Terry,
We have just finished the spinning trials in my mono motor glider
after two years of trying to satisfy the LAA (UK) requirements to get a
Permit to Fly, so was very interested in your comments, especially about
blocking of the cooling ducts to improve the LD ratio, do you have any
further details that you can make available? I had the company (Europa) fit
small wing tip wheels to my wings so I can take the outriggers off
completely if I want to go wave flying. Is your machine a mono or Tri-gear?
Best Regards
Ian Cook
G-CBHI
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Terry Seaver
(terrys)
Sent: 16 August 2013 21:19
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Re: stopping engine in flight
--> <terrys@cisco.com>
Hi Gary,
We have a Europa XS with a 912S and Airmaster prop and long wings. We were
interested in two important questions; when will it stop wind milling, and
when will it do an air restart (in case we run the battery dead flying
around with the alternator not charging). We found the stop wind milling
speed to be around 50 kts, and the air restart at around 110 kts. These
seemed near perfect speeds, by our reckoning.
BTW, we got a glide ratio of about 23:1 initially, but got up to almost 26:1
by;
1) adding a cowl flap to the bottom of the cowl (behind the radiators).
2) adding fairings to the non-retractable outrigger legs.
regards,
Terry
________________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] on behalf of Gary Leinberger
[Gary.Leinberger@millersville.edu]
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 11:47 AM
Subject: Europa-List: Re: stopping engine in flight
I have a Tri-Gear 912S Europa. As part of the requirement for my Motor
Glider endorsement (US) I had to feather the prop, stop the engine and do
some gliding. I have a three bladed Airmaster Prop with the feather option.
With the short wings and the engine off, prop feathered, I show about 600
fpm down with no thermal activity. (I was at about 6000 feet, above the tops
of the cumulus clouds in the area so I haven't tried this in a thermal yet.)
Plane is a bit heavy (full IFR) and I am a proper sized American - 265 lbs.
And I had an instructor on board. So a lighter plane (and pilot) may do
better. Should have the long wings done soon (I have given up on estimating
completion dates) and will provide some better info on soaring then.
The 912S is a high compression engine, unlike the 912 and 914. So the prop
will stop when the ignition is off even if not feathered. It is also hard to
start by diving alone although I have heard that a serious dive will finally
get the prop wind-milling high enough for a start - I think you need at
least 300 + rpm to get a charge out of the ignition system. For mine a
slight dive (100 knots) will start to move the blades a bit, and a mere
touch of the starter lights it off.
The feathering and un-feathering takes a bit of time - which I imagine will
seem even longer if you wait too long when running out of lift.
Gary Leinberger
Lancaster, Pa.
N388SG
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