Fred,
I think this is useful to do, and have done it with my Europa Monowheel
Classic 5Y-LRY here in Kenya. The rudder cables run down plastic tubes
through the wheel well; they are clear under the pulleys; then they run
inside tubes again over a series of spacers all the way down the rear
fuselage which stops the flopping about too loosely on the floor of the
fuselage as I seem to recall in the early Classics (especially with
vigorous rudder action). Then linked out to the XS tailwheel. The
rudder action is very smooth. The idea actually came from seeing a
Europa in the hangar of Roger Targett in Nympsfield with this
adaptation. My tubes came from Electro-Mail, as I recall. I can send
pictures if you like.
On the subject of Europa in Kenya. I operate my Classic with a 912UL
(80 hp) engine, and ground adjustable Warp Drive. My local airfield is
at 5500 feet asl, which on a hot day at 30 C equates to about 8000
density altitude. During construction, many told me that the Europa
would not even leave the ground under these conditions. Actually, it
does very well, 2 up, up to max load. Just takes a little time, about
500 m off a tarmac runway, level off in ground effect for another 300 m,
then away at about 300' per minute up. It certainly hones your
tailwheel skills. On the shorter bush strips, caution is definitely
needed.
Christmas greetings to all.
Richard
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