Europa XS Customer reviews
Over 1000 builders in 33 countries worldwide give testimony to the Europa's universal appeal. Read a sample of our customer Reviews:
- Paul McAllister
- Richard Wheelwright
- Steve Pitt
- Tim Ward
- Jeff Roberts
- Keith Hickling
- Jeroen Glazener
- Pat Tunney
Have you got a Europa story to tell?
Europa Aircraft is keen to hear from all Europa builders and pilots and will be running regular features and updates from our customer base. If you would like to share your experience, please contact us at [email protected]
Europa Aircraft is keen to hear from all Europa builders and pilots and will be running regular features and updates from our customer base. If you would like to share your experience, please contact us at [email protected]
Paul McAllister
“It is a very economical mode of transport. I typically burn 5.5 US gallons per hour and the maintenance cost of the aircraft is very low.”
A Native of Australia, Paul has lived in the US for around 10 years working as an Information Technologist. Having flown sailplanes in his 20s, he took up powered flight after moving the United States. He soon found himself joining the US Europa community after attending Sun ‘n Fun and meeting existing builders and pilots.
He has logged around 800 hours in the aircraft since its completion, test flown his own aircraft and has toured large areas of North America, including the Rockies, Nova Scotia and the Bahamas. In his travels across the US and abroad, he has found many of the Europa’s features to be ideally suited to his needs.
He has logged around 800 hours in the aircraft since its completion, test flown his own aircraft and has toured large areas of North America, including the Rockies, Nova Scotia and the Bahamas. In his travels across the US and abroad, he has found many of the Europa’s features to be ideally suited to his needs.
"I really like the versatility of the aircraft. I often load it up with baggage and skip out for 4 day weekends. Travelling 800 nm in a day is no bother.”
Paul has organised many ‘Europa Fly In’ events in Rough River, Kentucky, and adores owning a Europa, which he seems as a very safe aircraft, and being part of the Europa community.
“I thought it was a safe design, very crash survivable with its low stall speed. I liked its useful load, and I really liked the technical design and thought that went it to it. I just love the aircraft and for me it has been an excellent choice.”
Richard Wheelwright
Richard became hooked on flying after a trial lesson on his 36th birthday, and after just 14 months in November 2003 he finally earned his pilots licence.After seeing what was possible with home-build aircraft, and inspired by Mark Evens and the television series ‘A Plane is Born’, he decided to give it a try himself.
“Building the Europa is not difficult, but you still need lots of patience, and it makes you spend all your free time thinking about what piece you are going to work on next.
I chose the Europa because it met all the requirements I need from a kit aircraft. But most of all the ability of been able to store the aircraft at home and on its trailer.
The most satisfying thing when building the Europa is when you complete a chapter in the manual, then stand back and admire what you have accomplished.”
Based in Halifax, West Yorkshire in the UK, Richard is fast approaching the stage of completing his aircraft; his progress can be followed at his build diary.
Steve Pitt
Steve Pitt is a General Aviation enthusiast with 450 flying hours, 130 of them in the Europa. After careful consideration, Steve purchased his Europa kit in 1998 after following the Europa and learning more at events throughout the US;
“I was impressed by the apparent strength of this British Company, the way it was spreading to other continents, and the following it was gathering in the aircraft press.”
Choosing Europa over other aircraft in the market thanks to its low servicing costs and its versatility, he visited factories before commencing construction to get an idea of how to use the materials involved.
Steve Pitt found the build a challenge as he had no engineering experience, but eight years and 2500 hours of construction time later, completing all but the painting of the aircraft and the instrument panel himself.
Steve Pitt found the build a challenge as he had no engineering experience, but eight years and 2500 hours of construction time later, completing all but the painting of the aircraft and the instrument panel himself.
“The best thing about the Europa is the people. I met with several builders and owners when I first was about to get the kit - several of these are now firm friends. They showed me that the build was feasible, they helped with advice and hands-on help over the years and gave morale boosts when the build got challenging.”
Within a year of finishing his aircraft, Steve was able to fulfill a lifetime ambition by flying around the alps, and has since visited Germany, and hopes to visit more of Europe later this year.
