I had the pleasure of building one as well. There is nothing like taking off in an airplane the first time and knowing your hands put it all together. I also have owned a CH701 and the Savannah VG is by far a much better airplane. The CH 701 is a good basic design but can bite you really hard if you don't keep power in the entire time while landing as you loose elevator authority. The Savannah is designed and refined and requires no throttle to use the elevator at an idle. I love the short field operations as well. No one can beat the Savannah VG except a Quicksilver MX. Congratulations! Enjoy many years or a lifetime of this strong bird!
What is the design difference in the elevator that causes the difference. I know about the full flying rudder on the 701 - thought that was it's main quirk.
Gday, yes, i did a lot of research between the CH701 and the Savannah before deciding on the Savannah, mainly was build quality, i am an aircraft structures engineer by trade, and also was a flying instructor for a while, in flying both, the Savannah was always a lot easier to handle and more responsive at low speeds, and gave me a lot of confidence, the 701, not so much, also, the 701's i looked at just didn't look quite right from a structures build point of view, the Savannahs al look almost like a factory built aircraft like a Cessna or Piper. we have 1000 hrs on it now and its been a very reliable and great aircraft. love it.
@@rcbif101 main reason is the elevator and fixed horizontal stabiliser profile, the 701 is an inverted aerofoil, whereas the savannah is a symmetrical aerofoil, at high AOA, the 701 elevator essentially stalls at a negative AOA, reducing effectiveness a lot at high AOA of the main wing, causing a loss of downforce, and quick nose drop. also, the area above the cabin of the 701 produces a lot of turbulence that moves along the top of the fuselage and over the lower portion of the rudder and inboard of the elevator. the Savannah with the wing profile continued above the cabin does not cause this, and the fixed part of the vertical stabiliser in front of the rudder helps stop turbulent airflow before it hits the moving surface of the rudder. some very good info here about the 701 elevator leading edge. stolspeed.com/tail-feathers . and some tuft testing of the 701 Vs Savannah over cabin wing section. stolspeed.com/cut-away . Hope this helps.
@@thecitybushpilots.3208 When they first started test flying the 701 it had a really bad tendacy to wallow so they made that style of horizontal stabilizer to correct a fundamental design flaw, I was the shop manager and lead assembly supervisor at Skykits before they moved to Tennessee. It still kills me that they still call the leading edge slot, "slats" at Zenith, I had a few arguments with Eric over this. I looked over a lot of 701s and couldn't agree with the argument that the 701 was better, took you 3 times as long to build and flew half as well. Nice airplane you've done a great job, I like the slotted wing but would build a vg too if was building one for myself. I like your paint scheme it enhanced the look of the airplane the Savannah definitely has its own styling cues and I've seen some decal packages that definitely don't add to the aircraft, the way you've done it actually enhanced the natural lines of the aircraft. For what it's worth I've built quite a few of these and you've done a great job. All the best to you and yours from Canada
Awesome video! Great to see the Savannah back in the air and great to see (what I hope is) the first of many new vlogs. Looking forward to all your travel adventures. And cool to see the familiar sights of the BK circuit again as well, that's a nice blast from the past. Looking forward to the next one, stef 👍
yes, its been a long few years, and thanks, you have been part of the inspiration to start doing videos as well, and get myself out of my comfort zone. and who could forget the YSB Circuit area.
I'm thinking about going to an Ultralight flight school to get my license. Their fleet includes Savannah, Ikarus C42 and Aerostar Festival. I also have the option to become a glider pilot, but I prefer ultralights. Do you think these airplanes are safe? I know they're flying at low speeds and only when the weather is acceptable. I am also aware that their safety depends on the pilot and the maintenance. But I'd still love to know the opinion of true professionals. Thank you and great video!
depends on the registration, while our Savannah is home built, there is also a factory built option, which is what the flying schools have to use legally, and they have to be maintained by trained and licensed engineers, it is not legal to be trained in a homebuilt aircraft iin Australia, unless you are the owner of that particular aircraft. sorry for the late reply, How is your training going?
