Ivans idea behind the original tailplane attachent was to produce an
easy
and quick way of rigging the aircraft. Regrettably time has proved this
design to be inadequate in terms of secuity.
I'm sorry but this, as a fact, is untrue. All design is a compromise and
clearly better
locking of the tailplane system (Tailplane to balance weight) to
eliminate the possibility of relative
movement is desireable. However you are premature in your statement as
the vast majority of
Europas continue to perform faultlessly. Please wait for the final AAIB
report and accept that in the
meantime Mod 73 has been introduced as belt and braces, and to cover
cases where aircraft might not
have been built in compliance with the plans.
Mod 73 seems to make the current design even safer in terms of a
secondary security feature and
enables inspection of the integrity of the TP6 bond. I would have been
happier if a check, reportable
to Europa Aircraft, had been included with the mod to report on the
security of the TP6 bond prior to
incorporation of Mod 73. I am currently incorporating Mod 73 on a
monowheel which has been operating
for 600 hours off of a rough grass airfield and there is absolutely no
sign of disbonding of TP6. Mod 73
further secures and captures TP6 to the tailplane structure so lets get
on and incorporate it, and cool
the speculation until we have some facts to back it up.
Now I am getting into my bunker, and prepare for incoming missiles,
because perhaps my views are
in a majority of one, unless anyone out there knows different.
Tony Wickens
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