May 25, 2010  Sun 'n Fun 2010 a great success.  The Europa display was under the tree on spot 90 and 91 and we displayed N12AY as an LSA concept.  We had two offers on the plane at the show, but Bud's wife won't let him sell this one until the next is flying.  The vortex generators were removed for the show.  We have 10 hours on the plane and performance is right on target.  N12AY is a test mule and will be testing the difference between the Airmaster AP332 and the AP420.  It will also show a data sheet which shows all improvements over the original stock airframe and the net improvements.  Also displayed for sale was Rich Sementilli's tail dragger.  Rich brought it down for a comprehensive annual and to modify the tail spring and update avionics programs.  Great airplane for only $76,000.
 
January 15, 2010  Europa to attend Sebring LSA Expo.  Bud Yerly will be bring N12AY (the LSA concept aircraft for the conversion of those completed aircraft which are registered now at 1300 or 1320 pounds or those who have not yet registered their XS and can lower their GW to 1320 pounds) to the LSA Expo.  The aircraft has vortex generators added to the wing.  Trials of the new mod are progressing and there are no adverse characteristics with the VGs.  The stall is 3-5 knots slower with full span VGs or partial span VGs.  The wing gives good warning with lots of tail rumble with partial span VGs.  Aileron control is quite good near the stall, and takeoff feel (that old sinking feeling when inadvertently yanked out of ground effect) is significantly reduced.

December 5, 2009.  Watch for an upcomming Motor Glider Article in the Europa Flier "1000 miles in a Europa Motor Glider".  Article chronicles the flight from Tampa Fl to Gardner Kansas in July of 2009.  Tips, adventure and performance numbers abound.

May 4, 2009.  Oops Misprint.  Stall of new LSA is 45KIAS not 145KIAS.  Of course we have to verify the calibrated airspeed to verify the stall.  For those of you worried about the change increases the stall speed 100KIAS not to worry.  Just a fat fingered typing mistake.

May, 2, 2009.  Vortex Generators added to the XS wing for possible retrofit to make the XS an LSA.  Initial testing of vortex generators added to the Classic wing progresses.  With a gross weight of 1300 lbs. the classic tri-gear with fixed prop can meet the LSA requirements with a 912 or 912S engine and a standard climb prop setting.  Vortex generators are being tested on the XS where the builder limits the GW to 1320 lbs and the stall speed clean is an honest 45 knots.  More to follow.

April 30, 2009.  LSA wing debut at Sun n Fun.  The prototype wing for flight testing was shown at Sun 'n Fun.  Prototype has a full span slot, but may be trimmed down.

April 21-26, 2009 we are at Sun 'n Fun.  Friday night we had 26 Europa owners, family and friends and coworks for an engineering meeting after the seminar given by Dave Stanbridge.  Good food, good information and excellent fellowship.

February 16, 2009.  Europa works hard on new LSA wing.  After an exhausting review of what we can do to improve the aircraft, work has begun on simultaneously producing an LSA wing.  We all have known that we are just a little too fast for the LSA market.  It is a lot easier slowing an airplane down, but decreasing the stall speed requires trimming weight and or increasing lift.  To that end we looked into increased wing area, airfoil changes and high lift devices, while trimming the weight of the wing.  At Sun 'n Fun you will see our first prototype wing with leading edge slots.  Come to the show and see. 

January 16, 2009.  Europa Expands Air show Presence at Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, Lakeland FL:  The Sun 'n fun fly in and air show will take place from 21-26 April 09. Europa and Custom Flight do not intend to disappoint.  Our spot is Site 99 and 100 on the main taxiway North of Hangar A.  More room for us, and we will debut our new LSA wing on a motor glider.  Come join us for some sun and fun, get updates and meet David Stanbridge, owner of Europa Aircraft.
 
November 2, 2008  Europa set to hit new heights.  The news that Europa Aircraft has been party to an amicable takeover by a British aviation company, Swift Technology Group, has been welcomed by the stakeholders and stirred excitement in the light aircraft and kit plane industry worldwide.  As a result of this merger, Europa Aircraft is announcing exciting new plans for the future, which will see significant investment into Research and Development, a new pro-active sales structure and dynamic marketing activity.

Europa Aircraft is already one of the most successful kit plane suppliers in the UK, with the current models - Europa XS Trigear, Monowheel and Motor glider - gaining massive acclaim worldwide. There are over 700 Europas flying in 33 countries and many more in the build process, which places it as one of the most popular brands in the kit plane arena. The merger will allow Europa to maintain its standing in the market by taking advantage of new innovations and technologies to improve and differentiate the product offering and increase market share. Development has already started on further enhancements to the design of the Europa XS models, including modifications for the LSA market and finalization of the Motor glider. This will be followed by the design and manufacture of a brand new composite plane – available in a self-build kit form or certified to CS-VLA.

