November 2, 2008  Europa set to hit new heights.  The news that Europa Aircraft has been party to an amicable takeover by a British aviation company, Swift Technology Group, has been welcomed by the stakeholders and stirred excitement in the light aircraft and kit plane industry worldwide.  As a result of this merger, Europa Aircraft is announcing exciting new plans for the future, which will see significant investment into Research and Development, a new pro-active sales structure and dynamic marketing activity.

Europa Aircraft is already one of the most successful kit plane suppliers in the UK, with the current models - Europa XS Trigear, Monowheel and Motor glider - gaining massive acclaim worldwide. There are over 700 Europas flying in 33 countries and many more in the build process, which places it as one of the most popular brands in the kit plane arena. The merger will allow Europa to maintain its standing in the market by taking advantage of new innovations and technologies to improve and differentiate the product offering and increase market share. Development has already started on further enhancements to the design of the Europa XS models, including modifications for the LSA market and finalization of the Motor glider. This will be followed by the design and manufacture of a brand new composite plane – available in a self-build kit form or certified to CS-VLA.

About Swift Technology Group:  Run by the highly successful engineer and aviation enthusiast David Stanbridge, Swift Technology Group’s focus is on state of the art technologies to design and manufacture products for the aviation, automotive, marine and energy (renewable energy, oil and gas) industries.  The group comprises four companies: Swift Aircraft Ltd, Europa Aircraft Ltd, Swift TG Solutions Ltd and Aviation and Marine Engineering (AMEL).

Contact: info@swiftaircraft.co.uk; (t) +44(0)1603 262301

USA Agent:  Custom Flight Creations, Valrico Florida.  Website: www.customflightcreations.com
Contact:  mail@customflightcreations.com  (t) (813) 653-4989

Exciting News 10/03/08.  Have you wondered why Europa wasn't at Oshkosh this year?  It is because we have just finalized the amicable takeover of Europa Aircraft by Dave Stanbridge's Swift Technologies.  Over the last months, in our quest to expand our line, update the Europa kit and begin new advertising, Swift Technologies has stepped in and made the Europa growth dream happen.  The takeover gives the advantage of Swift's state of the art engineering experience, and Europa's kit building / fabricating facilities to begin a new and exciting growth plan.  When the US aviation industry news releases are finalized, we will post them for you to get the details.  For those of us passionate about our Europa, this infusion of enthusiasm and funds is just what we needed to regain our market share and once again lead the industry in the composite market.

07/19/08 Sorry guys, due to conflicts, neither Custom Flight Creations or Europa representatives will attend Oshkosh this year.

07/18/08 Service Bulletin 16. This Service Bulletin requires a check of the flap pin engagement to ensure that no other cases of this problem arise. An incident has occurred in which a flap drive pin became disengaged from the flap cross tube following nose wheel shimmy, causing temporary uncommanded roll of the aircraft. The aircraft in question had an unusually short flap cross tube on one side.

Note from CFC: Check your flap drive pins that they are glued in soundly. I just had a report of a loose one.

03/16/08 Review the latest Europa Service Bulletin 15 for using Loctite 603 (not 403) to secure TP 9 and 12 movement as a result of worn pins. Clean the contact area well using a degreaser and blow out the area and dry it well as it is a real pain to have to redo this because of a moment's laziness in prepping the parts.

Note: Personally, Loctite 603 is not a substitute for poor fitting pins in TP 9 and 12. Remake the pins for a press fit or install Mod 62 (3/8 inch pins) properly for a mechanically tight fit and near zero movement of the tail planes.

01/02/08 Mod 73 depending on your builder technique you may need a longer pip pin to ensure the pip pin balls will be clear and secure your tail planes properly. We have found the Carr Lane 1/4 inch by 2 inch length pins work fine. See www.carrlane.com.

12/01/07 Join us at Sun 'n Fun. John Wheeler and Bud Yerly and many Europa owners will be at the fly-in at Lakeland Florida from April 8-13, 2008.

8/20/07 Mod 74 released. Please go to the Europa website at: www.europa-aircraft.co.uk for details of this mod. This Mod affects the Classic foam wing rear pin strengthening, which is necessary for safe and trouble free operations. If you have Mod 52, the entire project is a weekend long. Without Mod 52, you are looking at about a week.

7/12/07 Mod 73 is a piece of cake. Please go to the Europa website at: www.europa-aircraft.co.uk for details of this mod. This Mod can assist in tailplane outer bearing retention for those who made their own tailplanes by the book. Some of us have other mods which have been accomplished to prevent pip pin / outer bearing loss problems. Much buzz is on the www.matronics.com Europa list and you can read the comments there or the Europa Club website as well.

6/29/07 Join us at Oshkosh as Bud Yerly, the US Europa Dealer, will be at the EAA Fly-in at Oshkosh WI. We will be hosting a Europa Builders Forum on July 26th from 4:00 to 5:15 or so at Pavillion 1. Come join us and bring your questions and photos.

6/18/07 With the loss of a Europa in the UK due to a breakup in flight (looks like a tailplane departed causing a massive over G) please see the latest airworthiness directives at www.europa-aircraft.co.uk See the PFA documentation at www.pfa.org.uk.

Note: PFA documentation is available on line as of 06/19/07. www.pfa.org.uk/engineering%20pdfs/006.pdf and www.pfa.org.uk/engineering%20pdfs/007.pdf

6/15/07 From Custom Flight Creations: Care must be taken to ensure there is no slop in the tail planes. Check your tail plane for play ASAP and inspect the bearing seating in the tail planes as well. Make sure to check your TP 13 and 16s for security and wear. If you have or have not accomplished Mod 62 (TP14 torque tube 3/8 inch pin retrofit) check that your TP14d pins are snug and there is no play in the tail planes. Also check that the counterbalance arm and its pins are secure as well. Destructive flutter can occur; it is sudden and catastrophic. Check your aircraft now and every preflight. Also check your stabalator pip pin for proper installation and seating. The pip pin should go through the bearing and show the pip pin balls are extended and the pin secure. To have the luxury of a removable control surface also requires the personal responsibility of proper maintenance.