Europa #435 G-RODO - Milestones


index sitemap advanced
search engine by freefind

Navigation & Acknowledgements
Dates of completed inspections are highlighted with blue.
Dates of completed modifications are highlighted with green.
date milestonereturn link to journal pagelink to mod photos
1993-10-15First become aware of the Europa by reading a flight test in Pilot magazine.Aeroplane home-building: background
1995-08-30Visit Europa factory.
Have demonstration flight in G-KITS (tri-gear) with Ivan Shaw.
Aeroplane home-building - the move
1996-03-25With Wilma’s agreement, take early retirement from BT Labs to make time for aeroplane building.Aeroplane home-building - the move
1997-06-11Move to a house in Cheltenham with a bigger garageAeroplane home-building - the move
1997-07-17House suffers subsidence movement.
The investigation and remedial work disrupt our lives and plans intermittently for several years
Aeroplane home-building - the move
1999-06-16Order a Europa kit and register it with PFA (now LAA) as Project 247-13482 and with CAA as G-ROWIAeroplane home-building - making a start
1999-10-15Attend weekend workshop including demonstration flight in monowheel G-GBXS with Andy Draper.
Collect tail kit.
Aeroplane home-building - making a start
1999-11-25Collect part-built covered trailer from Roger HuttlestoneJournal November 1999
2000-09-04Wilma suffers a heart attack.
This affects many things in our lives besides the aeroplane project
Journal September 2000
2001-03-10Workshop approved by inspector Martin Carolan (inspection #1)Journal March 2001
2001-05-26Start first layup on the rudderJournal May 2001
2001-06-22Basic rudder structure completedJournal June 2001
2001-09-25Tow 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
2002-01-31LAA Mod 10672 completed: improved retention of TP5/TP6Journal January 2002mod picture link
2002-02-22Chock & TP outboard rib inspections (#2 & #4) completedJournal February 2002
2002-05-29Factory Mod 58 (TP16 tailplane tab drive pins) incorporatedJournal May 2002
2002-07-02Factory Mod 62 (Tailplane torque tube 3/8 inch drive pins) incorporatedJournal July 2002
2002-08-21Tailplanes builtJournal August 2002
2002-08-26Rudder hinges fittedJournal August 2002
2002-10-26Port flap builtJournal October 2002
2002-11-25Starboard flap builtJournal November 2002
2003-06-24Starboard aileron builtJournal June 2003
2003-09-11LAA Mod 10661 (Outrigger pivot) incorporatedJournal September 2003
2003-10-20Port aileron builtJournal October 2003
2003-11-25Rudder control horn fittedJournal November 2003
2003-12-02Foam-built parts inspections (inspections #3, #5, #6, #10, #11 & #12) completed and parts post-curedJournal December 2003
2007-08-27Rudder filled and paintedJournal August 2007
2007-09-07Starboard wing pre-close inspections (#13, #14, #15 & #16) completedJournal September 2007
2007-12-20Starboard wing builtJournal December 2007
2007-12-31Factory SB15 requirements met (OR5 parts replaced with those of correct material)Journal December 2007
2008-02-13LAA Mod SM10713 (conduit in wings) completedJournal February 2008mod picture link
2008-03-25Port wing pre-close inspections (#13, #14, #15 & #16) completedJournal March 2008
2008-05-01Port wing builtJournal May 2008
2008-10-09Factory Mod 72 (U/C frame strengthening) incorporatedJournal October 2008mod picture link
2009-01-13Wilma 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
2009-06-04Both wings test-rigged to cockpit moduleJournal June 2009
2009-06-09Aileron and flying controls inspections (#7, #8, #9 & #23) completedJournal June 2009
2009-06-15Fuselage pre-build inspection (#20) signed offJournal June 2009
2009-11-09Firewall-forward kit deliveredJournal November 2009
2009-12-15Rotax 912ULS engine deliveredJournal December 2009
2010-05-20Cockpit module bonded inJournal May 2010
2010-06-19Another 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
2010-07-05Woodcomp SR3000/3W propeller deliveredJournal July 2010
2011-03-07Re-register the aircraft with the CAA from G-ROWI to G-RODOJournal March 2011
2011-11-25Loctite applied to tailplane torque tube in accordance with Service Bulletin 15Journal November 2011
2011-12-09First rigging of tailplanes on fuselageJournal December 2011
2013-04-06Set deadline of June 2015 (my 70th birthday) for aircraft to be completed and flyingJournal April 2013
2013-05-08Collect new-shape cowls from Neville EyreJournal May 2013
2013-07-20First trial fit of upper fuselage mouldingJournal July 2013
2013-09-12Full wiring diagrams completed and combined into a wirebookJournal September 2013
2014-05-02Factory Mod 70 (new mass-balance arm) completedJournal May 2014mod picture link
2014-07-07Full fuel system drawing and parts list completedJournal July 2014
2014-07-23Fuselage inspections prior to bonding on the top (#21, #22 & #24) completed by Steve EvansJournal July 2014
2014-07-25Full vacuum system drawing and parts list completedJournal July 2014
2014-08-23Fuselage top bonded onJournal August 2014
2014-10-18Factory Mod 51 (retract lever support strut) completedJournal October 2014mod picture link
2014-10-25Full pitot-static system drawing and parts list completedJournal October 2014
2014-10-31First successful rigging of wings to fuselageJournal October 2014
2014-12-19Wing pin sockets aligned and bonded to fuselageJournal December 2014
2015-01-24Aileron quick-connect bellcrank pads fitted and ailerons operating from the sticksJournal January 2015
2015-04-16Flap control system fitted and flaps operating over correct rangeJournal April 2015