About Swift Technology Group:  Run by the highly successful engineer and aviation enthusiast David Stanbridge, Swift Technology Group’s focus is on state of the art technologies to design and manufacture products for the aviation, automotive, marine and energy (renewable energy, oil and gas) industries.  The group comprises four companies: Swift Aircraft Ltd, Europa Aircraft Ltd, Swift TG Solutions Ltd and Aviation and Marine Engineering (AMEL).

Contact: info@swiftaircraft.co.uk; (t) +44(0)1603 262301

USA Agent:  Custom Flight Creations, Valrico Florida.  Website: www.customflightcreations.com
Contact:  mail@customflightcreations.com  (t) (813) 653-4989

Exciting News 10/03/08.  Have you wondered why Europa wasn't at Oshkosh this year?  It is because we have just finalized the amicable takeover of Europa Aircraft by Dave Stanbridge's Swift Technologies.  Over the last months, in our quest to expand our line, update the Europa kit and begin new advertising, Swift Technologies has stepped in and made the Europa growth dream happen.  The takeover gives the advantage of Swift's state of the art engineering experience, and Europa's kit building / fabricating facilities to begin a new and exciting growth plan.  When the US aviation industry news releases are finalized, we will post them for you to get the details.  For those of us passionate about our Europa, this infusion of enthusiasm and funds is just what we needed to regain our market share and once again lead the industry in the composite market.

07/19/08 Sorry guys, due to conflicts, neither Custom Flight Creations or Europa representatives will attend Oshkosh this year.

07/18/08 Service Bulletin 16. This Service Bulletin requires a check of the flap pin engagement to ensure that no other cases of this problem arise. An incident has occurred in which a flap drive pin became disengaged from the flap cross tube following nose wheel shimmy, causing temporary uncommanded roll of the aircraft. The aircraft in question had an unusually short flap cross tube on one side.

Note from CFC: Check your flap drive pins that they are glued in soundly. I just had a report of a loose one.

03/16/08 Review the latest Europa Service Bulletin 15 for using Loctite 603 (not 403) to secure TP 9 and 12 movement as a result of worn pins. Clean the contact area well using a degreaser and blow out the area and dry it well as it is a real pain to have to redo this because of a moment's laziness in prepping the parts.

Note: Personally, Loctite 603 is not a substitute for poor fitting pins in TP 9 and 12. Remake the pins for a press fit or install Mod 62 (3/8 inch pins) properly for a mechanically tight fit and near zero movement of the tail planes.

01/02/08 Mod 73 depending on your builder technique you may need a longer pip pin to ensure the pip pin balls will be clear and secure your tail planes properly. We have found the Carr Lane 1/4 inch by 2 inch length pins work fine. See www.carrlane.com.

12/01/07 Join us at Sun 'n Fun. John Wheeler and Bud Yerly and many Europa owners will be at the fly-in at Lakeland Florida from April 8-13, 2008.

8/20/07 Mod 74 released. Please go to the Europa website at: www.europa-aircraft.co.uk for details of this mod. This Mod affects the Classic foam wing rear pin strengthening, which is necessary for safe and trouble free operations. If you have Mod 52, the entire project is a weekend long. Without Mod 52, you are looking at about a week.

7/12/07 Mod 73 is a piece of cake. Please go to the Europa website at: www.europa-aircraft.co.uk for details of this mod. This Mod can assist in tailplane outer bearing retention for those who made their own tailplanes by the book. Some of us have other mods which have been accomplished to prevent pip pin / outer bearing loss problems. Much buzz is on the www.matronics.com Europa list and you can read the comments there or the Europa Club website as well.

6/29/07 Join us at Oshkosh as Bud Yerly, the US Europa Dealer, will be at the EAA Fly-in at Oshkosh WI. We will be hosting a Europa Builders Forum on July 26th from 4:00 to 5:15 or so at Pavillion 1. Come join us and bring your questions and photos.

6/18/07 With the loss of a Europa in the UK due to a breakup in flight (looks like a tailplane departed causing a massive over G) please see the latest airworthiness directives at www.europa-aircraft.co.uk See the PFA documentation at www.pfa.org.uk.

Note: PFA documentation is available on line as of 06/19/07. www.pfa.org.uk/engineering%20pdfs/006.pdf and www.pfa.org.uk/engineering%20pdfs/007.pdf

6/15/07 From Custom Flight Creations: Care must be taken to ensure there is no slop in the tail planes. Check your tail plane for play ASAP and inspect the bearing seating in the tail planes as well. Make sure to check your TP 13 and 16s for security and wear. If you have or have not accomplished Mod 62 (TP14 torque tube 3/8 inch pin retrofit) check that your TP14d pins are snug and there is no play in the tail planes. Also check that the counterbalance arm and its pins are secure as well. Destructive flutter can occur; it is sudden and catastrophic. Check your aircraft now and every preflight. Also check your stabalator pip pin for proper installation and seating. The pip pin should go through the bearing and show the pip pin balls are extended and the pin secure. To have the luxury of a removable control surface also requires the personal responsibility of proper maintenance.