Thank you all for your useful and/or interesting reactions.
In my earlier contribution I stated some reasonable criteria for my kit
aircraft and the Europa appeared the only contender.
I also listed all 11 kit aircraft that I could find that are not too far
---From the ballpark (by optimistic mfr's numbers) - with URL for the
benefit of any other pre-builders who are deciding for the Europa so
they can see for themselves (curiously they stayed in the woodwork).
The 11 are a disparate collection indeed, probably further testimony to
the remarkable combination of design points represented in the Europa.
So it was probably ungrateful/pretentious/unrealistic of me to wish for
a slightly different weight/affordability trade-off.
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For completeness, at the risk of making myself unpopular: there is
actually another contender by my stated criteria list (missed earlier
because mentioned incorrectly in EAA AeroCrafter):
www.hb-aviation.com : Brditschka HB-270 Alfa
Porsche 110 hp, T/O distance 689', 551 lbs, 152mph, de-rigs
aluminium, VP prop, retractable tri-gear, quiet, since 1995
'weight efficiency' 551/992=.55 is very low
! beware - mfr's numbers !
comments quote: small bagage space, useful load.
no reviews/activity found on the internet.
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I will stick with the Europa.
And I can't be a pre-builder anymore, I understand. Short career.
Jan de Jong.
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