!

[Grumpy]

Hoop Kersvader het julle daar in Loeries gevind.

[Ian]

To all the readers of this popular thread, MERRY CHRISTMASS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. And remember to fly safe!!

And if there was an award for the most / best informative/interesting thread in 2010 this would get my vote

Thanks to Oupa-G and all for your continued updating

Cheers ian

[Oupa-G]

The best to you all. It has been busy after the door that was blown onto the aeroplanes wen did some serious inspection to the possible deeper damage . We had to take Ystervark's wing apart and check the leading edge tube for any nicks , the only damage was a broken rib strut and on the inspection we found the nose plate holes had ovalized a new plate was made and the wing assembled . It is now lying flat on the hangar door the South Easter does not want us to put the wing back onto the Trike. Will send foto's later. Seeing Braam to-morrow at 7 to check some temps on a Gyro.


Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

The wind is such that I cannot open my hangar, there are three trikes in the hangar and Ystervark's wing is lying on the ground and I cannot get the Vansin out. I want to fly to tune the Banana boys Explorer at this stage it is a no go. We inspected Ystervark's leading edge tube we were scared for a ding but we were lucky however we fin the nose plate with oval holes and that is repaired the wing is together and under tension already but the wind is preventing us to put it on the Trike. Braam was very helpful with the paperwork of my Trike and Vliegvark's trike and we are very grateful for that. Braam gave me some insight to the workings of CAA and the complexities of hierarchy personalities the fear for taking responsibility and all the makings of a big state departement. We as aviation consumers just do not have the clout and the importance as a big Airline and hence we are actually a "las" They forget that a big developmental part is coming from the home workshop tinkerers. They should be encouraged. Today helped Anton with Bosvark II to fit the wings. Picture enclosed.



Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

The year ended I was flying the Vansin there was a fluctuation in the fuel pressure and because the fuel pressure is read from the fuel divider the symptom was serious and needed investigation. There was actually a fluctuation and rise in pressure which disappeared when the fuel pump was switched on almost like vaporisation of fuel. I wanted to fly to Loeriesfontein to tune the banana boy's Explorer. I opened all the filters and also removed the finger filter in the fuel injection body. I found the following some fine dirt in the finger filter no dirt in the main filter, but a leaking O-ring in the fuel strainer. The engine pump was sucking air when the electric fuel pump was switched on the flow was better. I'm enclosing some pictures. When I wanted to fly to Loeriesfontein the thunderstorms were active and I went with the Toyota. I tuned the BMW Explorer . Boet in his test flying program had problems with sudden acceleration like you do with a go-round . That was soon tuned and I drove back to Durbanville and left for Plett for my annual holiday. Before I left the wind subsided and I could test fly the Trike which has had it big service. All was perfect and she is ready for the next 300 hrs.

When back from my holiday I will tackle the Bosvark hope the paperwork and the wing loading is completed. I'm removing the second 60-2 sensor ring and I'm going to use the original engine pick-up for both Eboxi's. I had a problem with the counterweight coming loose and doing some damage. That will be attended to in the new year. Enclosed some pics.


Cheers Oupa-G