Finally - the day arrived! Here is the short version - It Flys.
This version might be long so if you don't like long stuff close this and
move on to the next e-mail. Oh - your still reading - o.k. here goes.
After careful research (I fell in love with a photo) I decided to build an
Europa. I started building in March of 1999 with the aid of my very
talented friend Cliff Shaw. I figured it would take a couple of years and
so we started building. Work progressed a little faster than I though it
would and in July of 2000 I had a finished plane - finished that is except
for a piece of paper from the FAA. That's a whole nother' story but just a
word of advice to all of you U.S. builders. Get your N Number and
registration taken care of when you have about 6 months left building.
Anyway the plane was basically done at Arlington and I had the good fortune
to get a checkout in the factory demo by Jim Thursby. I had flown a Europa
before but not landed it so the checkout was well timed.
Today I finally got my FAA inspection. The inspector dude came about
10:00am - looked everything over and then handed me the Airworthiness
Certificate I had been waiting for. I started making a final inspection and
found a kinked fuel line, forcing me to move the fuel pump (fun last minute
job). Cliff stopped by in a rented Cessna 150 (at least someone was having
fun) and promised to be over as soon as he took the plane back. We finally
got together about 3:00 and taxied the plane around one more time - then
stuck it in the hanger until the wind died down. Today was the worst
weather we have had in several weeks - go figure!
Finally about 5:30 the wind had settled down and so off we went. Now I
don't know how any of you felt doing a first flight in a plane that you
built. Maybe it was no big deal. But I was nervous as heck. (O.K. I was
scared to death!). Cliff had a portable radio and drove out by the runway so
I could relay information to him. I taxied out, did a runup, and then
radioed I would either be taking off or making a high speed taxi down the
runway. I guess the high speed taxi was just an out - because the plane
wanted to fly.
I shoved in the throttle and let me tell you things happen fast. The thing
just leaped off the runway. Controls felt good and the heart rate was well
under 250 so I just kept on going. N165BB weighs 857lbs empty and has a
Rotax 912S with Airmaster prop. Cliff & I had set my prop up to pull about
5650rpm static thrust so I wouldn't overspeed on takeoff. Good plan because
I had lots to do. After takeoff I pulled the power back and just climbed on
up to about 2,000 feet. Climb rate was showing at 840fpm at 5200rpm. -
woah! (that's with the gear down) Things felt pretty good so I pulled up
the gear. I set the prop for cruise and had to keep pulling the power back
to try to keep the speed down - finally wound up at about 130mph at about
4200rpm. The prop was trying to figure out what I was doing (I think it
wanted to go much faster) and the throttle was only open about 1/5th of its
travel. I was talking to Cliff on the radio giving reports - I really don't
remember what I was saying but man does the the thing fly sweet.
I made a few very shallow turns - still amazed that I was really flying, and
flying really well. The ailerons are really nice, make sure you make them
work smooth, the payoff is incredible. I did an approach to stall to see
what the airspeed did and felt a burble, but the airspeed needs some work so
I can't come up with an exact speed yet. After this I decided to go land.
I pulled what was left of the throttle back and entered the pattern. The
gear handle wouldn't go down, providing me with another increase in the
heart rate. Did you know you can hear your heartbeat though the headsets on
your first flight? The phenolic pad was catching the gear lever and it took
a little work to get it in the slot. Must have been a real interesting
pattern entry from the outside. A cool feature of the Europa is you can
hold the stick between your legs and fly with your thighs!!!
The approach was fine - I kept the speed up a bit. Flared to land and
misjudged just a bit and boy do they bounce!!! Added some power, flew a
ways down the runway, and the second time was much better. Felt a lot like
a Swift except the rocking motion due to the monowheel.
I taxied back and Cliff & I celebrated a bit. It was a long day and I was
totally spent. Now that the first flight is out of the way I can start to
see what the plane will really do. My webmaster (Wife) is in Scotland right
now so it will be a few weeks before I have photos and spec's but they will
be there.
If your building a Europa - all I can say is - keep building, it's worth it.
Bob Jacobsen
N165BB
|