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1. 06:22 PM - Origin of 701 and Savannah designs (JG)
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| Subject: | Origin of 701 and Savannah designs |
*The Origins of both the 701 and the **Savannah** aircraft designs*
* *
*We keep hearing the accusation that the ICP **Savannah** is a rip-off copy
of the CH701. *
*Well, that=92s not true at all. *
*This is the true story of how it all happened.*
* *
*At Sun=92nFun 1983, Chris Heintz and Max Tedesco, who had first met in 198
0,
started considering the possibility of designing an all-metal ultralight
using conventional aircraft construction. At that time most ultralights
were very basic tube and fabric construction. *
* *
*First sketches started on scraps of paper and napkins right then, at a **
Lakeland** caf=E9, one evening from **6 pm** to **midnight**, with Max=92s
younger daughter sleeping on a chair=85 This was followed by six trips fr
om
**Columbia** to **Canada** by Tedesco, to work on the design with Heintz,
and to check the flying characteristics of the plane, Max being a very
experienced pilot, and a good test pilot. Several modifications were
incorporated to the design following these test flights. That=92s a
considerable involvement on his part! Max is a very modest man, so when he
emphasizes to me that he contributed a lot to that process, I take that to
mean a whole lot. *
* *
*So the 701 itself wasn=92t designed only by Chris Heitz, it was already ve
ry
much a joint venture. *
*Now that=92s a surprise to all of you, eh!!! *
*But as Max says, =93An aircraft design needs only one =91father=92, so Chr
is took
on that roll and Max stayed in the background.*
* *
*At this point we need to introduce Max Tedesco. Born in **Colombia**, he
went to a **Technical** **High School** in **Italy**, studied Mechanical
Engineering at MIT, then Aeronautical Engineering at **McGill** **Universit
y
**, specializing in monocoque and semi-monocoque construction. He set up a
n
aircraft factory in **Colombia** and built a variety of aircraft under
license, often modified for agricultural spraying. These are ideal
qualifications and experience to work on the design of an aircraft such as
the 701. To learn more about Max have a look at
http://aeroandina.com/eng/maximo.htm *
*http://www.aeroandina.com/eng/historia.htm*
* *
*When the prototype 701 was flying, Heintz began selling plans and kits fro
m
**Canada**, while Tedesco returned to **Colombia** and commenced
manufacturing ready-to-fly 701s. By 1990, when I first met him at Sun=92nF
un,
Tedesco had built 112 701s for the South American market, and had introduce
d
in 1989, the first 80% ready kit as a world exclusive. *
* *
*In those days, Zenair used to assemble a 701 during the week of Sun=92nFun
and fly it at the end of the air show. I noticed that the quick-build kit
that we assembled at Sun=92nFun in 1990 was one of those made in **Colombia
**,
not **Canada**.... *
* *
*Max is an innovative and experimental engineer, and couldn=92t help seekin
g
improvements to the 701. Any designer will know that a first prototype can
almost always be improved, and evolution leads to better and better results
.
The 701 prototype had lots of aspects that could be improved (and it still
does....) Max was never satisfied with the cutaway over the cabin and the
inverted airfoil horizontal stabilizer. So Max redesigned the 701 to becom
e
the first MXP **740 in** October 1992, with a longer wing, and a different
cockpit construction to accommodate the carry-through centre wing section
instead of the cut-away. Also, a different tail section, with a symmetrica
l
horizontal stabilizer instead of the inverted airfoil of the 701, larger
elevator, and conventional rudder on a fixed vertical stabilizer. *
* *
*In Kitplanes Magazine December 1997 there=92s a photograph of Chris and Ma
x
in Colombia looking over an MXP 640, Max=92s derivation of the 601 which wa
s
completed in November 92. This was a month after the first 740, so Chris
saw and experienced the 740 at that time. Chris had a chance to incorporat
e
those mods, but chose to stay with the original 701, while Max went on to
produce the much improved 740=92s.*
* *
*Max was exporting 740=92s to an agent in **Italy** for the European market
,
and had shipped 142 ready-made aircraft there. Little did he realize that
the agent had set up a factory nearby, which became ICP, and who then
disassembled a 740 and copied it into a CNC machine, pretty much rivet hole
by rivet hole! *
*It was this rip-off copy that became the Savannah**. *
* *
*SO THAT=92S THE TRUE STORY OF HOW THE **SAVANNAH** CAME TO BE!*
* *
*Credit where credit is due, eh........*
*Full credit must go to Max Tedesco! *
*He designed a great aircraft, for which others are now reaping the
benefit...... *
* *
*Max couldn=92t find any protection from patent law, and so his company end
ed
up in bankruptcy and he lost his house as well........ *
* *
*Then, how about the twisted irony that, when BRM in **Portugal** copied th
e
**Savannah**, ICP tried to sue them! I=92m told that lawsuit failed, and s
o
it should have.....*
* *
*
...........................................................................
.........................................
*
* *
*But the sad story doesn=92t end there at all........*
* *
*It=92s way too long for a forum posting so read it at*
*http://www.stolspeed.com/origins-701-savannah***
*-There=92s a whole lot more about how Max=92s other designs have been ripp
ed
off in **Eastern Europe**, and at home.... *
*-Remember the =93Patriot=94 that was going to be Zenith=92s LSA entry?? T
hat was
designed and built by Max and company.*
*-To see what one of Max=92s other designs can do, have a look at*
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0_DGNKlzXs*
*-Find out about the =91Guardian=92 aircraft that Max has been asked to sup
ply
for US law enforcement.*
*-See the new designs Max has coming out in the spring.*
*- The story=92s not over for this man, who=92s a brilliant designer, but
who
doesn=92t do much for self-promotion.....*
*His work sure deserves to be better known and recognized!*
* *
*More at **http://www.stolspeed.com/origins-701-savannah***
* *
John Gilpin
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