Building the new Bushbaby SAFARI

[Oupa-G]

Before I get side tracked with the Vansin story ,today Boet came from Loeriesfontein with the finished spats I exchanged the Banana boy's Explorer tuned and the Voyager instrument brought up to date for the finished spats. Could just not wait and under the gentle purring of my hangar generator finished fitting the Spat on the left hand wheel and also fitted the fairing cover over the brake calliper and axle. It should really look nice when finished. Enclosed some pics.


Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

The week was rough but yesterday finally fitted the spats. This puts the finishing touches onto the Bosvark. I'm now fine tuning the airframe with the autopilot installed and functioning. I reset the tailplane leading edge one hole lower and this has improved the control pressures especially when applying the flap lever part of the flaperons. With the autopilot functioning I will be able to fine tune the EboXi with the laptop connected live. The wheel spats definitely reduce the drag, the speeds are up by at least 5mph. The new rolled gear is really superb and now I'm looking for some Titanium flat plate. The rolling process is wonderful because there are no stress points. Per mass of metal Titanium has really got the advantage over steel and aluminium. However all that said the conventional BushBaby gear is hard to beat taken all factors into consideration. The airframe is quite draggy so you have this 100 mph wall. All-though the Bosvark now runs 108 mph without little effort. It is wonderful how well this all works out on the BushBaby simulator.

Enclosed some photies of the wheelspats

Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

This evening the wind was pumping and I concentrated on the final fine tuning of the flaperons. The stick was slightly over to the left when flying straight and level so I did the minimal adjustment to the flaperon linkage. So I will see the final result testing it. It is amazing how well the eye can judge. We can see if a painting is not hanging level. The eye can also judge the rigging. Boet has built the airframe very straight and from day one she flew ball centre and wings level. Ystervark7 has made some wiring changes to the wiring loom set-up to prevent single point of failure. The EboXi's have functioned without any hassle and I will check my harness to make sure the latest mods are up to date. As far as I know they are, but there is no harm in checking. This system gives two independent electrical systems. The alternator with its own small battery and the main battery connected by a 25amp circuit breaker. When the circuit breaker is disconnected the two systems work independently.
Any one system can keep the engine running. The alternator system will let the engine run till you run out of fuel, the battery will let the engine run for at least 1.5 hours and then the electrons will start a voltage drop. The volt meter should give ample warning. It however should give ample time to land. Under normal conditions the two systems work as one integrated system. It however gives the ability to have full dual fuel systems as well. Seeing that fuel supply is the major cause of engine stoppages. On the issue of running out of fuel we have thought about many aspects but we seem to not come to a good answer, so filling up is still the cure for that problem. I managed to acquire a nice 3 phase generator , I think ESCOM is not yet finished with us so I'm connecting it to my house supply . The thought of being interrupted while building aeroplanes is just not acceptable. On that high note goodnight.


Cheers Oupa-G

[Oupa-G]

Tonight started my Trike with a new extended gearbox and the latest version of the EboXi I also changed the gearbox ratio from 3.5:1 to 3.2:1. The software and settings were bench loaded and she started first time and ran as per book. Were getting better with the bench tuning as we now have so much more data collected from the actual field trials. Fine tuning is of course still necessary as each prop and gearbox ratio has a different power absorption characteristics. Also the exhaust plays a significant role. My old trike still has a 1100 R engine in it and that in it self also makes a big change. The big service changing oil and fuel filters etc. I will also check the valve play . This is a critical observation because any overheating of the exhaust valve will show up as stretching which will tend to may the valve play less. So far in the last 500 hrs we have had no decrease in the valve play which is very encouraging. With a bit of luck she can fly this weekend.


Cheers Oupa-G

[Boet]

After days of waiting for ideal weather conditions, I bit the bullet this morning, and took the Banana Boy`s Bee Em Explorer for a flying lesson. The engine has HEAPS of power, and pushes one back in the seat. Take off was reasonable fast, and climb-out spectacular. Once at 1500agl, it was incredibly turbulent so did not stay up for long. Flying this plane is typical Explorer, ie: A very nice , sweet handling aerie. Peter is no doubt thrilled, and has probably already blown the froth of a couple`!

I will fly again earlier tomorrow morning, and get some facts and figures jotted down for comparison. Wifey took the pictures........

[caneco]

CONGRATULATIONS ..

