Jan --
Interesting analysis you posted -- your Europa decision is a good one, for
the reasons you stated.
Comparing mfr's specs yields only approximate results. For U.S. designs,
there's no regulation of how gross weight is determined, and in many cases
what they say for landing/takeoff performance are optimistic for everyday
flying by non-test pilots. Example: a Lancair IV-P owner (with 550 hrs in
it) told me he's very nervous with strips under 3,500 ft., and 3,000 ft. is
out of the question -- you won't deduce that from their advertised numbers.
Similarly, wing loading, and even weight alone (mass/momentum) affect how a
plane reacts to even mild turbulence, and therefore comfort and ease of
landing. Thus, in the planes you numerically compared, the Ban-Bi, Kitfox,
and Europa are three totally different airplanes in terms of the flight
experience.
Re weight, the Europa is not made from carbon fiber and lighter weight core
material like some other composite designs (but that stuff is very
expensive). Like any fast-build kit, there's not much weight savings left in
the build process for the XS, until you get to deciding on the extent of
instrumentation, avionics, interior fabric, soundproofing, and how much
finish-coating you'll wind up with. Those pounds can add up.
Regards,
Fred Fillinger, A063
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