is it possible to have further information on the ipads and the equipment to which they are connected ?, and more generally on the entire control panel Thank you
The Ipads are connceted via Wifi to, 2 Ilevil AHARS units in the back of the aircraft, they are solid state gyro, gps, and Air data units, the central instrument is a MGL avionics, Mini EFIS, and has a 3rd backup gyro, and pitot static system, as well as provides all our engine monitoring for the Rotax 912. we will replce the Ilevil units with an externally mounted self contained unit called the BOM, so save on more weight with wiring and pitot static system plumbing
Very nice video! I'm the Norwegian ICP representant, and have flown Bingos, Classic, VG and S models plus many other planes. I've never seen your iPad setup before, which app is this? Seems spectacular! I have an iPad in the centre between the clocks, and this could be a useful backup! I'd appreciate your advice. Very nice looking VG by the way! :)
Hello, thank you for the compliment, as for the ipads, the software we are running is from levil Aviation (levilaviation.com/) and its their app on the ipads . though other apps are compatible as well., and we use 2 ilevil 3 AW modules to provide data to both ipads, usually each module send info to 1 ipad each, and if one fails, we can just use the other ipad to get the data from either module. i installed 2 completely seperate pitot static systems, one for each ilevil module. in the centre we have a MGL avionics Xtreme EFIS, (www.mglavionics.com/html/xtreme_efis.html) which gives us all our engine data from the Rotax, including both water temperatures, and all 4 EGT;s as well, and it is also a PFD backup as well, it is also connected to the original ICP Pitot static system that 1 of the ilevil units uses, so we have 3 backups for flight data . also, the ilevil apps can also run on smart phones, so if both ipds fail, and the MGL, we can still use the phones.. if they die, you just fly the usual way by looking outside. we are also using a Red cube fuel flow sensor (www.steinair.com/product/red-cube-fuel-flow-transducer/) to get accurate fuel readings. we redesigned the fuel system so that the fuel flow sensor is after the return line join, so it only reads fuel that is going to the carburettors, so no need to calibrate K factors and stuff like that. overall, with the rewiring with light weight aircraft grade wire, and removing all the old avionics, we managed to save a bit of weight. Our next upgrade soon will be to replace one of the ilevil modules with a wing mounted Levil B.O.M module. and remove one of the pitot static systems and wiring.
At 2:46 some lettering comes into view that you might consider blocking out. It's a bit unpleasant to be sitting with one's teenaged daughter watching videos of a plane you might build, and unexpectedly seeing something that's the antithesis of "good manners".
amazing video, nice to meet you here, success always for my brother
thanks
Very nice. I will get mine today
I had the pleasure of building one as well. There is nothing like taking off in an airplane the first time and knowing your hands put it all together. I also have owned a CH701 and the Savannah VG is by far a much better airplane. The CH 701 is a good basic design but can bite you really hard if you don't keep power in the entire time while landing as you loose elevator authority. The Savannah is designed and refined and requires no throttle to use the elevator at an idle. I love the short field operations as well. No one can beat the Savannah VG except a Quicksilver MX. Congratulations! Enjoy many years or a lifetime of this strong bird!
What is the design difference in the elevator that causes the difference. I know about the full flying rudder on the 701 - thought that was it's main quirk.
Gday, yes, i did a lot of research between the CH701 and the Savannah before deciding on the Savannah, mainly was build quality, i am an aircraft structures engineer by trade, and also was a flying instructor for a while, in flying both, the Savannah was always a lot easier to handle and more responsive at low speeds, and gave me a lot of confidence, the 701, not so much, also, the 701's i looked at just didn't look quite right from a structures build point of view, the Savannahs al look almost like a factory built aircraft like a Cessna or Piper. we have 1000 hrs on it now and its been a very reliable and great aircraft. love it.
@@rcbif101 main reason is the elevator and fixed horizontal stabiliser profile, the 701 is an inverted aerofoil, whereas the savannah is a symmetrical aerofoil, at high AOA, the 701 elevator essentially stalls at a negative AOA, reducing effectiveness a lot at high AOA of the main wing, causing a loss of downforce, and quick nose drop. also, the area above the cabin of the 701 produces a lot of turbulence that moves along the top of the fuselage and over the lower portion of the rudder and inboard of the elevator. the Savannah with the wing profile continued above the cabin does not cause this, and the fixed part of the vertical stabiliser in front of the rudder helps stop turbulent airflow before it hits the moving surface of the rudder. some very good info here about the 701 elevator leading edge. stolspeed.com/tail-feathers . and some tuft testing of the 701 Vs Savannah over cabin wing section. stolspeed.com/cut-away . Hope this helps.
@@thecitybushpilots.3208 When they first started test flying the 701 it had a really bad tendacy to wallow so they made that style of horizontal stabilizer to correct a fundamental design flaw, I was the shop manager and lead assembly supervisor at Skykits before they moved to Tennessee. It still kills me that they still call the leading edge slot, "slats" at Zenith, I had a few arguments with Eric over this. I looked over a lot of 701s and couldn't agree with the argument that the 701 was better, took you 3 times as long to build and flew half as well. Nice airplane you've done a great job, I like the slotted wing but would build a vg too if was building one for myself. I like your paint scheme it enhanced the look of the airplane the Savannah definitely has its own styling cues and I've seen some decal packages that definitely don't add to the aircraft, the way you've done it actually enhanced the natural lines of the aircraft. For what it's worth I've built quite a few of these and you've done a great job. All the best to you and yours from Canada
Hi. Im interested to know if you paint stripped the hole plane before repainting it, or if you just paint over the top of the old paint.
