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Re: Europa-List: Stall spin characteristics

Subject: Re: Europa-List: Stall spin characteristics
From: Robert Borger <rlborger@mac.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 13:00:15

Bill,

As others have pointed out, the stall characteristics depend entirely on the 
quality
of the build.  My Europa stalls straight ahead, flaps up or flaps down,
with and without power.  I have not yet attempted a "go around" stall with full
power and flaps down but I suspect that it would fall off to the left due to
torque.

I have slipped my Europa in landing  configuration, full flaps, and it slips 
quite
well with lots of control on speed and descent rate.

No aircraft stalls benignly in the skidding turn (classic overshoot base to 
final
turn and try to hurry the turn with rudder).  I've stalled an Aeronca, a C-150
and the Europa in a skidded turn and it's UGLY.  Like a half snap roll into
the down wing followed by a spin entry.  Takes over 1000 feet to recover in
any of those three aircraft.  Good idea never to skid a turn.

No severe stall in landing configuration in the Europa.  

The monowheel is perfectly at home on turf strips.  I used 60 on short final, 50
"over the fence" then slow to 45 into a gentle flare and full stall touch down.
You'll roll to a stop in well less than 100 meters.  On hard surface, it's
all different, even with the same sorts of speeds you will use more runway,
both length and width.

If you are completing a Europa monowheel, get some dual from someone with 
monowheel
experience.  It's a whole 'nother cat.  Not like any other taildragger out
there.  It all changes when you are in a taildragger without differential 
breaking.
If at all possible, work off grass for lots of hours first.  Then more
dual from someone experienced with a monowheel when it's time to work on hard
surfaces.  Be VERY aware of the winds, especially cross-winds, both on landing
and takeoff.

The Europa is a wonderful aircraft, a delight to fly, super economical but the
monowheel is quirky on landing and takeoff.

I hope this helps.  

Regards,
Bob Borger
Europa Kit #A221 N914XL, XS Mono, Intercooled 914, Airmaster C/S
http://www.europaowners.org/forums/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=60232
http://www.biplaneforumgallery.com/index.php?cat=10046
Europa Flying!
3705 Lynchburg Dr.
Corinth, TX  76208
Home:  940-497-2123
Cel:  817-992-1117


On Aug 3, 2010, at 10:50, William McClellan wrote:

> 
> I understand that the Europa is very prone to abruptly dropping a wing, trying
to enter a spin, when stalled with full flaps in the landing configuration.
On the other hand, in the clean, unflapped configuration the stall is very 
benign.
I wonder if this is true of all Europa's or only some depending on the
particulars of that builders end product and possible modifications.  I have 
nearly
1000 hrs in a Citabria with very much of it flying into short "backcountry"
dirt strips requiring significant STOL characteristics.  I don't have flaps
so regularly use severe straight and banked slips.  The Citabria is a "dirty"
plane compared to the "very clean" Europa so I believe the use of severe slips
in the Europa is never warranted.  My experience with very clean planes, I
also have 1000 hours in my high performance glider and since the air brakes work
so well, severe slipping is not needed...though some less than ultra clean
gliders, ie, trainers, can make use of severe slippin
 g!
> .  It seems likely that Cliff Shaw's accident was a result of this abrupt spin
stall characteristic in landing configuration.  I have a rule (though not 
unique),
"never skid a turn", keeping a nice margin above stall.  It seems that
the Europa (and probably all super clean planes, for instance the Cirrus), have
a propensity to severe stall spin in landing configuration.  I understand that
many Europa pilots land with an airspeed up to 65 but this uses a greater 
landing
distance considering the stall speed is in the 40's.  Europa's original
touted mission was short field, pasture strips.  For those who often use this
short field capability, I would like to know the particulars to make the Europa
perform safely in this manner.  Not having piloted a Europa, but am close to
finishing my build, I am curious to these questions.
> Bill McClellan
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