As many of you know the Europa Club has produced some of its own
modifications (seven to date). As the modifications representative on the
Europa Club Committee I am looking for more suitable one-off mods which
might lend themselves to becoming club mods.
For new builders I will explain how and why these club mods have come into
being. Over the last few years there have been several builder initiated
mods which have become popular. Within the UK all non-factory mods have to
be individually approved by the PFA. To avoid builders having to re-invent
the mods and produce diagrams and text for PFA consideration it has been
agreed by the PFA that the Europa Club can produce (in consultation with
the PFA) these mods in a build instruction format. All a builder has to do
is to complete the mod as instructed, get the work checked by his inspector
and submit the paperwork to the PFA knowing that it is going to be
accepted. Although these restrictions are only relevent in the UK, builders
in other countries have found the mods useful both in helping them execute
the mods and satisfying there own authorities.
The present seven mods have all been completed on my own Europa. To provide
further mods I need help in two areas. Firstly builders who have completed
mods which they think will be useful to others. Secondly input from
builders as to which mods they think will be popular. However to qualify to
be suitable as a club mod the following points should be considered:
1. The mod should not:
(a) be already available fully documented off-the-shelf (eg Graham
Singleton's range of mods).
or (b) require specialist skills or equipment (eg lathes) unless the
prototype builder is willing to manufacture the specialist parts.
2. The mod could be:
(a) wholly constructed from raw materials (eg locker doors)
or (b) commercial items which come with no instructions (eg 1/4 turn cowl
fasteners)
or (c) commercial items which come with no Europa specific instructions (eg
Navaid Autopilot)
Each mod takes me several hours work with negotiation and alteration to
satisfy the PFA. Subsequent ones will also require liasing with the
prototype builder. With this in mind I will also need to be convinced that
there is enough interest in a particular mod before taking it on as a club
mod.
As a reminder the seven completed Europa Club mods are available to club
members from our membership secretary (Rowland Carson -
europa-club@rowil.clara.net) either electronically or hard copy and
include:
1. Strobe Unit Installation (Fin mounted)
2. Modified Instrument Panel with Removable Sub Panel
3. Seat Locker Door Installation
4. Overvoltage Crowbar Unit Installation
5. Quick Release Engine Cowl Fasteners
6. Capacitance Fuel Gauging System Installation
7. Navaid Autopilot Installation
Awaiting your input,
Nigel Charles
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