-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Thursby [mailto:jthursby@tampabay.rr.com]
Subject: First Flight
I'm pleased to announce after too many years of building, Claude Tugwell's
(A039/N295LC) O-200 powered Europa has flown. Lee Omernik had done a
fifteen minute one in October but was cut short due to carb problems. Today
It flew for one-half hour and with the exception of a partially blocked
static system all worked well. It handles like all "classic winged"
Europa's, in a word beautifully. Claude has extended the span of each wing
by about eight inches and also added drooped tips. The roll rate is very
nice. Reminded me of G-ELSA/N512SA/N741JH handling, one of the best flying
Europa's As the static system was very slow to react I didn't explore the
low speed regime much but observed 110 knots on the GPS on a four way course
@ 2,300 RPM. This is with no speed fairings at all. Although the plane is
heavy it accelerates close to a 914 and better than a Jabiru 3300. Ground
roll was estimated at six to seven hundred feet which I'm sure can be
shortened. I'll post more as we get further into the test flight program.
Jim T.
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