Project News
Projects which inspire others to build their own aircraft Compiled by Mike Slaughter
Project News T hus far, or at least to mid-January anyway, the weather has been very mild and most conducive to project tasks in the workshop. However, in the UK at this time of year, mild equals wet and I know many newly finished projects have suffered from waterlogging delaying those early test flights. I am very fortunate to have a generous double garage to go and fettle in, but recently I realised it is not the space it once was. Decades of domestic storage, one aeroplane too many, not to mention a growing collection of tools and materials, have turned it into the inverse of the Tardis. Over time, the art of keeping the place tidy has improved to a point where although it has multiplied, the ‘stuff’ is condensed into the same volume. Now though, a task cannot be commenced without moving ‘stuff’ from A to B and perhaps subsequently from B to C. Stuff has to go and I need to see the brick walls again. Less would definitely be more – space! Clearly, I should consider myself lucky and just get on and de-clutter, Graeme Bird has managed to complete and spray his project in a space less than seven feet wide. Originally begun in
1995, it's another Europa project that has come out of the shadows and rapidly progressed to flying stage – progress can be rapid when you have built one before. You can read his story below. It’s a common dream to one day build and fly one’s own aircraft, often the catalyst being the construction of balsa flying models when younger. David Lawry initially satisfied that itch assembling a Jabiru nearly 20 years ago, but considering that to be a full-size Airfix model, he has now gone on to plans build a lovely little Luciole, almost now satisfying the building itch. Andrew Beggin not only needed to satisfy that building urge, he also needs to get on and complete the training for his licence to fly the very capable Sling 2 that he has now finished. I think he is finding his PA-28 training aircraft to be in a different league to the modern ‘starship’ he has created. To get in touch with Project News, and tell your story, report a milestone or just to send a picture, email: projectnews@laaarchive.org.uk. Please share your story!
G-PATS (PFA 247-12888) Europa By Graeme Bird
I
acquired the project, a Classic 80hp Monowheel, from the original owner in December 2018 and the Permit to Test was issued at the beginning of December 2019. Rather unfortunately, the original local owner was unable to continue the build due to illness, but I was able to finish the aircraft with his continued involvement, mostly in the form of visits coinciding with inspections. However, there were challenges charting specifics of the project’s history due to elapsed time and his condition. The flying surfaces were all constructed but still required finishing and preparation for painting. The fuselage had been joined but some remedial work was required internally, rather fiddly with the two halves already mated! It also needed to be fully prepared for painting. So, the tasks were to bring her up to mod standard, finish filling and sanding, paint, interior, cowlings, doors and glazing.
Then on to the firewall forward, fuel system, wiring, dash and instrumentation. At the beginning of my involvement, no single phase of the build had been completely finished. One overriding focus was to bring the project back to the build book, with the addition of numerous but only standard mods in order to smooth the paperwork burden and final LAA release to flight. The goal of the instrument fit has been simplicity and reliability with conventional engine dials, pitot and static instruments. A battery-backed Garmin G5 provides an EFIS and Attitude Indicator, a Garmin AERA 600 is the main GPS unit with an iPad for SkyDemon moving map and a traffic feed from PilotAware. An obsession on fuel state is shown by the inclusion of sight tube, tank gauge and differential flow computer. The interior is painted with Nextel suede paint and upholstery is simple shaped and covered Dynafoam seat and back cushions.
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