'A plane is born'

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Just caught up with this on 'Quest'. Interesting insight into building a Europa, including how to work with composites.

Also, nice side stories on the presenter learning to fly (PA28 at Gloucester) and some interviews with LAA homebuild owners. The 'learning to fly' bit is quite well done, including a full ground briefing before going out and flying the exercise.

[Contacttower]

Yeah I thought it was really good. I really like Mark Evans (the presenter who is building the aircraft and learning to fly) as well, he's also done a number of interesting programs on classic car restoration.

[dan_vector]

+1 yeah all of Mark's 'x is born' series are really interesting. The programs are quite old now though. He also did a kit helicopter as well.

[Contacttower]

Yes it was a while ago now; still good though. Quest is one of those freeview channels that replays a lot.

Didn't notice the different aircraft in the last episode, how did you spot that?

[Flap40]

During the series you will see the aircraft built with a Rotax 912S (green rocker covers) and a ground adjustable prop.

Look closely at the episode at the paint shop and the reveal shows a 914 (red rocker covers) and a vp prop.

Also if you look under the left wing on the first takeoff roll you can just make out the real reg which is photoshopped out in all the flying sequences.

[Rod1]

The actual aircraft was built by Andy Draper. It became the US demonstrator.

Rod1

[Cusco]

What a con.............

[Flap40]

I thought that the actual aircraft was registered as G-OIZI (i2i was the tv production company) and G-info shows it as having been registered to the producer.

The aircraft was certainly at Europa in 2003 still unfinished. When The original Europa company went bust in 2004, G-OIZI was sold by the liquidator to the owner of AFE. It seems to have since passed through two more owners and as the CAA now have sight of insurance it could be close to finally flying.

The actual aircraft used for the "first flight" sequence was G-CHET.

[Dawdler]

I watched the series first time round. Even though it is ten years old or so, I believe it is still a valid record of an (assisted) build. I was intrigued by the fact that the aircraft did not appear to carry a registration.

It has been the habit of Keith Duddy, the producer to purchase the hardware in his programmes. The narrow boat "Dover" which was rebuilt by Alan Herd for similar programme is still, I believe, for sale at Braunstone Marina. So I would not be surprised to hear that G-OIZI was registered to the TV company. I note that on GINFO, the manufacturer is named as K Duddy. The same site brings up G-KIRB when an enquiry for G-OIZI is made. I think to call the show a "con" is a bit strong, but I am aware that Mr Evans recieved more than the usual amount of instruction. But it does give an indication of what is involved in the building of a kit.

I often wondered what happened to the helicopter which was another Mark Evans "build", anyone know?

[Parapunter]

IIRC Mark Evans is a vet who came to prominence by complaining to GMTV over an animal welfare story. He was apparently so erudite and personable that he was invited on to the show to put his case to the audience & from there he was snapped up to make tv shows.

He strikes me as a very capable guy & I do enjoy his shows.

[Cusco]

I think to call the show a "con" is a bit strong,

What else would you call it? A plane wasn't born it: was put up for adoption and a substitute child presented to the maternity unit.

Wouldn't be the first time that a Europa kit was purchased with a fanfare of trumpets, to have its build followed publicly only to slide silently from view unfinished.

Think well known aviation mag...........

[EddieHeli]

The Helicopter was on sale for £50,000 at Aerofair when Aerofair was at North Weald a year after the build.
It has been purchased (I don't know if the £50k was paid), and is now in private hands, it may still be based at the UK Rotorway importers, which is where it was hangared when I last saw it a couple of years ago.

[hoodie]

Unlikely to spend much time swapping flying tales with Maurice Kirk, then...

[MichaelJP59]

I loved that show. He's a good presenter and seems up for anything - saw him the other day half embedded in the rotting carcass of a sperm whale while doing a post mortem. Even covered in blood and guts he was amazingly enthusiastic.

[FlyingPuppet]

Shows like this fall into the same category as "The Long Way Round" that Ewan and Charley did. Lots of people call them out and say they aren't authentic for x number of reasons failing to realise that at the end of the day they're making a TV show.

TV shows have budgets, deadlines and other restricting factors that mean its impossible to stay "true to form" 100% of the time.

They're meant to be enjoyable on a Sunday evening on the sofa with a beer/coffee. They're not designed to be presented to the Royal Society for debate!

[KembleKid]

It was watching this series that made me finally get off my backside and get my PPL. A well made and very enjoyable series.

I've got no problem whatsoever with any short-cuts the TV company may have made in order to get the series out - that's just the way TV works.

I have the series on DVD, but dare not watch it again because I just know I'll end up getting divorced when the other half finds out I've spent the kids' inheritance on a kit. Actually... :)

[Cunliffe]

Slightly off subject but I do feel particularly cheated by house rescue programmes. They often seem to be at a stage where the owner is making a hash of it, not listening to advice and the budget is nearly gone. The presenter then returns some time later to find the work miraculously finished and everybody living in luxury. Could we please see some where the project is a failure and we can say "I knew that was going to happen".
Alright, I'm just a grumpy old man but I would like to learn how to do things and not just have the tv company throw money at it off camera.

[Old and Horrified]

The helicopter that he built, a Rotorway 162F, G-CBJV, was involved in an accident in September 2004, but seems to have been repaired and is, according to GINFO, still flying. Google will tell you more....

[Dawdler]

Thank you for that.
D.

[RTN11]

Considering a home build is supposed to take 500+ hours to complete, I'm kind of glad they condensed it down and made TV short cuts. Wouldn't want to see hours and hours of him gluing stuff.

I thought it was a brilliant show, the instructing sections were particularly good.

[MichaelJP59]

Considering a home build is supposed to take 500+ hours to complete...


And I believe the original Europa Classic took well over twice that for most builders!

[Jonty]

Just to drag up a very old thread.

This series is being shown again on Discovery Turbo from Monday 7th Jan at 1pm

[tmmorris]

Thanks. I missed it first time round!

Sky box set.

Tim