Leaving aside our own views as owners about the integrity and
resilience of the tail, another consideration is that the long term
market value of our aircraft could be affected by the general
perception amongst the aviation community at large about how
effectively the problem has been solved. That might influence our
willingness to invest in something better than a bandaid solution.
Willie
On 17 Jul 2007, at 06:29, Mike Parkin wrote:
> <mikenjulie.parkin@btinternet.com>
>
> Nigel,
>
> Unpopular as it may be, I think you are right. Mod 73 strikes me
> as a very unsatisfactory fix for a poor design. What I would like
> to see is a new set of tailplanes with a redesigned torque shaft
> and retention system. A 'belt and braces' system that will make
> all this uncertainty go away. We all love our little aeroplanes,
> but it must be made more rugged down the back. At the moment the
> whole situation concerns me greatly and my confidence in the
> integrity of the aircraft has taken a severe knock with the loss of
> G-HOFC and our friends. Accidents caused by pilot error I can live
> with, but structural failure I cannot. I want to be able to relax
> when I fly my Europa.
>
> Europa 2004 can put on the list now for a new set of tailplanes if
> the re-design can restore my confidence in my aircraft.
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