I'm about to have my certification inspection. I want to get my Europa
Motorglider certified at the highest maximum gross weight allowable within
by design limitations and legal definitions. My Europa MG is a tri-gear with
a Rotax 914 Turbo, an AirMaster prop, and oxygen. I live within the
northern Rocky Mountains of the US and anticipate enjoying many high
altitude wave flights.
Does anyone on the list have what I need and be willing to share it?
I need:
* An official Weight and Balance statement documenting the increased
Gross Weight allowable for a Europa motorglider built in the US.
* A graph showing the CG envelop for first and subsequent flights for
a motorglider at the 1450 pound max gross weight limit.
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>From what I understand the US doesn't require the "PFA Superfactor" (safety
factor of 1.5 for composite structures) so the maximum gross weight limit on
Europa motorgliders in the US can be increased 1450 pounds and still be
within design limitations.
Meeting the legal definition of a motorglider in the US is problematic. In
the US Motorgliders are defined by the FAA (Feds Against Aviation) in
Advisory Circular 21.17-2A which states that a motorglider must meet these
criteria:
1. Maximum weight not to exceed 1874 pounds (850 kilograms); and
2. Maximum Span Loading (weight to wing span squared) not to exceed
0.62 pounds per square foot (3.0kg/square meter).
I figure that a Europa MG doesn't meet the US Maximum Span Loading if its
wingspan is only 48 feet and its weight is 1450 (48 squared is 2304 and 1450
/ 2304 = .629 which is greater than 0.62, thus exceeding the Maximum Span
Loading criterion).
I've added wingtip navigation and strobe lights which have extended my
Europa MG's wing span to 48.67 feet. My Europa therefore just meets the US
Span Loading criterion (48.67 squared is 2368.77and 1450 / 2368.77 = 0.612
which is less than 0.62 thereby just meeting the US Span Loading criterion).
The Advisory Circular 21.17-2A was updated April 2004. It is available on
the internet at
http://webpages.charter.net/engreenwell/ASA/Motorglider_criteria_2004.pdf.
It addresses the Europa specifically as a "powered glider."
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