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n7188u
Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 406
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 Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2025 4:50 pm Post subject: First long trip |
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Hi Europa friends,
I finally was able to convince my wife to jump in the plane and go on a longer trip with our Europa. Weather during the flights was good but required a bit of planning. We had to go around some systems than made our trip a little longer than planned but worked out well. We did avoid an airport we were planning to go to and spend a couple of days and that airport was destroyed by a tornado the day we planned to be there so we made the right call not going there. In total we spend two weeks out, flew 2020 NM (3740 KM) and landed in about 7 airports. Came to about a couple of miles from Canada!
Our Europa performed flawlessly. No issues at all and it was quite fun to do a long trip in it.
One notable note is that I was wondering how to deal with minimizing the use of 100LL Avgas. Jim told me about his collapsible tanks. Although it is a good idea they are a bit spendy and I just didn't order in time. The day before the trip I got the idea of using my removable auxiliary tank, which I have equipped with a small electric fuel pump. I rigged a small LiPo battery I use on my model airplanes and would just take the tank to the hotel at night and fill it on the way to the airport in the morning. Since the tank is too heavy to place in the airplane full of gas, I would then transfer the fuel to the main tank and then place it in the airplane when empty. this worked well except for a couple of long legs where I would load a few gallos of 100LL in the aux tank once in the airplane. In all I think I only purchased 13 gallons of leaded fuel on the whole trip.
What a great airplane my little Europa is 
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| The nice hangars in Anderson Indiana were we spent the night. Money well spent. |
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| Paid for a hangar one night where tornadoes were forecast. This was a different city than we had planned to go to. The one we planned to go, the airport was leveled by a big tornado. |
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| How I transferred auto fuel into the main tank using the small electric pump I have in the tank and a 3S LiPo battery. |
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| A view of the route taken. Weather forced us to go a bit west on the way up. |
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h&jeuropa
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: First long trip |
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Chris,
Glad you got to take a nice trip. These are what our Europa's excel at!
We've been to KAID many times for their UL94 fuel.
Kevin Klinefelter actually would take his LR tank out, fill it with gas and put it back in the plane! I never considered doing that even when I was younger!
Thanks for posting.
Jim
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dmac7
Joined: 05 Apr 2019
Posts: 56
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: First long trip |
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Thanks for sharing some details of your trip. I'm close to retirement and am interested in taking a cross Canada flight in my 914 powered Mono after I work the bugs out of both my own flying and the plane itself when I should have the time required. What was the longest leg of the trip in time and distance? Dwayne
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n7188u
Joined: 15 Nov 2015
Posts: 406
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2025 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: First long trip |
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Apologies for the late reply Dwayne.
The longest leg was 3 hrs and around 337 NM straight line distance from 7FL6 to KMGM. Flight distance was probably longer because I remember having to go around weather and airspaces. And I remember we had some headwind. I normally plan for 135 kts TAS (5050-5100 RPM) and it has shown to be quite accurate.
After that leg my wife and I realized that we really didn't enjoy being up in the airplane that long (the Europa is a wonderful airplane but not necessary the comfiest on long trips, at least not mine). It also becomes a bit unpleasant in turbulence and I wanted my wife to enjoy this trip. But to be honest, the limiting factor was our bladders more than anything. So we kept the rest of the legs to within 2(ish) hours and morning flights. But visiting places along the way was part of the adventure.
We certainly enjoyed the trip and looking forward to our next Europa adventure.
Chris
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dmac7
Joined: 05 Apr 2019
Posts: 56
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 11:52 pm Post subject: Re: First long trip |
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Chris, in my opinion as delivered the shape of the cockpit module will result in a sore back in short order, the angle is not bad on the upper section but half way down it gets more vertical and this is bad for comfort. Time spent in making the seating comfortable will pay you back on future flights.
The longest flight for N121XS / C-FXZJ has been Wichita KS. to Pierre SD. 430 nm or 500 statue miles. 2.9 hours & standard tank. Otherwise mostly trips have been under 2 hrs but when I modify the seatback shape longer trips should be comfortable, not like business class on a 747 but as good as anyone would find in a GA airplane.
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h&jeuropa
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:29 am Post subject: Re: First long trip |
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Seating comfort and protection during a crash is why we chose Oregon Aero for our seats and we have never regretted that decision in spite of cost and weight.
Our seats are comfortable for two 4 hour legs in the same day. We have heating pads built in that make them comfortable in cold weather.
Check them out, you will not be disappointed.
Jim & Heather
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