Let’s take a look at what makes the Yorkshire England Europa kit aircraft so special and unique. Not only do you get great performance at a great price, but you get a real head turner with that single wheel and sleek design. This aircraft is build for cost saving and practicality. You don’t even need a hanger! Just unpin the wings, load it on the trailer and take it home!
The Europa XS Website
Performance and Specs
https://www.europa-aircraft.co.uk/europa-xs-monowheel.html
Why choose
https://www.europa-aircraft.co.uk/why-choose-the-europa-xs.html
Kit brochure https://www.europa-aircraft.co.uk/uploads/1/1/1/3/111318979/europa_ng_-_quotation__rev_02_.pdf
0:00 Intro
0:16 Why one wheel?
0:47 Disadvantages
1:17 Advantages
1:22 Performance
1:44 Fuel burn, range and specs
2:45 The 3 variations
3:07 Max speed differences
3:38 Costs and savings
4:44 Prices used and new kit
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Video footage from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3opGQk_JdM
Europa aircraft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au5gIViAZgk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id23IiWsRX4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOYztpukW3s
Europa documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0EYAQsVWCMs&t=544s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W4foTmO6SY
Fly with Marco Sherburn elmet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH759cELYOw
Landing modern https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOi_HGdIIbs
Ground loop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6jSruMW84Q
Landing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOi_HGdIIbs&t=1s
source
Great video Mike. My favour light plane is the Shark and the Black shape prime. I'm not sure if they are available as yet in the UK. Thanks for posting.
The motor-glider for 45,000 is a very interesting value offer. Some old (20 years+) used Diamond motor-glider is at the same pricing nowadays…
An interesting topic and nicely presented, Mike. I have to say I do prefer the look of the conventional tri-gear over the mono wheel… which looks so ungainly on the ground, but do admire the pilots who take the mono wheel on (I hear they’re more difficult to land until you crack it!)
I love the look of this plane
Here's one taking off from one of my local airfields. Taken by someone I met there, baldyflier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1037VMo8fUk
Mono 🙂
Mike, mostly a great video – but may i point out some added detail to improve the accuracy of your report?
1) The Europa factory originally made 'Classic' kits, where they provided factory-made mouldings and spars along with wire-cut foam, to homebuilders. The XS was a later development (now promoted by the factory) offering: factory prefabricated touring wings (which were faster to finish), the Motor-glider wings option, and a different firewall-forward layout (XS-FF).
2) The Mono can be converted to a TriGear for ~£7k in parts and an owners build time of around 3-4 weeks.
3) The VNe (not the cruise speed) for the XS Mono and Trigear is 165Kts and a realistic cruise speed in anything other than still/non-turbulent air, is typically ~110-120kts using 13-16lit/hr if fitted with a Rotax 91x engine and fixed-pitch or VP Prop.
4) 'Ultimate' means absolute maximum g-loading based upon various safety factors – that are applied as a result of being a homebuilt aircraft (unlike factory aircraft – which have closer build tolerances and therefore more exacting limits). That said, for anyone in the UK, the aircraft is not Permitted to be aerobatic in the UK/under the LAA regime – so the g-limits are a bit academic
5) I have built and flown both types, and the market prices as of 2022 are distorted in the case of the Monowheel by the ground handling – mostly de to insurance perceptions. Many Mono owners swear by their aircraft for all of the weight and performance reasons – but they are the people who have taken the time to do the learning/training about how to handle the Monowheel. It can certainly be tricky on hard runways, but are benign on grass – and offer more ownership 'satisfaction' (the more you put in, the more you get out – kind of thing). But if you want to go touring and land anywhere with a firm surface runway, the TriGear is easier to own.
6) Prices (UK – 2022) are typically ~£36k for a Tri Gear and £~£27-30k for a monowheel. Gleaming examples will fetch ~£7k more, neglected examples maybe up to ~£7k less – but will probably need remedial work by the new owner.
7) The Monowheel is not a traditional taildragger – in the sense that one must keep the tailwheel in contact with the ground below ~35kts. It takes some training and practice to get it right. It laps up rough surfaces and is very capable, within limits.
8) The Europa Club has a fantastic knowledge-sharing and touring fraternity and might be the best type-club in the World. Sales and wants can be found on its website – [https://www.theeuropaclub.org/the-club/sales-and-spares-member-adverts%5D
There are those who have ground looped a monowheel and those who are going to. Believe me. Trigear is awesome! Very economic aircraft.
Hi Mike, great presentation 🙂
I own a Europa XS Monowheel and flown her for 375 hours now and I have never had any problems landing here or taxiing on the ground. Ground loops where more on the older Classic version where the tailwheel was mounted much further forward than the XS I fly. I'we landed in 25 knots crosswind with no problems
Just remember the 175 kts cruise at 10 k feet is with the Rotax 914 with the turbo witch also uses a bit more fuel but not much. (Witch I have 🙂 )
Otherwise it is a great tourer for two people and 35kg luggage capacity and 70 liters of fuel. Takes of in less than 150 meters fully loaded and lands within 200 meters. My stalls at around 45 clean and 38 kts with flaps and gear out
Tail Dragger is the best looking version but rare. I’m biased as mine is the prototype one which my videos are used in your videos ?
Just bought a monowheel. Looking forward to flying it many places.
Mono wheel one
ultimate load factor is where the structure fails.
it’s not a different design or variant 2:12
Taildragger or Tri gear perhaps with interchangeable motorglider wings🤔😉😊✌️👍💜 Not sure if the latter is as good as other motorgliders especially the new breed.
Interesting aeroplane though.
I think that they're doing a 600kg version?
Now UK has LSA classification and matches with the US, the US are set to update and expand their LSA catagorory by the end of 2023, so the mismatch will come back into play again🤔🙄☹️ Is that barrier to entry for UK firms into the US market (amongst many others)?
Tri gear please.😉
1000 miles = 870 nautical miles, not 930!
In the first few years of Europa production the mono was in greater demand but in time the Tri-gear model became more popular. I really feel like the two don't really compete with each other as the pilot who is interested in a Tri-gear is not interested in it for it's appearance, but for the easier ground handling.The tri-gear pilot is unlikely to want a Mono just like Mono pilot is unlikely to want the Tri-gear version. Former Flying magazine editor Richard Collins said of the Piper Tri-Pacer vs Piper Pacer, " A Pacer owner wouldn't trade his Pacer for two Tri-Pacer's"
I feel it is similar with the Europa type's.
The Mono is unique, requires a little more awareness of the factor's affecting it's ground handling, it use's less field length when on grass due to less rolling resistance. The mono will carry greater payload, due to it's lighter empty weight (40 to 50 lbs. less). No two aircraft behave the same the reason's are many, for ex. C of G, tire pressure, tire size & manufacture, outrigger length, rigging, engine & propeller etc.
Ultimate stress load. This is the maximum G loading that the aircraft will take before it breaks. At that G loading parts will already be strained to maximum and will be permanently deformed. But will protect the occupants. 8 G is a lot. Most I've pulled is sustained 5G in a Jet Provost, in Yorkshire
For a professional musician Ivan Shaw is one fine aircraft designer. I've got some experience with gliders and motor gliders so the Classic would be my choice as monowheels hold no terrors for me. Get the impression I'd like one? Oh yes please.