| Dates of completed inspections are highlighted with blue. |
| Dates of completed modifications are highlighted with green. |
| date | milestone | return link to journal page | link to mod photos |
| 1993-10-15 | First become aware of the Europa by reading a flight test in Pilot magazine. | Aeroplane home-building: background | |
| 1995-08-30 | Visit Europa factory.
Have demonstration flight in G-KITS (tri-gear) with Ivan Shaw. | Aeroplane home-building - the move | |
| 1996-03-25 | With Wilma’s agreement, take early retirement from BT Labs to make time for aeroplane building. | Aeroplane home-building - the move | |
| 1997-06-11 | Move to a house in Cheltenham with a bigger garage | Aeroplane home-building - the move | |
| 1997-07-17 | House suffers subsidence movement.
The investigation and remedial work disrupt our lives and plans intermittently for several years | Aeroplane home-building - the move | |
| 1999-06-16 | Order a Europa kit and register it with PFA (now LAA) as Project 247-13482 and with CAA as G-ROWI | Aeroplane home-building - making a start | |
| 1999-10-15 | Attend weekend workshop including demonstration flight in monowheel G-GBXS with Andy Draper.
Collect tail kit. | Aeroplane home-building - making a start | |
| 1999-11-25 | Collect part-built covered trailer from Roger Huttlestone | Journal November 1999 | |
| 2000-09-04 | Wilma suffers a heart attack.
This affects many things in our lives besides the aeroplane project | Journal September 2000 | |
| 2001-03-10 | Workshop approved by inspector Martin Carolan (inspection #1) | Journal March 2001 | |
| 2001-05-26 | Start first layup on the rudder | Journal May 2001 | |
| 2001-06-22 | Basic rudder structure completed | Journal June 2001 | |
| 2001-09-25 | Tow completed trailer to Yorkshire.
Collect fuselage and wing kits from the factory and have a demo flight in tri-gear G-KITZ with Mark Waite | Journal September 2001 | |
| 2002-01-31 | LAA Mod 10672 completed: improved retention of TP5/TP6 | Journal January 2002 | mod picture link |
| 2002-02-22 | Chock & TP outboard rib inspections (#2 & #4) completed | Journal February 2002 | |
| 2002-05-29 | Factory Mod 58 (TP16 tailplane tab drive pins) incorporated | Journal May 2002 | |
| 2002-07-02 | Factory Mod 62 (Tailplane torque tube 3/8 inch drive pins) incorporated | Journal July 2002 | |
| 2002-08-21 | Tailplanes built | Journal August 2002 | |
| 2002-08-26 | Rudder hinges fitted | Journal August 2002 | |
| 2002-10-26 | Port flap built | Journal October 2002 | |
| 2002-11-25 | Starboard flap built | Journal November 2002 | |
| 2003-06-24 | Starboard aileron built | Journal June 2003 | |
| 2003-09-11 | LAA Mod 10661 (Outrigger pivot) incorporated | Journal September 2003 | |
| 2003-10-20 | Port aileron built | Journal October 2003 | |
| 2003-11-25 | Rudder control horn fitted | Journal November 2003 | |
| 2003-12-02 | Foam-built parts inspections (inspections #3, #5, #6, #10, #11 & #12) completed and parts post-cured | Journal December 2003 | |
| 2007-08-27 | Rudder filled and painted | Journal August 2007 | |
| 2007-09-07 | Starboard wing pre-close inspections (#13, #14, #15 & #16) completed | Journal September 2007 | |
| 2007-12-20 | Starboard wing built | Journal December 2007 | |
| 2007-12-31 | Factory SB15 requirements met (OR5 parts replaced with those of correct material) | Journal December 2007 | |
| 2008-02-13 | LAA Mod SM10713 (conduit in wings) completed | Journal February 2008 | mod picture link |
| 2008-03-25 | Port wing pre-close inspections (#13, #14, #15 & #16) completed | Journal March 2008 | |
| 2008-05-01 | Port wing built | Journal May 2008 | |
| 2008-10-09 | Factory Mod 72 (U/C frame strengthening) incorporated | Journal October 2008 | mod picture link |
| 2009-01-13 | Wilma dies quite suddenly after a short illness. My whole world is turned upside-down, but I keep hearing her often-repeated advice:
“Stop getting distracted — finish the aeroplane!”
