RE: Europa-List: PH-DIY first flight!

[Karl Heindl <kheindl@msn.com>]

Frans=2C


Congratulations to both of you and the test pilot. You will have a lot of f
un with that Europa.

A cruise of 120 knots at just over 50% power is pretty phenominal. I doubt 
that anyone can match that. It should give an excellent range as well. Your
 pioneering mods to the cooling air flow=2C the Klein wing root fairings=2C
 and the 2-bladed Woodcomp are all contributing to that.


Karl


> Date: Tue=2C 20 Apr 2010 19:50:36 +0200
> From: frans@privatepilots.nl
> Subject: Europa-List: PH-DIY first flight!
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> 
> Hi everyone!
> 
> Today=2C at 12:25 LT on EHHO=2C PH-DIY made his first flight.
> Conditions were vulcanic ash=2C 17-22 KN head wind (straight on the runwa
y).
> 
> According to the test pilot=2C the PH-DIY flies beautifully=2C straight a
nd
> balanced=2C can be flown hands-off=2C with a very slight tendency for lef
t
> (but this can be attributed to the asymmetric load). Only the rudder
> seems to be a bit out of balance: there is always some "right rudder"
> required. A trim tab would solve this. This needs some investigation.
> 
> Stals:
> The stall is=2C clean and dirty=2C benign. Some buffetting=2C and then no
thing
> really happens=2C he just parachutes down. Absolutely no wing drop. "Like
> a Cessna" according to the test pilot.
> Stall clean is at approximately 50 Knots=2C with full flaps it is 42 knot
s.
> 
> Performance:
> The pilot was amazed at the performance of this airplane.
> Climb was 1500ft/min with 80 knots=2C with the power to 100% (not 115%).
> Cruise was with 4200 rpm and a manifold pressure of 28 good for 120
> knots IAS (the airspeed indicator has been calibrated to a maximum
> deviation of 1 knots).
> Conditions were somewhat turbulent=2C but performance data was verified i
n
> a sequence of tries (because the pilot had some trouble to believe this
> data=2C he tried it a few times at some distances apart to rule out local
> updrafts).
> We have had some temperature problems on the early ground runs=2C but
> although the temperatures on the ground still have a tendency to rise=2C
> during flight the temperatures were actually quite low (this was with
> the cowl flap 3/4 open=2C I asked the pilot to leave it at this setting t
o
> keep things simple and comparable).
> 
> Quirks:
> The PH-DIY needs constant right rudder. If anyone has a good idea what
> the cause can be and/or what to do about this=2C let us know!
> In cruise=2C there is some down trim necessary. Trim setting is not in th
e
> middle of the scale. I believe that this is a common thing=2C but I have
> not yet checked the Europa forum archive for this.
> 
> Comments:
> After some horror stories of Europa's that flip upside down on the
> stall=2C we are very pleased with the benign stall characteristics of the
> PH-DIY. The performance data is better than we expected=2C and we will of
> course repeat the tests. (We have Fred Klein's wing root fairings=2C a
> radically trimmed down and optimized cooling duct=2C and of course this
> "can't be true" 2-blade high twist large diameter prop=2C so we expected
> performance to be on the good side of the scale=2C but this is more than
> we accounted for).
> 
> Well=2C tomorrow we will give the PH-DIY a thorough check=2C so if weathe
r
> cooperates we will saterday fly ourselves (first with an instructor of
> course).
> 
> Pictures of the first flight can be found on our website at
> www.privatepilots.nl/europa/firstflight.htm
> 
> Ilona & Frans