Europa Aircraft

Last updated

Europa Aircraft
Type Limited company
Industry Aerospace
Founded1987
HeadquartersScottow Enterprise Park (formerly RAF Coltishall), Norwich
Products kitplanes
Parent Swift Technology Group [1]
Website www.europa-aircraft.co.uk
2004 Europa Classic kitplane, with retractable monowheel and retracting outriggers 2004 Europa Classic Monowheel (G-CCEF) at Cotswold Airport England 29Sept2018 arp.jpg
2004 Europa Classic kitplane, with retractable monowheel and retracting outriggers
Europa XS EuropaXS.jpg
Europa XS
Europa taildragger Europa XS taildragger G-BWEG 001.jpg
Europa taildragger

Europa Aircraft is a British kitplane manufacturer that produces the Europa XS.

Contents

The company was established to produce a small kit-built low-wing aircraft for personal use within Europe, with these design goals: high speed, low cost, able to be built and stored at home, easily transportable, using Mogas fuel, able to be rigged for flight in under five minutes, carrying two people in comfort, providing sufficient baggage for extended touring. Apart from "low cost", these design parameters were largely met. [2]

History

The original Europa, (the "Classic"), was designed by Ivan Shaw and the prototype, G-YURO, first flew in February 1992. Production of kit components was established at the company's factory in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire. [2] [3]

In the early 1990s the company won a £100,000 grant from the UK Department of Trade and Industry in recognition of its technical achievements. Europa Aircraft has grown to be one of the most successful British kit plane suppliers, with over 700 Europas flying in 33 countries. The Europa XS was named as one of the UK's Millennium Products by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, and described by Pilot magazine as "the most significant light plane of the decade". [2] [3] [4]

Ivan Shaw left Europa to develop the Europa-derivative Liberty XL2 production aircraft at a new company, Liberty Aerospace, in Melbourne, Florida, United States. After Shaw left, the firm faced considerable difficulties; but in September 2008, company fortunes improved as Europa Aircraft was acquired by British company, Swift Technology Group.

Europa Aircraft has existed under several company names, and the current name is Europa Aircraft (2004) Ltd. The manufacturing of the Europa range of aircraft is carried out by a sister company,[ clarification needed ] Aviation and Marine Engineering Ltd. Other companies within the Group include Swift Aircraft, Swift TG Maintenance, Swift TG Solutions and Aviation, Swift TG Energy and TWF Solutions. [5] [6] [7]

In 2020, Europa Aircraft announced the launch of a new kit aircraft design, the Europa Elite. The design will fit the into the EASA CS-VLA category and will be of all composite construction, with two seats in side-by-side configuration. [8] [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homebuilt aircraft</span> Aircraft constructed by amateurs

Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonex Aircraft Sonex</span> Type of aircraft

The Sonex, Waiex and Xenos are a family of lightweight, metal, low-wing, two seat homebuilt aircraft. Kits are produced and marketed by Sonex Aircraft, a small manufacturer based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By 2014, 500 customer built aircraft had been completed. The Sonex can also be built from plans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-7</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-7 and RV-7A are two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft. The RV-7 is the tail-wheel equipped version, while the RV-7A features a nose-wheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van's Aircraft RV-9</span> American kit aircraft

The Van's RV-9 and RV-9A are American two-seat, single-engine, low-wing homebuilt airplanes sold in kit form by Van's Aircraft of Aurora, Oregon. The RV-9 is the tail-wheel equipped version while the RV-9A features a nose-wheel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murphy Rebel</span> Type of aircraft

The Murphy Rebel is a two- or three-seat, strut braced, high wing, taildragger monoplane which is sold in kit form by Murphy Aircraft in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMD Zodiac</span> Family of Canadian light airplanes

The Zodiac is a family of Canadian all-metal, two-seat, fixed landing gear airplanes that first flew in 1984. The aircraft have been produced as kits and completed aircraft by Zenair in Canada and Zenith Aircraft Company in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty XL2</span> Type of aircraft

The Liberty XL2 is a two-seat, low-wing, general aviation aircraft manufactured from 2004–2011 by Liberty Aerospace of Melbourne, Florida. A derivative of the Europa XS kit plane, it serves both as a touring aircraft for private flyers and as a flight trainer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europa XS</span> British kit aircraft

The Europa XS and Europa Classic are a family of British composite two-place low-wing monoplane kit aircraft. Designed by Ivan Shaw, the Europa was introduced in the early 1990s. Europas are manufactured by Europa Aircraft and supplied as kits for amateur construction. More than 450 Europas have been completed.

