A quick addendum to Steve's last post.
We had a great day today (Saturday). Lots of activity and the initial
damage to my display planes is ugly, but repairable. Homer Baker's
914PL took the brunt with a damaged fin, broken rudder, broken stab with
loose tail plane bearings, a small wrinkle in the aft fuselage, and a
damaged airbrake and aileron. N12AY needs a new rudder (always wanted
to add an electric rudder trim tab and now maybe I will.) Numerous
scrapes and pits on both planes from debris.
Jeff and Mary's Baby Blue departed the show today. She was surrounded
by wrecked Thorp T-18s and RV 6&7s Baby Bably Blue went flying without
anyone at the controls, but because she was tied down well, not hit by
other aircraft, it proves that the resilience of composites allowed her
to ride the 95 mph winds without a trace of damage. Fabric rips, metal
crumples but composites bend.
We all poured over Baby Blue this morning and pronounced it still fit to
fly and I have heard from Mary and Jeff that they have already landed
back home.
Today everyone got to work on their tan. Sunday is the last day of the
show and we are ready to go home from what has not been Sun 'n Fun this
year.
On my end, no rest for the wicked I am afraid. The aircraft will have
to be trucked out as they are un-flyable. So no flights for prospects
this year. We have had a number of interested people in our bird and I
will work tirelessly to get 12AY ready to fly again to hopefully seal
some deals.
Best Regards,
Bud
----- Original Message -----
From: PITT STEVEN<mailto:steven.pitt2@ntlworld.com>
To: Europa list<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 9:55 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Sun'n'Fun
Hi to all on the list,
An update on Sun'n'Fun. We made it to the show today and assisted with
the clear up before having the stand ready to open about 10.00am.
A large marquee from another vendor collapse alongside our plot on top
of a car and one glider wing. This received a glancing blow which will
mean a repair to the air brake and aileron but little else.
The rest of the glider fuselage was mildly damaged on the surface of
the tailplanes, again this will be easily resolved by Bud and his team.
Bud's own aircraft also received minor damage to the rudder.
Our marquee was completely unscathed and all the chairs and marketing
materials were safe inside, although there was a 'river' coursing
through it.
Jeff Behrnes 'Baby Blue' was out on the flight line and Jeff reports
all is well, which is remarkeable in view of the damage caused to other
aircraft in the vicinity.
No other Europa aircraft were present (despite photos suggesting
different) and the people mentioned in other emails had arrived by car
and are all in one piece.
You can see photos and a video on the EAA website with a commentary
---From Rod Hightower, the new EAA President. The damage was truly
heartbreaking and the photos graphically make the point. No one was
seriously injured, as far as is known, so the show was in retrieval mode
today with spirited displays by the Blue Angels and Raptor in clear blue
skies.
Thanks to everyone for their concern and thoughts and we are all
thankful that the Europa team are in one piece and enjoying Sun'n'Fun
once more.
Regards
Steve Pitt with Jeff, Mary, Nigel, Diane and Terry.
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