MessageDo you know the gliders color? They know why!
Karel Vranken # 447 F-PKRL
----- Original Message -----
From: James
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 5:55 PM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Europa colours
Anyone remember the factory demonstrator N914XS with the blue belly?
After two or so years in the US sun that plane needed repairs to the
front fuselage as the engine weight was sagging the footwell area of the
plane while it was hot. Needless to say after it was reapaired it was
repainted white. As Rob H said even yellow can get a bit warmer that
white, and I've sprayed one yellow myself.
Paint em' white, or fly em' at night!
Jim T.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rob Housman
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 11:02 AM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Europa colours
Sorry Raimo, but this is dangerous thinking for those of us flying
in warmer climes.
In my previous post I deliberately avoided getting into too much
technical detail, and I used the word "reflected" where I should have
used the technically correct term "emitted."
First, you seem to misunderstand heat transfer. You are correct
that the sun's energy is not reflected from a black surface. However, a
"black body" is not only a perfect absorber but also a perfect emitter,
which is to say it may not be reflecting solar heating but it surely
emits it. Park on a black surface and the solar energy absorbed by that
surface will be re-radiated to the underside of the aircraft, and if
that aircraft is any color but white it will absorb too much energy.
Any material absorbing energy will increase in temperature. Sure, there
will be some re-radiation from the dark aircraft structure but that is
irrelevant because the epoxy-fiberglass will already have softened.
Second, the Lancair aircraft all use a different composite than
Europa. Here's how Lancair describes their composites on their web site
http://www.lancair.com/Main/legacy.html ---
"Like every Lancair, the Legacy's major airframe is constructed of
advanced composite materials. Cured at 270 degrees Fahrenheit under
vacuum pressure, these NASA tested, epoxy based composites are among the
lightest, strongest, stiffest materials known.
The high-temperature, pre-impregnated carbon fiber and/or fiberglass
systems combined with Nomex/honeycomb core materials are considered the
supreme composite airframe materials of choice worldwide."
Note that the Lancair's composites are cured at a much higher
temperature than the factory and we cure the Europa structural
components. The "glass transition temperature" is approximately the
cure temperature so softening of the composite does not begin until
approximately T sub g is reached. For a detailed explanation to T sub g
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_transition_temperature For our
purposes we can consider the glass transition temperature the softening
temperature, above which the structure loses a significant portion of
its strength.
Anyone contemplating painting a Europa any color other than white
(including yellow) should review the chart in the Builders Manual,
Figure 1, Colour-Temperature Relationship, on page 36-1 of the Europa XS
Tri-Gear Manual, Issue 1, dated 30 May 1998.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, California
Europa XS Tri-Gear
S/N A070
Airframe complete
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Raimo
Toivio
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 1:28 AM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Europa colours
Rob,
I am not going to encourage anybody to paint their
Europa=B4s undersides any colour but white. I still well
remember Manual=B4s words: all the Europas must be white.
I still have to point out the energy of the sun is NOT
reflecting out of the black asphalt IMHO. That is why
it is hot when a sunny day. It absorbs allmost all the heat
energy and nothing is reflecting out. White surfaces are
cool because they are reflecting out much more.
So it could be more dangerous to keep it on the snow covered
surface while a sunny day (or on white sand or water w Europa
floats!).
In Sweden there has been 10 years a wonderful full colour mid red
Lancair 320
and no composite problems at all. Register # is SE-XOP (!). And like
we all know in South America (Columbia?) there is flying a total
deep yellow Europa.
I think - with other colour as white - it is better to be even more
careful.
Beauty is a good reason for some extra work and some sacrifice.
That is the fact all the women know. That is all.
"Keep your full matt black Europa in the hangar and fly only night
time if you wanna be absolutely sure"
Raimo
----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Housman
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 2:32 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Europa rules
Mike -
In re: dark paint
Don't even think about it. Where we live and fly, on warm days
the heat reflected off the ramp will be sufficient to soften the
epoxy-fiberglass enough to reduce the strength of the structure. Sure
it will be OK at altitude but you still have to climb away from the
surface. Folks flying closer to the Arctic Circle don't have to worry
about getting the airframe too hot.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, California
Europa XS Tri-Gear
S/N A070
Airframe complete
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of
DuaneFamly@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 3:23 PM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Europa rules
Raimo,
Congratulations to you and your aircraft. I think we can all stand
a little taller and more proud when one of "our" planes tops the list of
all in an entire country.
Do you have any pix of you panel? Is the underside of your
aircraft really painted dark? Black, blue, brown? Any reasoning for
this?
Mike Duane A207A
Redding, California
XS Conventional Gear
Jabiru 3300
Sensenich R64Z N
Ground Adjustable Prop
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