Europaflyer Night/IFR kitplanes
Presumably the CAA has approved the above for Steve Noujaims RV7 Capetown record attempt in Sept/Oct.
The trip could not be done day/VFR.
General approval for IFR in controlled airspace is not likely in the near future, EASA/CAA inertia and their lack of inhouse knowledge of modern avionics/kitplanes.
You do not need 'approved' avionics in a kit plane to have IFR capability.
I recently flew an RV10 in USA with Dynon glass cockpit. Stand-by battery backup, dual screens for flight information and engine management. Autopilot with alt hold/Nav/GPSS coupling, dual AHRS, and ILS feed to the glass from garmin vhf/nav sets, and mode S.
All this equipment available in use in the UK at a fraction of the 'approved' cost
The system is lighter than a clockwork cockpit and no heavy unreliable vacuum system reqiured.
Far more capable than the average IFR approved spamcan!
Last edited by cessnapete; 7th August 2010 at 08:33.