so I am pressing on with the build, and working helps to distract from my sadness that she is no longer here with me | Journal January 2009 | |
| 2009-06-04 | Both wings test-rigged to cockpit module | Journal June 2009 | |
| 2009-06-09 | Aileron and flying controls inspections (#7, #8, #9 & #23) completed | Journal June 2009 | |
| 2009-06-15 | Fuselage pre-build inspection (#20) signed off | Journal June 2009 | |
| 2009-11-09 | Firewall-forward kit delivered | Journal November 2009 | |
| 2009-12-15 | Rotax 912ULS engine delivered | Journal December 2009 | |
| 2010-05-20 | Cockpit module bonded in | Journal May 2010 | |
| 2010-06-19 | Another big (happy) life-change event: marry Dorothy Colwill. This has a few knock-on effects on the aeroplane project — but not all of them negative! | Journal June 2010 | |
| 2010-07-05 | Woodcomp SR3000/3W propeller delivered | Journal July 2010 | |
| 2011-03-07 | Re-register the aircraft with the CAA from G-ROWI to G-RODO | Journal March 2011 | |
| 2011-11-25 | Loctite applied to tailplane torque tube in accordance with Service Bulletin 15 | Journal November 2011 | |
| 2011-12-09 | First rigging of tailplanes on fuselage | Journal December 2011 | |
| 2013-04-06 | Set deadline of June 2015 (my 70th birthday) for aircraft to be completed and flying | Journal April 2013 | |
| 2013-05-08 | Collect new-shape cowls from Neville Eyre | Journal May 2013 | |
| 2013-07-20 | First trial fit of upper fuselage moulding | Journal July 2013 | |
| 2013-09-12 | Full wiring diagrams completed and combined into a wirebook | Journal September 2013 | |
| 2014-05-02 | Factory Mod 70 (new mass-balance arm) completed | Journal May 2014 | mod picture link |
| 2014-07-07 | Full fuel system drawing and parts list completed | Journal July 2014 | |
| 2014-07-23 | Fuselage inspections prior to bonding on the top (#21, #22 & #24) completed by Steve Evans | Journal July 2014 | |
| 2014-07-25 | Full vacuum system drawing and parts list completed | Journal July 2014 | |
| 2014-08-23 | Fuselage top bonded on | Journal August 2014 | |
| 2014-10-18 | Factory Mod 51 (retract lever support strut) completed | Journal October 2014 | mod picture link |
| 2014-10-25 | Full pitot-static system drawing and parts list completed | Journal October 2014 | |
| 2014-10-31 | First successful rigging of wings to fuselage | Journal October 2014 | |
| 2014-12-19 | Wing pin sockets aligned and bonded to fuselage | Journal December 2014 | |
| 2015-01-24 | Aileron quick-connect bellcrank pads fitted and ailerons operating from the sticks | Journal January 2015 | |
| 2015-04-16 | Flap control system fitted and flaps operating over correct range | Journal April 2015 | |
| 2015-04-18 | Rudder fitted, tailwheel connected and both operating over the correct range of deflection from the pedals | Journal April 2015 | |
| 2015-04-18 | LAA Mod 10371, Factory Mod 77 (Singleton pushrod rudder drive) completed | Journal April 2015 | mod picture link |
| 2015-08-28 | Factory Mod 51 (retract lever support strut) re-done after replacing retract lever | Journal August 2015 | mod picture link |
| 2015-09-11 | Undercarriage retract system and flaps both operating over correct range | Journal September 2015 | |
| 2015-09-22 | LAA Mod SM10755 (Retract latch spring) completed | Journal September 2015 | mod picture link |
| 2016-03-14 | Engine first mounted on fuselage | Journal March 2016 | |
| 2016-03-18 | Carb heater blocks fitted for LAA Mod SM10427 | Journal March 2016 | |
| 2016-07-15 | Cowl first mounted on fuselage | Journal July 2016 | |
| 2016-07-18 | Propeller first mounted on engine | Journal July 2016 | |
| 2016-10-06 | Silencer first mounted on engine | Journal October 2016 | |
| 2017-02-28 | Shoot bolt guides bonded in to doors | Journal February 2017 | |
| 2017-03-10 | Doors hinged | Journal March 2017 | |
| 2017-03-14 | Door latches fitted and working | Journal March 2017 | |
| 2017-05-02 | Wings delivered to Targett Aviation for filling and painting | Journal May 2017 | |
| 2017-05-19 | Complete fuselage winched into trailer for first time | Journal May 2017 | |
| 2017-05-30 | Flaps delivered to Targett Aviation for profiling and painting | Journal May 2017 | |
| 2017-06-06 | Ailerons delivered to Targett Aviation for profiling and painting | Journal June 2017 | |
