(click on the pictures to see more detail)
If you look at this picture it seems that we've bought a "long nose version"
of the Europa.
The rear bulkhead and the installation of the tailplane torque tube assembly.
Pieter is studying at the Technical University and helps us here to
make a mould for a new instrument panel. The factory supplied one is fine,
but we prefer a 'normal' radio stack which is not faced towards the pilot.
The man in our right seat is often doing the navigation and the radio's.
The instrument panel must withstand forces of 4G, so we'll make it very
strong. Stronger than the standard panel
(just to be sure).
Setting everything straight and level before bonding in the tailplane bushes.
The bushes are bonded in with a mix of redux 420 and flox.
Pieter is fitting the tank and the flying controls into the cockpit module
(placed upside down here) and Bart is cutting some holes in the fuselage bottom.
The holes are needed for access panels through which we can inspect the fuel outlets.
After bonding in the cockpit module we could trial-fit our new instrument panel.
Push-rod containment bulkhead and tailplane mass balance arm installed.
The last picture of our fuselage without the top on. Another milestone reached,
and still enjoying ourselves very much.
Our 'crane' to lift the fuselage proved to be very handy when we had to do some
difficult work inside the back of the fuselage. We lifted the rear-end fully
upwards and with the nose pointing down we could stand upright with our heads and
arms through the D-shaped bulkhead of the baggage-bay to do the job. You should
have seen us.
Watch these pages for new pictures.
