If any of you that didn't get to Oshkosh this year missed a real nice
conventional gear Europa. It was used to show the kit XS wing on one
side and the glider wing on the other. Having seen some of the regular
"tail draggers" from Europe, I personally think that this one looks
better. The installation is such that the gear fits under the seat area
and doesn't intrude into any of the "people" areas. The a/c had wheel
pants on it and looked real nice. It used the Tri-gear style hand brakes
on the console. Any one in the "states" who is interested in this type
of "gear" should contact Bob Berube as this was his personal example. He
has been building this for several years (spare time if he had any). He
has had it engineered with a landing gear company in California and the
only thing left is a formal drop test. I however think that this will be
redundant as I trailered the a/c up to Oshkosh behind a 40' box truck.
I'm told that many times the whole trailer left the ground and bounced
its way along the interstate. We had to re secure the airframe several
times as it tried to leave the trailer and fly on its own (sans wings).
Throes Europas don't know when to quit. I know of two builders who (at
this time) are going to do it this way. One here in Florida and one in
Arizona. So for those of you who don't want to do the Mono wheel thing
and don't fancy having the training wheel up front might consider doing
it the "conventional way"
Hope to have mine flying for Sun-N-Fun 2001.
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