“The Europa is achieving all I hoped for and far more. I have met some truly delightful people. Whilst at Sun'n'Fun this year I made the point to several people that buying a Europa is far more than buying a plane. It is buying a way of happy life. The Europa grin does not go away.”
Tim Ward
Tim Ward is a Boeing 767-300 Captain with Air New Zealand with 16,000 hours of flying experience. He entered the Europa community in 1996, having been impressed by a demonstration of Europa’s short take-off and landing capabilities, as well as its ease of build. He opted for the mono wheel ‘classic’ model of Europa, preferring its aesthetics to the XS model, and has enjoyed around 200 hours flight time in the aircraft.
Tim thoroughly enjoyed the build, he thought that it was an easy manual to work with and a fabulous builders website for help.
Tim now enjoys flying his Europa around New Zealand, and is hoping to organise an annual event for Europa enthusiasts in his home country,
Tim thoroughly enjoyed the build, he thought that it was an easy manual to work with and a fabulous builders website for help.
Tim now enjoys flying his Europa around New Zealand, and is hoping to organise an annual event for Europa enthusiasts in his home country,
“Smooth to handle and good stall characteristics, easy to store away. The designers and engineers should be very proud of what they have created.”
Jeff Roberts
Jeff Roberts was a late starter in the world of aviation, and waited until the age of 42 before he completed his pilot's licence. Flying RC aircraft since a young age, Jeff decided after reading about the Europa in 1994 that if he was ever going to attempt a kit plane project, it was going to be a Europa. From putting down the deposit at Oshkosh 2002 to the first flight in 2006, Jeff had to learn a whole new skill set from scratch to finish his project. He said that he was not mechanically incline at all and knew nothing about composites, so it was all learned as you go stuff.
Jeff has built up around 190 hours in his Europa, nicknamed ‘Gold Rush’ by his Wife, and says that it ‘Flies like a dream.’
I chose the tri- gear because I thought I was going to be flying off pavement 99% of the time. I now live on a grass runway and Gold Rush flies great off grass… no problem.
Jeff has built up around 190 hours in his Europa, nicknamed ‘Gold Rush’ by his Wife, and says that it ‘Flies like a dream.’
I chose the tri- gear because I thought I was going to be flying off pavement 99% of the time. I now live on a grass runway and Gold Rush flies great off grass… no problem.
“The truth of the matter is I chose the Europa from the typical metal choices because I told myself when I fly her to an air show I didn't want what everybody else had. My reason for the choice was wrong but I sure lucked into a great flying machine.” In today’s world it doesn't hurt that it gets to where it's gone so cheaply either.”
Kieth Hickling
Kieth Hickling began his passion for flying when he began piloting gliders in 1960, and went on to fly Chipmunk training aircraft with the RAF reserve from 1962-66. He moved from England to New Zealand back in the 1970s, and has since flown both powered and un-powered aircraft; “ I continued gliding including some wave flying from Omarama up to 28000 ft over spectacular mountain scenery.”
He purchased his EuropaXS in 2005 after flying three Europas and reading about the aircraft; “As with other glider pilots, I think the ability to derig and trailer it was appealing, as well as the low drag design.” Keith has since completed his kit and is all set to begin test flights in the Summer of 2009.
With plans for exploring the mountain wave systems further, and to try some formation flying with other New Zealand Europa owners, Keith is considering customising his aircraft with motorglider wings, and an oxygen system.
He purchased his EuropaXS in 2005 after flying three Europas and reading about the aircraft; “As with other glider pilots, I think the ability to derig and trailer it was appealing, as well as the low drag design.” Keith has since completed his kit and is all set to begin test flights in the Summer of 2009.
With plans for exploring the mountain wave systems further, and to try some formation flying with other New Zealand Europa owners, Keith is considering customising his aircraft with motorglider wings, and an oxygen system.
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Jeroen Glazener
An employee of Fokker for 15 years and now the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes, Jeroen is using his build as a way to get back into aviation; “I used to have an ultralight licence, but let that lapse. That's what you get when you make your hobby your work!”
Purchasing his first kit in October 2005 and the fuselage kit in October last year, Jeroen is currently around halfway through his build. “Seeing a Plane is Born brought together pieces of a puzzle that had been floating informed in my head for a long time.”
