Just came across this tread.
Nice plane, but I just watched the posted video and would have some concerns. If you stop it at 1:49 you will see some big wrinkles at the root of the right wing. Something must be flexing a lot to have wrinkles that size. More wrinkles at 1:18. What would cause that?

Kootenayjoe

Improper heat setting on the iron when covering for one.

Strong enough to bend?!?!

Also noticed at 2:06 looked like throttle was on right side.

I do see the Rans S7 lines, but really like the cub style tail and cowling.

It's in German, but a cool video nonetheless. It gives a good demonstration of the retractable Datums. I want a set.

What?? No off airport landings? I kept waiting for "the good stuff". I did like the German sub titles though.

The Datum's still seem to be the cat's meow for brand new light aircraft retractable wheel skis. Mine are holding up great anyway. They are also the ONLY new retract's out there, LSA type, non cert, and under 5 digits, well under. The other newer designs are all wheel penetration type, not wanting to start a discussion on the reasoning why that is, just stating a fact.

http://www.gloryfy.com/

Bernhard Hinterberger in Italy
The multiple German champion, European- and World Champion in cable wakeboarding, Bernhard Hinterberger, once more delivers unique and spectacular pictures. The shoot, which took place on the 652 km long river Po - the longest river in Italy - definitely proved that wakeboarding is not only fun in combination with boats or waterski lifts and that being towed by a “Savage” lightweight airplane is just as entertaining.
Bernhard Hinterberger’s comment, when asked about this once-in-a-lifetime experience, was: „The biggest challenge was the extreme speed at which the plane pulled me across the water. Wakeboards are normally meant for speeds of around 30 to 40 km/h, but today we never went any slower than 80 to 100 km/h, as the plane needs a lot of speed to stay in the air.

Got up in the Savage again Friday. Got about 20 more landings in and was gonna get my sign off for tw and solo but the winds were a little too gusty and my instructor just wasn't ready to cut me loose yet. (I was feeling good about it, however).

I love this airplane!!! Such a blast to fly. I'm editing the video of some of the Friday flying now. Will post soon.







Sealed up the door with some cheap foam weather stripping. It worked great. I want to re do it cause it was a quicky job to get going again. I installed it on the door and the door frame on the fuselage. Worked great.

Cool deal!

Session two: Learning the tailwheel. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

I got the two worst landings of the day, and a clip of me grabbing the OH SHIT handles during a stall while the instructor was at the controls. We did 18 more landings throughout the day and they progressively got better. Of course I didn't get any of those on film.

I love this airplane. I also love flying tailwheel.

Well, we have come a long way now, haven't we?

Finally got the 29" Airstreaks, 6" HD Extended Gear, and Matco Wheels and double puck brakes mounted. George Happ at Matco was a huge help in getting this project done. Couldn't have done it without him!

Before:
26" Goodyears on stock gear


After:


Before:


After:




And some others, after I got it home.




Love this little airplane.

Damn, looks great Evan! I'm still hoping to sneak out there and see my old citabria this summer. If I do we'll swing over and check your place out!

You're going to love those 29" Airstreak's

Wow, impressive transition to the bushwheels! Has a mean stance now, love it!

Wow, looks like a million bucks!!!

Pretty freakin sweet!!!! How do u like that increase in AOA? [emoji2]

Crzyivan13 wrote:

This is one of my favorite pictures of your airplane! Loving the new look - that nekkid gear is awesome!

**For the non-rednecks out there, "naked" is simply unclothed - "nekkid" is unclothed and up to no good!**

Skalywag wrote:Pretty freakin sweet!!!! How do u like that increase in AOA? [emoji2]

Love it. Being able to get the tail that much lower makes a difference in both takeoff and landing. I can hop into ground effect a little quicker and make a little slower three point. (Or at least that's how I'm justifying it. )

CapnMike wrote:

Crzyivan13 wrote:

This is one of my favorite pictures of your airplane! Loving the new look - that nekkid gear is awesome!

**For the non-rednecks out there, "naked" is simply unclothed - "nekkid" is unclothed and up to no good!**

Thanks Mike. The new gear is much more stout than the original gear, and a bonus that it looks bad ass too! The bigger tires catch a lot more wind and I think that the larger surface area of the covered gear would make that worse.

I haven't noticed much of a difference in cruise speed over the 26" Goodyears. Probably 2-3kts. Maybe more though. Its been really windy here lately and hard to judge cruise speed stuff with the gusts.

Crzyivan13,
Now you need to update your avatar!

On my Citabria I only noticed 2-3kts cruise difference from the 8.00s to 31s. So I'm sure your bang on Evan.