Hello everyone, a few words about me.
I am a keen builder/pilot based in Pretoria, South Africa. My main interest is building and restoring mostly LSA class aircraft. I own 10 planes at the moment with 4 of them still in the project stage, the others flying. I also love cross country flying and exploring the lovely country, and surrounding countries, I live in, often camping in the bush and sleeping under the wing.
Other hobbies include photography, mostly landscape, amateur radio and computers. I make a living in the computer industry.
I am looking forward to learning and sharing on this forum!
Fly safe,
Rudi
Hello from South Africa
Moderator: drseti
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:47 am
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: Hello from South Africa
Nice to have you with us, Rudi. I've never been in Pretoria, but had a wonderful Spring holiday in Cape Town, last year at about this time.
Please tell us a little about your planes.
Please tell us a little about your planes.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Re: Hello from South Africa
Welcome. I would agree with Paul, please tell us about your planes and would love to see you photography as well
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:47 am
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: Hello from South Africa
Hi guys!
Capetown is a wonderful city, I lived there for a few years and always find an excuse to go back, in fact I will be back there late next week to go and fetch a plane and fly it back home.
A bit about my aircraft, over the last few years I have build, refurbished or bought the following aircraft, I love things with wings and I love aircraft I can work on and "tinker" with!
Streak Shadow, powered by a Jabiru 2200A, 85 hp engine, a great little plane! Here she is:
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/Stories/Loskop/dsc_0103_std.jpg)
Rans S12 powered by a Rotax 618 75 hp 2 stroke, we had some amazing cross country adventures together! Here she is:
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/photos_aen/HTML/dsc_1922_std.jpg)
Next came a Savannah STOL, build from an Italian kit powered by a Rotax 912EX, 95hp engine. I can operate her from around 35m (about 105 feet) runway and have landed her often in the African bush, sleeping under the wing in a tent. She cruises at around 100 mph and is almost impossible to stall.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/ZU-EJS_Photos/dsc_9577_1_std.jpg)
This Bush Baby is a locally produced kit based on a Kitfox, she is powered by a Rotax 912UL and flies like a dream, really responsive and safe. I have flown her all over Southern Africa.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/photos/2010_10_11_Howick2/dsc_0017_std.jpg)
Next is a KR2, powered by a custom build engine of 2.4l, fuel injected with a Garret turbo charger and inter-cooler producing around 130-150hp depending on the boost. She currently holds the South African record for speed over a 500km there and back track for planes of under 600kg, her average speed over the track was around 179 mph. The engine has since been upgraded and I plan to attempt breaking the world record for that class (213 mph) in her. She is more than capable of attaining that speed at high altitude.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/ZS-VYZ/img_3587_std.jpg)
And another KR2, this one a bit slower with a 2.1l, water-cooled VW engine that is turbo charged and injected as well, her top speed is around 175 mph but the turbo is a bit small, will upgrade it sometime.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/zu-cgr/Photos/zu-cgr_00038_std.jpg)
You might wonder about the turbo chargers in some of my planes, I should mention that I fly from a hot and high (4800') runway that is only around 2500' long so the extra power and altitude compensation that the turbo provides for take-off in the faster planes helps a lot!
Then there are the non flying projects, all "work in progress", a Pietenpol I am rebuilding, another highly modified KR2S, a Russian Aviatika bi-plane build by the Mig factory, a Teenie two and a Zenair 601HDS. Along the way I also had a few planes that I sold......
As far as my photography goes some of my work can be seen here: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rudixsa
And here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63900012@N08/sets/
I was a professional motor sport photographer for a few years, shooting mostly local events and internationally F1 and A1 racing, these days I shoot mostly landscapes for fun!
Thats me!
Fly safe,
Rudi
Capetown is a wonderful city, I lived there for a few years and always find an excuse to go back, in fact I will be back there late next week to go and fetch a plane and fly it back home.
A bit about my aircraft, over the last few years I have build, refurbished or bought the following aircraft, I love things with wings and I love aircraft I can work on and "tinker" with!
