Congratulations Svein!
You have just found out what this is all about. Quite possibly we all
have the nicest 2 seat plane on the planet. Others building will find
it out and thoses of us flying know it. Again congratulations you've
joined the ranks of the flying!
Best Regards
Jeff
N128LJ Gold Rush @ 37.7 hours. Hold on Jeff I'm coming!
On Sep 12, 2006, at 11:32 AM, Sidsel & Svein Johnsen wrote:
> All,
> -
> Late this morning I took my Europa XS trigear on its first flight from
> Kjeller airfield outside Oslo (ENKJ, known to some of the readers of
> this forum from visits with their Europas).
> -
> I followed the first flight program recommended in Europa Owner's
> Manual, but I must admit that I had a very strong urge to take it on a
> really long flight!
> -
> Although I have flown the Europa at-a demo flight in Lakeland, I
still
> find it-an amazing aircraft to fly.- So nimble yet so stable.- I
was
> checked out on the Diamond Katana a couple of weeks ago - not even
> close to Europa when it comes to "fun to fly".-
> -
> Left wing is a-bit heavy when letting go of the stick, and so am
I-but
> whether this is the-reason will be checked out-on subsequent
flights
> with more equal loading.- Clean stall at abt 51 kt, full flap stall
at
> abt 42-kt (to be reconfirmed later in the test program).--Left
wing
> drop in both-configurations but quite undramatic all told and very
> easy and quick to recover from the stall.
> -
> Duration 20 minutes in the air, absolutely uneventful except some
> shimmy of the nosewheel on touchdown.- I have evidenty loosened the
> shimmy damper nut too much to get easy steering, so this will have to
> be tightened up a bit.
> The engine sings like it enjoys what it is doing, and the temps etc.
> were all well within limits.
> -
> The only problem occured when opening the canopy afterwards for the
> photographer.- I wanted a "cool" picture of myself, but that
> well-known Europa flier grin just sat there!
> -
> So the stats, Rowland:
> -
> - Europa XS trigear
> - Kit no. A225
> - Rotax 912ULS
> - Airmaster A332 with Warp blades
> - Build time 4 years 9 months - 3300 hrs of which 300 filling and
> sanding (should have filled less and sanded more, see next item!)
> - Empty weight, with fairings and all the options plus some, steel
> nosewheel springs, heavy leather interior trim:- 966 lbs
> -- (the good thing, though, is that CG is right where it should be
at
> 60.2 in and that the Norwegian CAA has approved 1450 lbs MTOW)
> -
> A profound "thank you" goes to all on this forum for help and support
> through the building period; to Andy (whose address I unfortunately do
> not have), Roger and John at Europa; to Neville (who is worth his
> weight in gold); and last but not least to my fellow builders here in
> Norway for invaluable contributions leading up to this most fantastic
> day!
> -
> -
> Best regards,
> Svein
> LN-SKJ
>
>
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