I'm happy and sad to post a first flight letter. Marvin Alvarez's trigear
kit AO54 registered N139AT, flew from Peter O' Knight airport in Tampa,
Fl. On February 19, 1999. I have since flown it and it flies great. Showing
130 MPH @ 5,000 RPM with a 914. Without the wheelpants. Pilot on the first
flight was Thurston "Jaybo" Hinyub, who tragically was killed in the crash
of a Beechcraft AT-11 on Feb. 27, 1999 along with his wife. A 15,000 hour
pilot with 197 different types in his logbook. He was also test flying a
Zenair 601 around the same time, and commented to us how much better the
Europa,s fly. We lost a great friend and an outstanding pilot. Marvin says
he was privileged to have Jaybo test fly his plane. I would have to agree.
Jim Thursby
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