[Boet]

This morning dawned all bright and sunny, and not the slightest breath of wind. A nice day for some more test flying!! so off I went. The engine starts easy even when it is cold. Once the temps start to rise, everything becomes really smooth. It feels strange to be flying in no wind conditions. Until I started climbing above 1500 agl. All hell broke loose, and it was like flying into a tumble dryer!!, so slightly down, and everything returned to normal. OK, so this is a 100mph aeroplane. Not too shabby, hey Nige?? It flies hands off, so no airframe tuning exept a bit more spring tension on the left rudde pedal. Then it will be a hands and feet off aerie. All the temps stayed within limits. It seems once you have the BM engine sorted, that it will be a very smooth powerplant!!

[Oupa-G]

Congratulations Boet,

The temps look right looks like the oil temp was 83C

I realy looked at this aeroplane when I did some tuning in the Cape and she is very very beautiful.

Good luck Boet

Cheers Oupa-G

[Boet]

Thanks Oupa, and also a HUGE thank you for helping me with the fine tuning of this engine.

[ystervark7]

Congratulation Boet. I think that Boet and Tommy have done an excellent job. I have seen the plane a while ago and it is a very neatly build plane (As all Boet's planes)

[Boet]

Thanks Otto. We just twy and twy again untwil we got it wight.

[rainier]

My, my,...
Do my tired eyes see quite right ?
Is that really Boet flying with a smile behind an MGL EFIS ?

Congrats, spoke to Oupa just now, seems he loves his new autopilot (not sure if it's the one in the vansin or the bushy).

Been a long, long hard slog to get the AP to be the best in the World, but it definitely is now there and we are getting loads of great feedback from all who have fitted the new MGL servos to all kinds of aircraft.

Anyway, glad to see this aircraft has finally made it thanks to the tenatious efforts of so many (against the efforts of so many that threw obstacles in the way).

Congratulations again, may this arie live to 100 and give its current and future owners great joy...

Rainier & the rest of the gang at MGL Avionics

[Boet]

Jaaaaa Renier, I am still trying to comprehend the overload of information, but I am impressed. Yes, the BMW engine does indeed show a lot of promise, but then so does the little Toyota Yaris under developement at Saldanha. That engine just done it`s 40 hour test time, without misfiring once or breaking down. Typical Toyota. Boringly reliable...... I also recently flew that plane, MGL EFIS equipped as wel. I must admit that I am starting to enjoy this panel. Once you get to understand it`s workings, it is not too complicated. Might pop by one day, and you can show me the ropes. We have to give the customer what he wants.

[Aerosan]

This morning dawned all bright and sunny, and not the slightest breath of wind. A nice day for some more test flying!! so off I went. The engine starts easy even when it is cold. Once the temps start to rise, everything becomes really smooth. It feels strange to be flying in no wind conditions. Until I started climbing above 1500 agl. All hell broke loose, and it was like flying into a tumble dryer!!, so slightly down, and everything returned to normal. OK, so this is a 100mph aeroplane. Not too shabby, hey Nige?? It flies hands off, so no airframe tuning exept a bit more spring tension on the left rudde pedal. Then it will be a hands and feet off aerie. All the temps stayed within limits. It seems once you have the BM engine sorted, that it will be a very smooth powerplant!!

Everything in this panel is so flat you could be flying anywhere in the Freestate..... sy lyk sexy man

[rainier]

Have you flown behind a G2 yet ?
That's even more impressive (even for me and I made the damn thing), managed to squuuueze two G2 Voyagers into my trusty Jora. With AP of course, hardly fly anymore, just do the take off and landing and then hand over to "crystal" our new (slightly sexy) female EFIS voice. Getting closer to the landing now - the AP can intercept a localizer and guide the plane right down the glideslope (including the GPS based GLS system). If you don't do something, it crashes you right into the numbers...

I have been following progress on some of the Yaris engines installed on aircraft - very, very good so far. I hope Toyota will allow somebody to commercialize this so it moves away from the tinkerers to something you can get off the shelf. This is the most promising competition to Rotax yet. BMW would be too - but without BMW's support it has no real future. Sadly.

Keep up the good work !

Rainier

Jaaaaa Renier, I am still trying to comprehend the overload of information, but I am impressed. Yes, the BMW engine does indeed show a lot of promise, but then so does the little Toyota Yaris under developement at Saldanha. That engine just done it`s 40 hour test time, without misfiring once or breaking down. Typical Toyota. Boringly reliable...... I also recently flew that plane, MGL EFIS equipped as wel. I must admit that I am starting to enjoy this panel. Once you get to understand it`s workings, it is not too complicated. Might pop by one day, and you can show me the ropes. We have to give the customer what he wants.