What's a BushBaby ?

[MYR]

New on this forum, new pilot, and french from Reunion Island, it is very difficult to express myself and understand what you say ...
That you call "BushBaby" seems to be the US "Avid Flyer" ?
This firm was in bankrupt for several years.
So where does come from these aircrafts ?
Is there a firm that buidt them again in south Africa ? or are they built by 'amateurs' ?
Where does come from the parts ?

[Sox]

Welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy the people you meet here.
Look at the link to the Home of the Bushbaby - a locally manufactured aircraft.
http://www.saplanes.co.za/
Have a good weekend.

I will try my worst French translation:-
La bienvenue au forum, espèrent que vous appréciez les personnes que vous rencontrez ici.
Regardez le lien à la maison du Bushbaby - un avion localement construit.
http://www.saplanes.co.za/
Ayez un bon week-end.

[MYR]

Thank you Sox. Your French is certainly better than my English !

These spécifications :
http://www.saplanes.co.za/bushbaby/bb_specs.htm
are for which engine ?
I guess the dealer will not answer me this weed-end.
I don't want to wait 20 years to make a choice for a plane.

This BushBaby is the same than the bankrupt Avid Flyer ? Don't you think so ?
If so : it is probably a very good aircraft made by an official builder in your country.

NB : The Avid Flyer is no more built. It is sold only by kit :
Have a look at :
http://www.avidflyeraircraft.com/more.php
http://www.archange-ulm.com/accueil.html
http://www.airdale.com/index.html

[T. van Vuuren]

Hi MYR.

The Bush baby was/is a local copy of the Kitfox 4 as far as I know. Made in "Afrique de Sud" as a kit and then is assembled by the owner under the "amature built" rules of the CAA.

I have seen Bush babies fly with Rotax 582 ,Rotax 912 , VW conversions or maybe continental 85.

I am not sure if the company sells "fly away" planes or just kits, but there are many of them in S.A.
The Avid flyer, bush baby, kit fox breed of planes are basically all the same design with a welded steel fuselarge (some use 4130 others use SAE1010 /1020) and use a alluminium extruded tube as wingspars with plywood ribs, and all is fabric covered.

As far as i am aware, the company has just mowed premisis, so comunications with them might be slightly slower than normal.

Hope it helps you in your quest.

Theuns.
L-18c ZU-EMX

[Boet]

The Bushbaby is a purely South African kit aircraft. Produced right here. We have NO connection with Avid..... exept a very remote family resemblance! For more information you can contact me personally at bushbaby@hantam.co.za

[Bushbaby Aircraft]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. I guess you were wrong about us answering over a weekend . Thanks Boet for replying so quickly. I am busy working on our website and haven't been watching the forum. Like Boet said, the bushbaby is a aircraft in it's own right and have proved over the years that it is a strong and versatile bushplane. The addition of the explorer to the family increased our market to accomodate those corn fed boys. Even this wasn't enough so the Safari came to see the light this year. The safari was developed specifically to target the new sportplane catergory. Boet is busy building the first two examples and should be finished within two to three months. We are aiming to quilify for the JAR standards for export to europe and other countries. This will mean that the all up weight will be anything from 700 - 750 kg with an empty weight of under 380kg when fitted with a BMW or 914 T engine.

Yes we do build factory build aircraft. Fly away the Explorer cost in the region of R400 000 excluding VAT and shipping to other countries. Fitted with a 912s 100hp rotax and all the required flight and engine instruments for VFR flight. We do not have a final price for the completed Safari yet but we estimate it to be in the region of R420000-450000 depending on the engine option. The fitment of a BMW 1200GS motor or a Jabiru 120 hp 3300 can bring the cost down considerably. The complete self build kit costs R130 000 VAT incl (without engine, instruments and final paints) Hope this helps.

We will have more info on our website within the next week. I took over the website this week and there is a lot of work to be done. Please be patient while I work to update the site asap. Happy hunting

[MYR]

Thanks to 'Boet' and 'Mr Bushbaby aircraft'.

I am very disapointed that the busbaby is not a copy of the Avid Flyer.

