Ian,
You have earned a special place in aviators heaven!
Blue skies & tailwinds,
Bob Borger
Europa XS Tri, Rotax 914, Airmaster C/S Prop (130 hrs).
Little Toot Sport Biplane, Lycoming Thunderbolt AEIO-320 EXP, Hercules Prop.
3705 Lynchburg Dr.
Corinth, TX 76208-5331
Cel: 817-992-1117
rlborger@mac.com
On May 19, 2019, at 7:21 AM, Ian Cook <IanCook_1@hotmail.com> wrote:
Clive,
I operate the only Extended Wing Europa with a LAA Permit in the UK,
G-CBHI.
I can change back and forth between XS and Extended Wings with no problem,
and use an enclosed trailer built specially in Germany for the mono extended
wings. It is shown in the corner of the hangar while I was rigging the machine
last winter. It did take a long time to get the Permit, starting in 2009
completed
in 2018. The main reasons for the delay were the spar failing when it was
plugged into the fuselage for a max structural test at 50 degrees C, hence mod
78. Standing the fuselage next to the hot autoclave full of fuel causing the
tank to swell needing a tank change. Both items needed LAA approved repair
schemes before the work was completed taking almost 3 years. The LAA then
insisted
on full spinning trials, over 80 in all. The machine was landed wheels up
during this flight trails work taking a further 2 years to complete. After this
they wanted a warning system for U/C /airbrakes, a stall warning system. Also
there were issues on how to clear it. As a motor glider, touring motor glider
or SEP? It did not correctly fit into any of the categories or design
requirements.
Also written confirmation of the structural clearances for airbrakes
flying controls etc was required. A correctly approved Pilots Operating Handbook
and audit trail for all the clearance was required from Swift Aviation who
had taken over engineering and design approval. It was found the existing XS
stall
warning did not work correctly on the different wing profile of the extended
wing, as the machine could now fly very slowly 45 to 50 knot, having a stall
warning going off all the time was just not acceptable. All this added further
years, and to cap it all, it got damaged in stormy weather last year when
a canopy cover tie broke and managed to undo the canopy handle and remove the
door. A further repair scheme was required for this, as all the previous door
losses had occurred in flight and were total losses. I have to thank Swift
Aviation
for !
their su
pport last year when they were moving their home base from Yorkshire to
Coltishall
and had so much on. We still do not have the increase in all up mass yet and
have a limited C of G, but I am still optimistic that these will come, but
further flight trials will be required. However, just in case that drags on I
am doing a weight reduction exercise at the moment getting rid of lead acid
batteries,
vacuum system and gyro instrument etc giving me an extra 20 kg off the
basic hull weight.
Best regards
Ian Cook
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
<owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com>
On Behalf Of clivesutton
Sent: 19 May 2019 11:16
Subject: Europa-List: Re: Motorglider Wings?
--> <clive.maf@googlemail.com>
Thanks all for contributions - especially Bud's detailed answers to my Q's.
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=489292#489292
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