Yes it is true, you can rig a Europa on your own with the help of a few
gadgets in less than 10 minuets. I have actually done it 7 on a good day !.
Unfortunately I have no plans for my design, simply because it was not
designed on a drawing board, more a case of a few ideas in my head, bits
and pieces of metal,a mig welder, and some glassfibre materials left over
---From the build. The intention was to prove my ideas, (proof of concept as
Ivan would put it), so there was a certain amount of cut,nip & tuck type
alterations to get it working along the way. But the prototype worked so
well, that the intended refined model is still on the back burner,- I'm to
busy flying !
Anyone who can make it to Bidford is welcome to see the results, but for
those who can't I will try to explain how it works.
The fuselage is supported by a dolly made from 1"x1" box tube, welded up
space frame style, with a glassfibre cradle molded to suit. It is secured
to the plane by shoot bolts that engage into the hollow wheel axle of the
plane, so that the fuselage can be wheeled around without wings or any
other means of support. I have also fixed two scissors type jacks to the
frame which allow me to lift the main wheel of the ground for maintenance,
and for stabilizing the combination when it is being transported - the
dolly has soft pneumatic tyres because we have to rig on rough grass.
The wing dollies are of a clam design that fit on the wing tips, and allow
the wing to be rotated from the flying position to the vertical (leading
edge down). I made the clams out of sheet steel and tubular frame work
covered in a foam backed vinyl, which provides sufficent grip without
damage to the wing surfaces.
Taking the spar in hand the wing is pushed wheelbarrow style into the
trailer (box type, but I see no reason why it should not work on an open
version) along guides on the floor, which take the dolly into docking
receptacles. The spar is lifted into its support bracket and clamped and
that's all there is to it. The wing stays in its dolly so there is not
transferring from trailer mount to dolly, no wasted time, and less chance
of damage, the docking brackets also clamp the dolly to the trailer
automatically, so there is no bouncing about when on the move.
The fuselage is winched backwards into the trailer until the torque tube
docks with its receptacle which prevents movement in any direction. If we
are transporting, the jacks are lowered to just stabilize the fuselage and
a ratchet strap is fastened to the dolly each side to stop it jumping
around.
Jim Naylor No 39
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