If it was the same or something close to it, I would have been reassured.
The problem is I know nobody who have flown whith a Bushbaby

Thank you for your proposal : I'll write you.
Perhaps could you already tell me if the Bushbaby spécifications that are written in your website concern it with the Rotax 582 or the Rotax 912, or with another engine ? (it is not written on your website).

BRGDs

[vernon11]

Hallo Myr.
When I was at SA kitplanes in November, sorting out our Bush Baby. They had up to that stage sold One hundred and thirty Bush Baby's. That is quite a few. With my minimal experience with them, I have fallen in love with the A/C.
Welcome to our SA.
Regards,
Vernon.

[Bushbaby Aircraft]

It is the 912 option. There is nearly 100 Bushbabies flying in South Africa and 140 kits sold. You can be rest assured of the quility and safety of the aeroplane. This aeroplane has been arround for over 15 years. Happy Flying(I sent you a e -mail)

[Mogas]

Hello MYR
Welcome to the forum.
I am the other half of the new owners/operators of SA Planes.
Because there are so many options available and unless the aircraft is factory built, specifications will vary. The specifications quoted on the website are rather generalised but give a reasonable idea of the aircraft performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7IIZ8DWrNE
Just incase you missed this thread, here is a link to a short movie made by myself and "Bushbaby Aircraft"
The white one with the nosewheel, ZU-BUN is factory built and has a Rotax 912UL fitted.
Mine is the red one, ZU-DZI which I built 3 years ago. It has the 100 hp 912S with a woodcomp inflight variable pitch propeller. Empty weight is just over 290kg.
I still have all the prooving flight testing data which I would be happy to share should you find it usefull.
Mogas

[Dusty Eagle]

Hi MYR.

Attached is a pic of my Avid mk1V which I am refurbishing next to a brand new Bushbaby kit.

The kit is about 9" longer, the cabin about 2' wider and 2' higher.

You can see the generic relationship of the bushbaby to its grandad.

You have not said why you were interested, are you thinking of purchasing a kit or built plane?

regards,

Nico

[MYR]

Hi MYR.
Attached is a pic of my Avid mk1V which I am refurbishing next to a brand new Bushbaby kit.
The kit is about 9" longer, the cabin about 2' wider and 2' higher.
You can see the generic relationship of the bushbaby to its grandad.
You have not said why you were interested, are you thinking of purchasing a kit or built plane?
regards,
Nico

Very very interesting !!!
I wanted to know the differences between the 2 aircrafts.
I guess the Cabin of the Avid is too small ?
For the 2 planes : Could you tell me exactlely the widths (at the hight of the shoulders), the hight from the seat to the roof ? (id like to know at which height will be my eyes ...).
Are the seats adjustable ? (toward the front and the back).
Are you seated as in a chair ? (not as on a floor like the 'Skyranger' : inside this 'Skyranger' you feel having the knees under the chin).

I will buy a 'redy to fly'.
I'd like to build a kit but it will be for the next time.
My first aim is to fly very soon.

Nobody wants to deliver me a plane in flight ?

[Dusty Eagle]

MYR,
I will take some actual measurements for you tomorrow and post a pic of the Avid and the BB seating arrangement.
None of them move forward or back, are not on the floor and Iam 85Kg and fly quite happily with a passenger of the same wieight without discomfort in the Avid.

We have a big brother forum, www.avcom.co.za, which covers GA flying and there are guys who seem to fly anything to anywhere. If you have a look, you will see a chap's postings on his ferry flights, great reading, but a microlight to you might be stretching things a little.
As you know, these aircraft fold their wings back. It might be best to buy the one of your choice and crate it in.
If you want any more imfo, just post.

Regards.

[Low Level]

Mogas - forgive me for this, but I was laughing so loud in my office this morning, my collegue wanted to know what was going on. I saw this:

Hello MYR
Welcome to the forum.
I am the other half of the new owners/operators of SA Planes.

written to a foreigner - no problem.......but then I saw you're avatar. . I was canning myself.


Sorry

[KFA]

Morning guys. Mogas in Dubai but am sure he will catch up on this as soon as he wakes up(been flying all over). I have updated the price list on the website and made it a little easier to understand the different models we now offer. The rest will follow soon. www.saplanes.co.za