“Not having any experience in this sort of thing, having something that was fully debugged, well supported and with local builders to assist was important to me. I still find the build very enjoyable, though as with others I sometimes go faster than at other times. I see it very much as a hobby in itself and if there are other priorities, no problem, as long as I keep some progress.”
Jeroen is now around half way towards completing his Europa, and is enjoying every step of the process; “The interest that people have when they learn that you are actually building a real plane in your garage. It is obviously a much better converstion piece than a stamp collection .”
When asked what he like best about his experience with Europa, his unhesitating answer is, “The community around the aircraft. Talking to enthusiastic builders here in the Netherlands and a test flight did the rest. To be honest, I never seriously considered other types.”
Jeroen has a photoblog on the Europa Owners website.
Purchasing his first kit in October 2005 and the fuselage kit in October last year, Jeroen is currently around halfway through his build. “Seeing a Plane is Born brought together pieces of a puzzle that had been floating informed in my head for a long time.”
“Not having any experience in this sort of thing, having something that was fully debugged, well supported and with local builders to assist was important to me. I still find the build very enjoyable, though as with others I sometimes go faster than at other times. I see it very much as a hobby in itself and if there are other priorities, no problem, as long as I keep some progress.”
Jeroen is now around half way towards completing his Europa, and is enjoying every step of the process; “The interest that people have when they learn that you are actually building a real plane in your garage. It is obviously a much better converstion piece than a stamp collection .”
When asked what he like best about his experience with Europa, his unhesitating answer is, “The community around the aircraft. Talking to enthusiastic builders here in the Netherlands and a test flight did the rest. To be honest, I never seriously considered other types.”
Jeroen has a photoblog on the Europa Owners website.
Pat Turney
“My name is Pat Tunney and I am Mechanical Engineer who has a keen interest in aviation. I passed my PPL in 2002 and at the same time purchased the Europa Tri-gear kit.
Most of my flight training was completed around Cheshire and Shropshire. Recently I have kept current flying on the south coast[of the UK].
I considered the Europa after a test flight in the factory demonstrator, it was like nothing else that i had flow in and i knew that if i was going to build a kit aircraft, the Europa would be at the top of the list of possibilities. What finalized my decision was that it was regarded as a popular versatile aircraft with a very good write up and a reported low build time. The fact that It was also made in the UK was very important, as build advice and assistance from the team at Kirkby Moorside would be easily available. The other major point is that the Europa community, clubs and forums offered a great deal of support and build advice. I have made some good friends and contacts through the build process and look forward to making more once the aircraft is completed.
Soon in to the build it became apparent that the 2000hrs for a first time glass fibre builder was a little ambitious, that said i still enjoy the challenge and look forward to the end result. I am confident that if i was to cover the work already currently completed, that I could do it quicker as the experience and skills improve.
My build progress has been slow due to work commitments away from home and also because I am a sole builder. The major highlight so far was putting the aircraft on its wheels and being able to move it around.
I still aim to be airborne soon and hope to get a few hours in with builders I have met through the Europa Community who are approaching the test flying stage.”
Most of my flight training was completed around Cheshire and Shropshire. Recently I have kept current flying on the south coast[of the UK].
I considered the Europa after a test flight in the factory demonstrator, it was like nothing else that i had flow in and i knew that if i was going to build a kit aircraft, the Europa would be at the top of the list of possibilities. What finalized my decision was that it was regarded as a popular versatile aircraft with a very good write up and a reported low build time. The fact that It was also made in the UK was very important, as build advice and assistance from the team at Kirkby Moorside would be easily available. The other major point is that the Europa community, clubs and forums offered a great deal of support and build advice. I have made some good friends and contacts through the build process and look forward to making more once the aircraft is completed.
Soon in to the build it became apparent that the 2000hrs for a first time glass fibre builder was a little ambitious, that said i still enjoy the challenge and look forward to the end result. I am confident that if i was to cover the work already currently completed, that I could do it quicker as the experience and skills improve.
My build progress has been slow due to work commitments away from home and also because I am a sole builder. The major highlight so far was putting the aircraft on its wheels and being able to move it around.
I still aim to be airborne soon and hope to get a few hours in with builders I have met through the Europa Community who are approaching the test flying stage.”