2015-04-18Rudder fitted, tailwheel connected and both operating over the correct range of deflection from the pedalsJournal April 2015
2015-04-18LAA Mod 10371, Factory Mod 77 (Singleton pushrod rudder drive) completedJournal April 2015mod picture link
2015-08-28Factory Mod 51 (retract lever support strut) re-done after replacing retract leverJournal August 2015mod picture link
2015-09-11Undercarriage retract system and flaps both operating over correct rangeJournal September 2015
2015-09-22LAA Mod SM10755 (Retract latch spring) completedJournal September 2015mod picture link
2016-03-14Engine first mounted on fuselageJournal March 2016
2016-03-18Carb heater blocks fitted for LAA Mod SM10427Journal March 2016
2016-07-15Cowl first mounted on fuselageJournal July 2016
2016-07-18Propeller first mounted on engineJournal July 2016
2016-10-06Silencer first mounted on engineJournal October 2016
2017-02-28Shoot bolt guides bonded in to doorsJournal February 2017
2017-03-10Doors hingedJournal March 2017
2017-03-14Door latches fitted and workingJournal March 2017
2017-05-02Wings delivered to Targett Aviation for filling and paintingJournal May 2017
2017-05-19Complete fuselage winched into trailer for first timeJournal May 2017
2017-05-30Flaps delivered to Targett Aviation for profiling and paintingJournal May 2017
2017-06-06Ailerons delivered to Targett Aviation for profiling and paintingJournal June 2017
2017-06-23Finished and painted wings collected from Targett AviationJournal June 2017
2017-07-10Finished and painted flaps and ailerons collected from Targett AviationJournal July 2017
2017-10-31Inspection slips for wing TE bond and root pins (#17 and #18) received from Roger Targett. Signed off 2017-05-04Journal October 2017
2018-10-29Tailplanes and ailerons delivered to Targett Aviation for painting (2nd try for ailerons)Journal October 2018
2018-12-11Engine sump oil banjo rotated and safety-wired; oil return hose correctly routed.Journal December 2018
2018-12-31LAA Mod SM14809 (fuel filler rubber connectors) completedJournal December 2018mod picture link
2019-01-22Tailplanes and ailerons collected from Targett Aviation paintshopJournal January 2019
2019-09-14Firewall fitted and engine re-hungJournal September 2019
2019-09-19Factory SB7 requirements met (throttle cable routing and operation)Journal September 2019mod picture link
2020-01-02Factory Mod 32 complete: Firesleeves fitted to all engine-bay fuel hosesJournal January 2020mod picture link
2020-01-28Oil system hoses all connectedJournal January 2020
2020-03-07Oil cooler and water radiator fittedJournal March 2020
2020-03-07LAA Mod SM10427 (Carb heater) hoses fitted and completedJournal March 2020mod picture link
2020-04-29All fuel hoses made up and connectedJournal April 2020
2020-06-22All firewall-forward wires terminatedJournal June 2020
2020-08-17Cockpit ventilation installedJournal August 2020
2020-08-17F14 Instrument Module fitted to firewallJournal August 2020
2020-10-09All wiring conduits fitted and securedJournal October 2020
2021-01-12LAA Mod 10404 (Crowbar) installed and wiredJournal January 2021mod picture link
2021-01-12LAA Mod SM12970 (Schicke GR6 regulator) installed and wiredJournal January 2021mod picture link
2021-01-30Trim system wired on radio panel, all functions workingJournal January 2021
2021-01-31Main instrument panel wired and installed, instruments lighting upJournal January 2021
2021-02-08Factory Mod 60 (Analogue fuel gauge) installation and wiring completedJournal February 2021mod picture link
2021-02-12TRX2000 traffic monitor wired and workingJournal February 2021
2021-02-13LAA SM12209 (FloScan fuel flow transducer with MGL FF-1 display) installation completed, awaiting testingJournal February 2021mod picture link
2021-02-22LAA Mod 10507 (wing leveller) installation and wiring completed; wing leveller receiving GPS position signalJournal February 2021mod picture link
2021-02-25ATR833 comm radio wired and workingJournal February 2021
2021-03-05Factory Mod 63 (aluminium instrument panels) completed with instruments and avionics fitted.Journal March 2021mod picture link
2021-03-09Comm radio dipole antenna tuned for best SWR across the bandJournal March 2021
2021-03-09Avionics installed and functional, waiting for testing and LAA MOD 7 form completionJournal March 2021mod picture link
2022-05-27SmartASS AirSpeed Speaker fitted and configured, awaiting LAA MOD 2 & Mod 3 form completionJournal May 2022mod picture link
2022-05-27Cockpit camera mount installed and strength tested to LAA TL 3.24Journal May 2022mod picture link
2022-07-28Fuel system installation completed; awaiting commissioning and testingJournal July 2022
2022-10-24LAA Mod SM10297 (door locks) completedJournal October 2022mod picture link
2022-11-12Perspex glazing fitted to starboard doorJournal November 2022
2022-12-24Perspex glazing fitted to port doorJournal December 2022
2023-02-13LAA Mod SM15833 (shoot-bolt stops) completedJournal February 2023mod picture link
2023-06-10Windscreen bonded inJournal June 2023
2023-06-14Registration mark applied to wingJournal June 2023
Go to building hours graphGo to project planning page

listgo to list of narrative pages list
Return to Rowland's home page

This page last updated 2022-04-04 16:55. I try to make this page as accessible as possible, by adhering to HTML 4 standards. Valid HTML 4.01! Valid CSS!
I welcome comments on this website. However, because of the amount of spam it attracts, I no longer post a direct e-mail address on any page. Instead, please click here to contact me. You will have to confirm that you are human before the message will be sent on to me.