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Europa mail: Gap seals

Subject: Europa mail: Gap seals
From: Alan Stewart <alan.stewart@blueyonder.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 17:56:15
> In English - 115 mph and 47.3 miles per gallon.  That is just incredible.
> My car (a 1993 Saturn SL sedan) impresses me with it's 42 to 45 mpg on the
> highway at 70mph.  Not only will I be able to go faster in our Europa,
I'll > get better mileage! - on auto fuel!!

> OK, here's a tidbit to make you all smile:  A friend our ours recently
> completed an RV-6A with the 180hp Lycoming and fixed pitch Sensenich prop.
> He and his wife just got back from a jaunt to Sun'n Fun.  They flew 3000+
> miles, averaging 160 kts. and 9.6 gph.  That translates to about 19mpg.
Not > only does it get lousy gas mileage, it's LOUD.

Far be it from me to criticise the excellent mpg from 'Thomas' Atlantic
Crossing, for which I have the utmost admiration.

As far as the comparison is concerned, personally, I think it's a little
unfair. I know of a couple of ex-Europa people who have gone over to the
RV-6 partly on the basis of the significant speed improvement.
Aerodynamicists know that air resistance at higher speed severely impacts
mpg.

Slowing an RV down to realistic Europa speeds, say 115 knots, yields an
enormous improvement in mpg though I suspect the RV is probably flying a
little too slowly and the Europa will always beat it on an mpg basis.  Is it
not true that the Banbi is more economical again ?

The Europa is certainly a quiet airplane compared to many others.

Alan



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