Bill--On first flights I have done stalls on thirteen different Europas from
classics, XS, tri & mono gear, plus motor glider. Most first flight stalls
were done at idle power at medium weight and CG. All stalled benignly in a
clean config, but some had a wing drop after first indication of imminent
stall in the flaps down config--which was corrected easily with neutralizing
controls. Of course, there is some altitude loss. These wing droppers were
candidates for stall strips.
In regard to short field landings--know what the stall speed is for your
config, weight & CG. (That is part of what you check in your phase 1 test
period) Then fly your stabilized approach at 1.2 Vso (assuming no gusting
wind). Slips are marginally effective in the XS mono giving you about 1500
fpm down vice 1200 no slip at 80 KIAS gear down, idle pwr. Slips in a turn
are OK with top rudder but of course skidding turns are a no-no.
Bob Lindsay
San Diego CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "William McClellan" <wilwood@earthlink.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 8:50 AM
Subject: Europa-List: Stall spin characteristics
> <wilwood@earthlink.net>
>
> I understand that the Europa is very prone to abruptly dropping a wing,
> trying to enter a spin, when stalled with full flaps in the landing
> configuration. On the other hand, in the clean, unflapped configuration
> the stall is very benign. I wonder if this is true of all Europa's or
> only some depending on the particulars of that builders end product and
> possible modifications. I have nearly 1000 hrs in a Citabria with very
> much of it flying into short "backcountry" dirt strips requiring
> significant STOL characteristics. I don't have flaps so regularly use
> severe straight and banked slips. The Citabria is a "dirty" plane
> compared to the "very clean" Europa so I believe the use of severe slips
> in the Europa is never warranted. My experience with very clean planes, I
> also have 1000 hours in my high performance glider and since the air
> brakes work so well, severe slipping is not needed...though some less than
> ultra clean gliders, ie, trainers, can make use of severe slipping!
> . It seems likely that Cliff Shaw's accident was a result of this abrupt
> spin stall characteristic in landing configuration. I have a rule (though
> not unique), "never skid a turn", keeping a nice margin above stall. It
> seems that the Europa (and probably all super clean planes, for instance
> the Cirrus), have a propensity to severe stall spin in landing
> configuration. I understand that many Europa pilots land with an airspeed
> up to 65 but this uses a greater landing distance considering the stall
> speed is in the 40's. Europa's original touted mission was short field,
> pasture strips. For those who often use this short field capability, I
> would like to know the particulars to make the Europa perform safely in
> this manner. Not having piloted a Europa, but am close to finishing my
> build, I am curious to these questions.
> Bill McClellan
>
>
>
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