| 2017-06-23 | Finished and painted wings collected from Targett Aviation | Journal June 2017 | |
| 2017-07-10 | Finished and painted flaps and ailerons collected from Targett Aviation | Journal July 2017 | |
| 2017-10-31 | Inspection slips for wing TE bond and root pins (#17 and #18) received from Roger Targett. Signed off 2017-05-04 | Journal October 2017 | |
| 2018-10-29 | Tailplanes and ailerons delivered to Targett Aviation for painting (2nd try for ailerons) | Journal October 2018 | |
| 2018-12-11 | Engine sump oil banjo rotated and safety-wired; oil return hose correctly routed. | Journal December 2018 | |
| 2018-12-31 | LAA Mod SM14809 (fuel filler rubber connectors) completed | Journal December 2018 | mod picture link |
| 2019-01-22 | Tailplanes and ailerons collected from Targett Aviation paintshop | Journal January 2019 | |
| 2019-09-14 | Firewall fitted and engine re-hung | Journal September 2019 | |
| 2019-09-19 | Factory SB7 requirements met (throttle cable routing and operation) | Journal September 2019 | mod picture link |
| 2020-01-02 | Factory Mod 32 complete: Firesleeves fitted to all engine-bay fuel hoses | Journal January 2020 | mod picture link |
| 2020-01-28 | Oil system hoses all connected | Journal January 2020 | |
| 2020-03-07 | Oil cooler and water radiator fitted | Journal March 2020 | |
| 2020-03-07 | LAA Mod SM10427 (Carb heater) hoses fitted and completed | Journal March 2020 | mod picture link |
| 2020-04-29 | All fuel hoses made up and connected | Journal April 2020 | |
| 2020-06-22 | All firewall-forward wires terminated | Journal June 2020 | |
| 2020-08-17 | Cockpit ventilation installed | Journal August 2020 | |
| 2020-08-17 | F14 Instrument Module fitted to firewall | Journal August 2020 | |
| 2020-10-09 | All wiring conduits fitted and secured | Journal October 2020 | |
| 2021-01-12 | LAA Mod 10404 (Crowbar) installed and wired | Journal January 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2021-01-12 | LAA Mod SM12970 (Schicke GR6 regulator) installed and wired | Journal January 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2021-01-30 | Trim system wired on radio panel, all functions working | Journal January 2021 | |
| 2021-01-31 | Main instrument panel wired and installed, instruments lighting up | Journal January 2021 | |
| 2021-02-08 | Factory Mod 60 (Analogue fuel gauge) installation and wiring completed | Journal February 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2021-02-12 | TRX2000 traffic monitor wired and working | Journal February 2021 | |
| 2021-02-13 | LAA SM12209 (FloScan fuel flow transducer with MGL FF-1 display) installation completed, awaiting testing | Journal February 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2021-02-22 | LAA Mod 10507 (wing leveller) installation and wiring completed; wing leveller receiving GPS position signal | Journal February 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2021-02-25 | ATR833 comm radio wired and working | Journal February 2021 | |
| 2021-03-05 | Factory Mod 63 (aluminium instrument panels) completed with instruments and avionics fitted. | Journal March 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2021-03-09 | Comm radio dipole antenna tuned for best SWR across the band | Journal March 2021 | |
| 2021-03-09 | Avionics installed and functional, waiting for testing and LAA MOD 7 form completion | Journal March 2021 | mod picture link |
| 2022-05-27 | SmartASS AirSpeed Speaker fitted and configured, awaiting LAA MOD 2 & Mod 3 form completion | Journal May 2022 | mod picture link |
| 2022-05-27 | Cockpit camera mount installed and strength tested to LAA TL 3.24 | Journal May 2022 | mod picture link |
| 2022-07-28 | Fuel system installation completed; awaiting commissioning and testing | Journal July 2022 | |
| 2022-10-24 | LAA Mod SM10297 (door locks) completed | Journal October 2022 | mod picture link |
| 2022-11-12 | Perspex glazing fitted to starboard door | Journal November 2022 | |
| 2022-12-24 | Perspex glazing fitted to port door | Journal December 2022 | |
| 2023-02-13 | LAA Mod SM15833 (shoot-bolt stops) completed | Journal February 2023 | mod picture link |
| 2023-06-10 | Windscreen bonded in | Journal June 2023 | |
| 2023-06-14 | Registration mark applied to wing | Journal June 2023 | |
go to list of narrative pages