Streak Shadow, powered by a Jabiru 2200A, 85 hp engine, a great little plane! Here she is:
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/Stories/Loskop/dsc_0103_std.jpg)
Rans S12 powered by a Rotax 618 75 hp 2 stroke, we had some amazing cross country adventures together! Here she is:
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/photos_aen/HTML/dsc_1922_std.jpg)
Next came a Savannah STOL, build from an Italian kit powered by a Rotax 912EX, 95hp engine. I can operate her from around 35m (about 105 feet) runway and have landed her often in the African bush, sleeping under the wing in a tent. She cruises at around 100 mph and is almost impossible to stall.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/ZU-EJS_Photos/dsc_9577_1_std.jpg)
This Bush Baby is a locally produced kit based on a Kitfox, she is powered by a Rotax 912UL and flies like a dream, really responsive and safe. I have flown her all over Southern Africa.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/photos/2010_10_11_Howick2/dsc_0017_std.jpg)
Next is a KR2, powered by a custom build engine of 2.4l, fuel injected with a Garret turbo charger and inter-cooler producing around 130-150hp depending on the boost. She currently holds the South African record for speed over a 500km there and back track for planes of under 600kg, her average speed over the track was around 179 mph. The engine has since been upgraded and I plan to attempt breaking the world record for that class (213 mph) in her. She is more than capable of attaining that speed at high altitude.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/ZS-VYZ/img_3587_std.jpg)
And another KR2, this one a bit slower with a 2.1l, water-cooled VW engine that is turbo charged and injected as well, her top speed is around 175 mph but the turbo is a bit small, will upgrade it sometime.
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/zu-cgr/Photos/zu-cgr_00038_std.jpg)
You might wonder about the turbo chargers in some of my planes, I should mention that I fly from a hot and high (4800') runway that is only around 2500' long so the extra power and altitude compensation that the turbo provides for take-off in the faster planes helps a lot!
Then there are the non flying projects, all "work in progress", a Pietenpol I am rebuilding, another highly modified KR2S, a Russian Aviatika bi-plane build by the Mig factory, a Teenie two and a Zenair 601HDS. Along the way I also had a few planes that I sold......
As far as my photography goes some of my work can be seen here: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rudixsa
And here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63900012@N08/sets/
I was a professional motor sport photographer for a few years, shooting mostly local events and internationally F1 and A1 racing, these days I shoot mostly landscapes for fun!
Thats me!
Fly safe,
Rudi
- CharlieTango
- Posts: 1000
- Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:04 am
- Location: Mammoth Lakes, California
Re: Hello from South Africa
Very nice fleet, Rudi. It must be a full-time job maintaining (not to mention flying) all of them.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:47 am
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: Hello from South Africa
Thanks!
Yes, the KR's are fun, the closest you can get to a fighter aircraft on a budget, they fly by "thought control", you hold the stick, think where you want to go and that is it, if you move the stick chances are you will over-control
Here is the one that is still under construction, photo taken a while ago, there has been progress since then!
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/ZU-AMV/dsc_9507_1_std.jpg)
It is indeed a full-time job keeping them in flying condition, but it is FUN!
Yes, the KR's are fun, the closest you can get to a fighter aircraft on a budget, they fly by "thought control", you hold the stick, think where you want to go and that is it, if you move the stick chances are you will over-control
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Here is the one that is still under construction, photo taken a while ago, there has been progress since then!
![Image](http://zu-avb.hopto.org/ZU-AMV/dsc_9507_1_std.jpg)
It is indeed a full-time job keeping them in flying condition, but it is FUN!
Re: Hello from South Africa
Nice, you have you hands full but what fun! Checked out your photography, some inspiring shots great job.
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- Posts: 43
- Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 2:45 pm
Re: Hello from South Africa
I really like the Fuse setting on the table in the background of one pic. Welcome aboard and great work.
Tony
Tony
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:47 am
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: Hello from South Africa
Thanks! I live in a beautiful country!CBKERR wrote:Nice, you have you hands full but what fun! Checked out your photography, some inspiring shots great job.
Re: Hello from South Africa
You certainly do, Rudi. If it weren't so damned far away, I'd come there more often!Rudi Venter wrote:I live in a beautiful country!
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV
[email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
-
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:47 am
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: Hello from South Africa
Thanks Tony!cornfieldflyer wrote:I really like the Fuse setting on the table in the background of one pic. Welcome aboard and great work.
Tony
That is a Loehle Aircraft P47, another project that will hopefully fly one day
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:47 am
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: Hello from South Africa
If you are ever in this part of the world again you must let me know! But yes, it is far from almost anywhere.drseti wrote:You certainly do, Rudi. If it weren't so damned far away, I'd come there more often!Rudi Venter wrote:[I live in a beautiful country!