I would have thought that Europa would only have to prove compliance with the
specified stress plus a safety margin. Why do they have to destroy anything?
In Germany we have to test each single home built to its MTOW at the max allowed
G. It is not a destrucive test just a proof test.
Each fuselage is turned upside down and the wings loaded up to the specified
weight with cement sacks. We also check assymetric loading on the tail assembly.
It is amazing to see the wing tips deflect about 45 cm (18 inches). All control
surfaces must be free at this loading.
We are all certified to 1370 LBS (622KG) but with a +3,8/-1,5G restriction
(Normal catagory) and +4,4/-2,2G at 591 KG (Utility).
There is no problem flying at this weight and landing is great (no bounce)!!
The take off is ok if the prop is not too coarse. (220 Meter at ISA with 16,5
deg. prop tip).
Not only the above test is applied to the maximum weight. We must then fly all
of the test parameters at 1370 LBS including speeds af VNE +.
The only problem is that it is nearly impossible to put 46 KG into the luggage
bay of the "mark one". It is impossible to overload or get the C of G out of
limits on D-EHBT.
Best regards
Barry Tennant
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