Hey all you smart Europa builders -
I've not had time to start my kit yet (XS #196), but recently
spent a week on a remote Canadian lake and yearned for the ability to
once again land on water. My shoot from the hip thoughts:
1. Build the kit with tricyle gear
2. Design floats ala Wipline (or purchase other similar floats
commonly used by light planes)
3. Modify so that in effect you could drive the Europa up onto
the floats, recess the gear into attachment wells, lock in place,
connect water rudder control, and go.
4. Amphib floats would require connection to a gear
extension/retraction cable/rod.
or, could it be done?
5. Leave wheels passing far enough through the floats to serve
as hard surface gear, and attach "wheel pants" to the floats forward of
the gear which could deploy rearward to cover the wheels and fair them
in for water landings.
Of course you'd pay a weight penalty, but only similarly to a
Piper Cub, Cessna etc. which are commonly used in this manner. Use of
the glider wings might enhance operation from water (the reputed STOL
factor) but the company website doesn't seem to publish a slower stall
speed for the glider wings, so just guessing.
I can't be the only one out there who has wished for amphib
ability, but I queried the Forum archives and couldn't find where you
guys have beat this idea to death and demonstrated why the idea is
utterly foolish.
OK, you can beat me up now. Ray Knapp
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