I'm pleased to announce after too many years of building, Claude Tugwell's
(A039/N295LC) O-200 powered Europa has flown. Lee Omernik had done a
fifteen minute one in October but was cut short due to carb problems. Today
It flew for one-half hour and with the exception of a partially blocked
static system all worked well. It handles like all "classic winged"
Europa's, in a word beautifully. Claude has extended the span of each wing
by about eight inches and also added drooped tips. The roll rate is very
nice. Reminded me of G-ELSA/N512SA/N741JH handling, one of the best flying
Europa's As the static system was very slow to react I didn't explore the
low speed regime much but observed 110 knots on the GPS on a four way course
@ 2,300 RPM. This is with no speed fairings at all. Although the plane is
heavy it accelerates close to a 914 and better than a Jabiru 3300. Ground
roll was estimated at six to seven hundred feet which I'm sure can be
shortened. I'll post more as we get further into the test flight program.
|