Yah! Yeah! Whoopee!
Steve "Speechless" G.
Bob Jacobsen wrote:
> Finally - the day arrived! Here is the short version - It Flys.
>
> This version might be long so if you don't like long stuff close this and
> move on to the next e-mail. Oh - your still reading - o.k. here goes.
>
> After careful research (I fell in love with a photo) I decided to build an
> Europa. I started building in March of 1999 with the aid of my very
> talented friend Cliff Shaw. I figured it would take a couple of years and
> so we started building. Work progressed a little faster than I though it
> would and in July of 2000 I had a finished plane - finished that is except
> for a piece of paper from the FAA. That's a whole nother' story but just a
> word of advice to all of you U.S. builders. Get your N Number and
> registration taken care of when you have about 6 months left building.
> Anyway the plane was basically done at Arlington and I had the good fortune
> to get a checkout in the factory demo by Jim Thursby. I had flown a Europa
> before but not landed it so the checkout was well timed.
>
> Today I finally got my FAA inspection. The inspector dude came about
> 10:00am - looked everything over and then handed me the Airworthiness
> Certificate I had been waiting for. I started making a final inspection and
> found a kinked fuel line, forcing me to move the fuel pump (fun last minute
> job). Cliff stopped by in a rented Cessna 150 (at least someone was having
> fun) and promised to be over as soon as he took the plane back. We finally
> got together about 3:00 and taxied the plane around one more time - then
> stuck it in the hanger until the wind died down. Today was the worst
> weather we have had in several weeks - go figure!
>
> Finally about 5:30 the wind had settled down and so off we went. Now I
> don't know how any of you felt doing a first flight in a plane that you
> built. Maybe it was no big deal. But I was nervous as heck. (O.K. I was
> scared to death!). Cliff had a portable radio and drove out by the runway so
> I could relay information to him. I taxied out, did a runup, and then
> radioed I would either be taking off or making a high speed taxi down the
> runway. I guess the high speed taxi was just an out - because the plane
> wanted to fly.
>
> I shoved in the throttle and let me tell you things happen fast. The thing
> just leaped off the runway. Controls felt good and the heart rate was well
> under 250 so I just kept on going. N165BB weighs 857lbs empty and has a
> Rotax 912S with Airmaster prop. Cliff & I had set my prop up to pull about
> 5650rpm static thrust so I wouldn't overspeed on takeoff. Good plan because
> I had lots to do. After takeoff I pulled the power back and just climbed on
> up to about 2,000 feet. Climb rate was showing at 840fpm at 5200rpm. -
> woah! (that's with the gear down) Things felt pretty good so I pulled up
> the gear. I set the prop for cruise and had to keep pulling the power back
> to try to keep the speed down - finally wound up at about 130mph at about
> 4200rpm. The prop was trying to figure out what I was doing (I think it
> wanted to go much faster) and the throttle was only open about 1/5th of its
> travel. I was talking to Cliff on the radio giving reports - I really don't
> remember what I was saying but man does the the thing fly sweet.
>
> I made a few very shallow turns - still amazed that I was really flying, and
> flying really well. The ailerons are really nice, make sure you make them
> work smooth, the payoff is incredible. I did an approach to stall to see
> what the airspeed did and felt a burble, but the airspeed needs some work so
> I can't come up with an exact speed yet. After this I decided to go land.
> I pulled what was left of the throttle back and entered the pattern. The
> gear handle wouldn't go down, providing me with another increase in the
> heart rate. Did you know you can hear your heartbeat though the headsets on
> your first flight? The phenolic pad was catching the gear lever and it took
> a little work to get it in the slot. Must have been a real interesting
> pattern entry from the outside. A cool feature of the Europa is you can
> hold the stick between your legs and fly with your thighs!!!
>
> The approach was fine - I kept the speed up a bit. Flared to land and
> misjudged just a bit and boy do they bounce!!! Added some power, flew a
> ways down the runway, and the second time was much better. Felt a lot like
> a Swift except the rocking motion due to the monowheel.
>
> I taxied back and Cliff & I celebrated a bit. It was a long day and I was
> totally spent. Now that the first flight is out of the way I can start to
> see what the plane will really do. My webmaster (Wife) is in Scotland right
> now so it will be a few weeks before I have photos and spec's but they will
> be there.
>
> If your building a Europa - all I can say is - keep building, it's worth it.
>
> Bob Jacobsen
> N165BB
>
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