Cheers john
Awesome video! Great to see the Savannah back in the air and great to see (what I hope is) the first of many new vlogs. Looking forward to all your travel adventures. And cool to see the familiar sights of the BK circuit again as well, that's a nice blast from the past. Looking forward to the next one, stef 👍
yes, its been a long few years, and thanks, you have been part of the inspiration to start doing videos as well, and get myself out of my comfort zone. and who could forget the YSB Circuit area.
beautiful
Thank you! Cheers!
Wow! Beautiful airplane, well done!
Thanks a lot!
I'm thinking about going to an Ultralight flight school to get my license. Their fleet includes Savannah, Ikarus C42 and Aerostar Festival. I also have the option to become a glider pilot, but I prefer ultralights. Do you think these airplanes are safe? I know they're flying at low speeds and only when the weather is acceptable. I am also aware that their safety depends on the pilot and the maintenance. But I'd still love to know the opinion of true professionals.
Thank you and great video!
depends on the registration, while our Savannah is home built, there is also a factory built option, which is what the flying schools have to use legally, and they have to be maintained by trained and licensed engineers, it is not legal to be trained in a homebuilt aircraft iin Australia, unless you are the owner of that particular aircraft. sorry for the late reply, How is your training going?
good video. good aircraft. what's you app on ipads?
sorry for the late reply, the app on the Ipads is the default app used by Levil aviation, who also make the rear digital gyro and pitot static units.
is it possible to have further information on the ipads and the equipment to which they are connected ?, and more generally on the entire control panel
Thank you
The Ipads are connceted via Wifi to, 2 Ilevil AHARS units in the back of the aircraft, they are solid state gyro, gps, and Air data units, the central instrument is a MGL avionics, Mini EFIS, and has a 3rd backup gyro, and pitot static system, as well as provides all our engine monitoring for the Rotax 912. we will replce the Ilevil units with an externally mounted self contained unit called the BOM, so save on more weight with wiring and pitot static system plumbing
Very nice video! I'm the Norwegian ICP representant, and have flown Bingos, Classic, VG and S models plus many other planes. I've never seen your iPad setup before, which app is this? Seems spectacular! I have an iPad in the centre between the clocks, and this could be a useful backup! I'd appreciate your advice. Very nice looking VG by the way! :)
Hello, thank you for the compliment, as for the ipads, the software we are running is from levil Aviation (levilaviation.com/) and its their app on the ipads . though other apps are compatible as well., and we use 2 ilevil 3 AW modules to provide data to both ipads, usually each module send info to 1 ipad each, and if one fails, we can just use the other ipad to get the data from either module. i installed 2 completely seperate pitot static systems, one for each ilevil module. in the centre we have a MGL avionics Xtreme EFIS, (www.mglavionics.com/html/xtreme_efis.html) which gives us all our engine data from the Rotax, including both water temperatures, and all 4 EGT;s as well, and it is also a PFD backup as well, it is also connected to the original ICP Pitot static system that 1 of the ilevil units uses, so we have 3 backups for flight data . also, the ilevil apps can also run on smart phones, so if both ipds fail, and the MGL, we can still use the phones.. if they die, you just fly the usual way by looking outside.
we are also using a Red cube fuel flow sensor (www.steinair.com/product/red-cube-fuel-flow-transducer/) to get accurate fuel readings. we redesigned the fuel system so that the fuel flow sensor is after the return line join, so it only reads fuel that is going to the carburettors, so no need to calibrate K factors and stuff like that. overall, with the rewiring with light weight aircraft grade wire, and removing all the old avionics, we managed to save a bit of weight.
Our next upgrade soon will be to replace one of the ilevil modules with a wing mounted Levil B.O.M module. and remove one of the pitot static systems and wiring.
Great aircraft, 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 red cube, what instrument does it feed? Thanks
the red cube fuel flow meter feed data to the MGL Avionics Extreme EFIS.
what is the name of that Ipad App?
sorry for the late reply, the app on the Ipads is the default app used by Levil aviation, who also make the rear digital gyro and pitot static units.
happy i got to be the 69th like
just need the 42 like now
At 2:46 some lettering comes into view that you might consider blocking out. It's a bit unpleasant to be sitting with one's teenaged daughter watching videos of a plane you might build, and unexpectedly seeing something that's the antithesis of "good manners".
sorry about that, the actualy wording of that sticker is See you in the NT, a state of Australia, obviously spelt a little differenty.