Re your enquiry as to cost of Europa I reckon as follows ( these are only
approximate but I reckon are fairly realistic.)
Stage 1/2/3 kit #12,500
Rotax engine kit # 9,000
Average Instrument Fit # 3,000 (ASi, VSI,Alt, AH, TS, GPS, Com
Radio,switches)
Cushions/Carpet/Trim # 500
Paint and misc parts # 1,000
Registration & test flying # 1,000
Value Added Tax # 4,725
This adds up to about #32,000 on the assumption that you use no professional
labour (eg for painting) and many builders in reality will end up spending
nearer 35 - 40,000.
I certainly would not consider building a Europa unless you can lay your
hands on at least #30,000. I believe insurance will be in the region of 1,500
- 2,000 fully comp, per year though of course there is no legal requirement
to have any insurance whatsoever. You may well find yourself barred to many
airfields unless you have at least third party.
So much for the bad news.
Once built, maintenance should be minimal. The rotax 912 engine sips a measly
3 gals per hour at about 120 kts (ie- 40 mpg give or take). Fuel is 4 star so
relatively cheap.
As for hangarage you could keep it in a hangar and this would probably cost
between #100 to #200 per month (depends where you go). However this does
rather defeat one of the major advantages of the plane, that you can derig in
ten minutes (really !) and take it home. Enclosed trailers are available or
otherwise you need a garage 21ft by 7ft wide.
So there you have it - a bit on the expensive side to buy ( you could of
course buy a Grob 114 or Katana ready built and part with #100,000 approx),
but once built about as cheap as its likely to get and a bloody great
aeroplane (300 builders cant be wrong).
Stop Press - just been to the Staverton bash and seen Jon Tyes (Kit No 1)
finished, flying Europa, absolutely brilliant .If youre not convinced come to
Cranfield. Ten aircraft flying to date and hopefully dozens by then.
Hope this helps
Carl Pattinson - Kit 49 (should fly this year)
PS - Im not working on commission, honest.
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