Airdrome Aeroplanes is an American aircraft manufacturer, founded by Robert Baslee, that offers a large selection of kit aircraft for amateur construction. The company is based in Holden, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whisper Aircraft Whisper</span> Type of aircraft

The Whisper Aircraft Whisper motor glider is a South African two-seat kit aircraft that was designed by Russell Phillips in 2004 and is produced by Whisper Aircraft of Port Elizabeth. Major assemblies are completed at the factory with assembly intended to be completed by the owner. It is powered by a four-cylinder Limbach L2000 aero engine with options for the 85 hp (63 kW) Jabiru 2200 and 80 hp (60 kW) Rotax 912 available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milholland Legal Eagle</span> American ultralight aircraft

The Milholland Legal Eagle is an American high wing, strut-braced, single engine, tractor configuration, conventional landing gear-equipped ultralight aircraft that is available as plans from Better Half VW of Brookshire, Texas, and also produced in kit form by J&N Bolding Enterprises of Baytown, Texas, and is intended for amateur construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velocity, Inc.</span> American kit aircraft manufacturing company

Velocity, Inc. is an American kit aircraft manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rans S-19 Venterra</span> American light airplane

The Rans S-19 Venterra is an American single-engined, tractor configuration, two-seats in side-by-side configuration, low-wing monoplane designed by Randy Schlitter as a light-sport aircraft and manufactured by Rans Inc. The Venterra is available as a complete factory-built aircraft and in kit form for amateur construction.

The Carlson Skycycle is an American, single-seat, low-wing, single-engine, homebuilt aircraft that was originally designed by A. Hanford Eckman in 1945 and re-designed as a replica by Ernst W. Carlson and produced by Carlson Aircraft of East Palestine, Ohio in kit form. The prototype was completed in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raj Hamsa X-Air</span> Type of aircraft

The Raj Hamsa X-Air is an Indian, two-seat, high-wing, tricycle gear, tractor configuration, ultralight aircraft produced by Raj Hamsa Ultralights of Bangalore, Karnataka in kit form, for amateur construction.

The US Aviation Cumulus is an American low-wing, single-seat, open cockpit motor glider that was designed by Dave Ekstrom and produced by US Aviation, supplied in kit form for amateur construction.

The Wilksch WAM series is a family of aero-engines for light and general aviation aircraft. WAM series engines are produced by Wilksch Airmotive in Gloucestershire, England. The engine outputs range between 100 hp (75 kW) and 190 hp (142 kW), and are suitable for both tractor and pusher configurations. Initially intended for homebuilt aircraft, the WAM engines may become certified for use on factory-built aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moyes Microlights</span> Australian aircraft manufacturer

Moyes Microlights Pty Ltd is an Australian aircraft manufacturer that was based in Waverley, New South Wales and founded by hang gliding pioneer Bill Moyes. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CGS Aviation</span> American aircraft manufacturer

CGS Aviation, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer based in Grand Bay, Alabama. The company was founded by Chuck Slusarczyk in the early 1970s in Broadview Heights, Ohio as Chuck's Glider Supplies. Today it is run by Danny Dezauche and specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft in the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europa Elite</span> British light kit airplane

The Europa Elite is a new British, single-engined kit aircraft design, under development in 2020 by Europa Aircraft.

References

  1. ↑ Sport Aviation: 17. January 2009.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 Europa Aircraft (2011). "About" . Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. 1 2 Yorkshire Air Museum. "Europa Prototype" . Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Jones, Geoffrey (November 1993). "Aircraft made from a kit offers freedom of the skies on a tank of petrol". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Pilot Friend. "Liberty XL-2 aircraft history, performance and specifications" . Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Swift Aircraft. "Swift Aircraft" . Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  7. ↑ Swift TG Solutions. "Swift TG Solutions" . Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  8. ↑ Europa Aircraft (2020). "Elite". europa-aircraft.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. ↑ Light Aviation magazine - May 2020
  10. ↑ News Team (15 January 2020). "Europa Aircraft launches new kitplane, the Elite". "Flyer" magazine. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.