Building the new Bushbaby SAFARI

[thermalator]

Sorted out the small problem that creep in to all new aeroplanes. Fuel lines sucking air

Enjoy the thread Oupa G You guys definitley know what you're talking about !!

There is a lot of hysteria in aviation regarding Fuel vapourisation, particularly with Mogas & Particularly with Low Wing AC. I know of a few incidents (some write offs) with Rattex Samba's.

My 2c:
do not have any low pressure (suction) points anywhere in a fuel system. All modern cars (mogas users) have in tank submerged fuel pumps + a capillary feed back from the pressure regulator. Which results in the entire fuel system having positive pressure. & the feedback ensures cool vapour free pipes.

In Low wing AC My preference would be: Dual electric pumps mounted just after the selector and the pumps & selector mounted as low as possible in the fuselage.

The Con is of course electric Dependant engine, but yours is already

[Oupa-G]

Dear Thermalator, The ideal is to have the fuel pump in the tank and on my trike that is where I have it. There is a down side to that the high pressure fuel pump is a close tolerance pump and the smallest particle of reasonable solidity for example a slither nylon can jam the pump. So therefore I like a prefilter where I can inspect the filter element. Diligent attention to pipe and fitting sises and the use of high quality pipe and clamps watch out for the Jubilee clamp on the smaller pipe sizes I personally use the Goetze clamps they are the crimping type use once. They seal a pipe perfectly. It sometime happens that builders are far from suppliers and the correct materials are not available and a "boereplan " gets done sometimes very good and sometimes no good. I'm now busy with the routing of pipes and fittings and I will post the photo's

Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

We are honoured by the wonderful response 20,000 hits. Here are some pictures fitting the boot cowl and the positioning of the fuel pump and prefilter, you will see that the two fuel pumps are either side and as far away from anything hot like exhausts. Also it is important to be able to service the prefilter . In the cowling there will be inspection doors to be able to inspect all the vital things like prefilters and the oil sight glass the fuel drain is at the bottom of the header tank. All fuel lines will be covered with fire proof protection. Vliegvark was welding all evening on the exhaust. Tomorrow In will fit the wings and do a weight and balance and then I will be able to tell you about the weight firewall forward. I have all the data of the firewall backward. I will then know and calculate the weight of the cowling radiator etc and the engine. This will be very interesting. I will take fotos.
Enjoy the few pics I have taken tonight. I'm still pushing for end of April.

Cheers Oupa-G

[Cloud Warrior]

OG

You aren't worried about the fuel filter being too close to objects that might damage it if there is a bit of vibration?

What make of fuel filter have you used? I would like to source a good quality filter like that but can only find the cheap versions over here.

Regards

CW

[Oupa-G]

Dear Cloud Warrior,

That position is the initial placement and conception of the position ,on final instalation all the vibration parameers are taken into consideration. There are a lot of correspondence about filters but I personally like the glass filter because I can see the dirt trapped and Ican clean it with no problems. I have a hand full of elements and I clean them with an ultrasonic cleaner. I couple the one side of the filter with a quick coupler so that the process is easy. Any good outboard motor supplier have them in stock there are good USA made ones beware of imitations. Buy the ones with a gaz thread on eitherside then any fitting can be added just remember that there is still a big high pressure after the pump.

Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

Today was an exciting day the wings were mated with the fuselage, and tomorrow the CoG will be checked and the final weight will be known. The wings fitted well and when the weight and balance has been done she will come back into the workshop and the final assembly will be done. Every thing that was previously fitted for size will now be fitted for keeps locked, locktitet, wire locked and whatever is necessary I will keep a checklist that must be signed by two AP's so the most convenient is myself and Vliegvark. He is so lekker fussie when it comes to checking and I can get away with nothing and I like it. Was in Stellenbosch today had a sneek preview on the latest software for the Eboxi of course fully upgradeable . I will hear from Otto when I can let the cat out of the bag. I am not allowed to say anything before he is not 100% happy all I can say it is very exciting. This coming weekend the boys are dragging me of onto the Westcoast so another building weekend gone but I will burn the latenight oil later .The final date is still end of April. There are no more sytems to be completed the baffles are digitized, so its all go.The pics were taken this after noon and there is less of a resemblance to the original Bushbaby . This aeroplane has grown up
Enjoy the photo's
Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

Some more pics enjoy them

Cheers Oupa-G

[MYR]

Hi Oupa-G,
Would you like to show close-up pictures of the air outlet under the cowl ?
Thanks.

[Stephan van Tonder]

Hi oupa-g - any idea of the total weight of the engine/gearbox combo yet?

[Oupa-G]

I have weighed the aircraft with wings etc and it is coming back to my workshop and then I'm taking the engine off with all its fittings and then I will post all the seperate weights in a few days time. I will have all the seperate components weights in detail. The CoG worked out as was calculated.

Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

Had a nice weekend on the Westcoast some relaxing before the final big push. The date of end of April still stands . I see there are more then 21000 hits difficult to believe so much interest. The next few weeks will be exciting because system by system will be assembled and I will document it well. The photo's and their data and date will be part of the final build documentation.

Cheers and thank you for the viewing

Oupa-G

[Low Level]

I see there are more then 21000 hits difficult to believe so much interest.
Cheers and thank oyu for the viewing

Thanking you for keeping it so informative. Can't wait for updates and pix.

[Oupa-G]

Now for the final run got the oil radiators back today after some mods on the outlet it was interfering with the cowling. Also note that the radiator is fully rubber mounted and attached to the fire wall and should have less vibration. You will also note that there is place for a temperature probe on the inlet and outlet so I will be able to see how efficient the cooler is. You will also see that there is a lip around the edge of the radiator to attach the airflow cowling. The mounting brackets were welded by Vliegvark and it is very handy having the welding done in house. Tomorrow the wings come off and the fuselage is coming back to the workshop.

Ps. Boet I'm missing your comments jy is so stil die werk aan die "Animal" hou jou seker besig.

Enjoy the pics

Cheers Oupa-G

[Boet]

Hallo Oupa,
Neeee, ek is so besig soos n eenbeen man op n gatskop-kompetisie. Saf no2 is klaar, en wag vir al sy ander goeters. My errie is ook klaar en wag vir sy enjin

[Wallaby]

I see that the guys from Kitplanes built a Bush Baby last year, ZU-EUO, with the same type of undercarriage. Is it the same as this one or is this one specificly designed for this Safari? What is the track on this suspension? It does look a little bit wider than the original type of suspension that the Animal have on.

Oupa-G, the cowling that Boet made for this aerie, is the space under the gearbox/clutch shaft-a-ma-thingie, fully filled? Don't you think you could've scored a few knots with the cowling a little bit skinnier under the prop? Just currious to know, because the aerie does look very beefy from upfront and with the wider body you don't want more drag than necessary.

Cant wait to see this in person. Where about in the Durbanville area are you? Maybe when I get into town oneday, I can pop in and have a look at this very nice project.