If you are a member of the Europa Club, you can look in the members only
area and follow the link to the membership list. This includes the weight
of each completed aircraft, together with a basic spec for the aircraft.
Brian Davies membership sec. Europa Club
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Paul McAllister
Sent: 07 June 2007 04:01
Subject: RE: Europa-List: What's up with the cost of 914?
--> <paul.mcallister@qia.net>
Andrew,
I wish I could give you a "one liner" but I can't, although it has been said
that Burt Rutan proposed a test. He said that if you were thinking of
adding something to your aircraft then throw it in the air. If it doesn't
stay there then it probably shouldn't be put on your aircraft.
Seriously though, its a more of a mind set thing. You win the battle by
shaving off grams, not kilograms. Put a 100 grams here, a 100 grams there,
and next thing you have added a kilo or two.
The lightest Europa built was around 730 pounds I believe which was an
amazing achievement. I suspect that the builder just scrutinized absolutely
every thing. The things that add weight are:
- Modifications
- Modifications
- Modifications
- Filler
- Primer
- Paint
- Upholstery
- Constant speed propellers
- Instrumentation
- High redundancy electrical systems.
Some trade offs you choose to have, for example a high redundancy electrical
system (I have one) but, once you talk yourself into one thing its a
slippery slope.
If you want to get specific help, see if you can get a listing of the Europa
weights and contact the builders who have built light aircraft. The
lightest 914 mono I could find was 790 pounds.... I sure wish mine was that
light.
Paul
14:38
14:38
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