Savage Cub Australian Flight Manual © X-Air Australia 2008 Release 1.2 Page 12 of 40
Fuselage
Consists of a reticular structure made up of TIG-welded 4130 aeronautical steel tubing.
Access to the cockpit is gained via a single canopy on the right hand side of the fuselage
which opens upwards. The fully adjustable seating frame, ample space for the pilots, good
all-round visibility and ergonomic controls make flying comfortable and safe even over long
distances. Type-approved 4-point seat belts increase the overall sensation of safety provided
by the aircraft.
The engine firewall section is made of stainless steel to provide optimum protection against
fire. The rest of the fuselage is fully covered with a 90-120 g aeronautical skin which is
treated and painted. All welds are checked with the aid of penetrative liquids and the tubes
are protected against corrosion from their interior (optional).
Windshield and windows are made of Lexan F 5006. The Savage features a complete set of
dual controls with the exception of the flap lever. There is a roomy storage compartment
behind the passenger seat.
Wings
The wings are of the rectangular type with rounded wing tips, the profile is a modified 4412.
The structure is made up of two tubular spars in aeronautical aluminium alloy (doubled on the
inside where necessary) and a classically designed system of compressors and diagonals.
The ribbing consists of 11 ribs attached to structure and sewn to the fabric skin. Each wing
root houses a welded aluminium tank containing 34 litres of fuel, the fuel level is visible to
both pilots. The wing is covered with aeronautical 90 g treated fabric skin. The flaps can be
set to 3 different positions with a maximum extension of 35 degrees. There are two strong
aluminium uprights and a universal joint which allows the wings to be folded back for on-road
transport purposes. The wings are manufactured from 2024-6061/T6 type aluminium. All nuts
and bolts are of aeronautical quality. All the engineering documentation concerning the load
tests and studies were carried out by aeronautical engineers Franchini and Vizzini (who
previously worked at Aeritalia and then Boeing in Seattle) with the aid of sophisticated
programs such as the French Catia (aerospace) and the American Nastran, this
documentation is available on request.
Tail
The Tail is cruciform and consists of welded tubing covered with a fabric skin. The rudder is
connected to the tail wheel for taxiing manoeuvres.
The horizontal tailplane is equipped with mechanical trim and can be folded upwards for
storage. Ample surface area of the controls provides extremely positive control, especially
when flying at low speeds (a situation in which the Savage perform best), wet weather or in
crosswinds.
Undercarriage
The undercarriage has the classic rear-wheel tricycle or "taildragger" arrangement. The front
wheels are fitted with independent pedal-controlled hydraulic brakes. The suspension is of
aeronautical-standard elastic design with a steel safety cable to prevent over-extension. The
tail wheel is equipped with a release mechanism which allows it to swivel freely when better
on-ground tail control is required. Two large tundra-type low-pressure tyres can be fitted to
allow problem-free taxiing over rough airfields (optional).
