Martin,
Not to pile on, but I have fit a number of large pilots to the Europa.
It has been my experience, that the only area of the tunnel that is a
nuisance to the tall pilot is the area where the knee hits center
console. A football shaped cutout there is typically all that is
needed. I have seen some Europa's with the console cut down very low,
and I share the comments with others that a lot of stiffness of the
fuselage is given up by cutting down this area. You are compromising
the aircraft. The Europa provides more than reasonable protection as
is. Short story: On two nose low (25 degree impacts in landing
accidents) one with the full console, the other was cut down a modest
3-4 inches. On both the floor of the fuselage behind the rudders
flexed, which compromised that area. One aircraft had under the door
electrical conduits installed of 4 layers of glass measuring roughly 3
inches deep and level with the sill and a full console, with a cut out
where the throttle would be. This area was glassed in with a flange of
4 layers of 8 oz bid and a cover panel of 6-8 layers of bid. It
maintained very good fuselage stiffness with only nose damage when the
nose gear failed after about the 4th porpoise. The floor had a minor
deformity in the glass from flexing, but was easily repaired. The pilot
opened the door and stepped out. The other aircraft actually split the
fuselage side 6 inches forward of the door sill when the fuselage floor
flexed. The console was cut down some 4 inches beginning below the
instrument panel face continuing all the way back to the bulkhead and
had no under sill conduits. The side of the fuselage cracked due to the
nose flexing downward. Some foot injuries were incurred as the fuselage
flexed to the point of cracking from the consol up to the windscreen.
Foot injury occurred as a result of the rudder pedals deflecting as the
fuselage skidded along. Both accidents were pilot error and no names
will be released so don't ask.
It would be best to make a modest console adjustment to fit your form.
I have found for pilots your size that the hi top mod 63 is very
comfortable and the extra width mod 67 is also a must have. If your kit
is too far along for the high top, the bubble door glass is one of my
favorite mods also. These higher top mods allow you to slide aft a bit
and get another inch of headroom and less knee height. All the above
can be purchased through the company. I know I'm kicking myself for not
doing the width increase as it is quite comfortable. The high top is
quite impressive.
As for how to re-establish strength in your console after cutting it
out, please properly prep and add foam to fill the void, prep the foam
and add two layers of bid overlapping two inches around the hole on the
inside and out... As for the hole in the bottom, consider adding a
bulkhead behind the nose gear of 1/8 inch (3mm) aircraft ply and
glassing it in with two layers. This is a help to stiffening the plane
also besides allowing for a generous cooling air exit if the mono wheel
firewall is removed. Be sure to protect the new bulkhead and console
inside exposed to the engine with firewall material of your choice.
Then close the bottom hole, and if you like, add a large inspection hole
on the bottom for maintenance of in console items. A glassed in hole
adds for stiffness and impact strength also.
Top it off with a back cushion about 1 inch thick or 1/2 inch of firm
foam and a contoured seat cushion to suite and you will be comfortable.
Bud Yerly
Custom Flight Creations,
US Europa Dealer
----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Boyle<mailto:martinboyle53@bigpond.com>
To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 6:24 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Mono wheel conversion
Hi To All
I have purchased a part built mono wheel kit and may want to convert
it to TRI gear.When I do this can I remove the consol in the middle as I
find there is not enough room for me as I am 6ft3in tall and 96kg.Has
anybody done this and ois it a factory mod
Thanks M A B
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le&u=708>
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