You would think this section would be about what engine or instruments to install or what type of paint to use. While I will address each of those problems as I build the aircraft, some of which I have already started planning for and like any developing plans some of which will be deleted before they even become an idea, I'll tell you about the problems/decisions before even starting on the plane.

The first problem encountered was what type of Europa to build. I had always assumed I would go with the quick build kit  or XS as the kits is now called. The original kit is now referred to as the "classic" kit and is no longer available for purchase. I had always thought it was going to be the mono-wheel style that I would build which I thought looked so great with the main center wheel and outriggers on the wings. I held that plan right up until I called the insurance company. I thought I had better make sure after I had already ordered the kit that I could both get insurance on the aircraft as well as be able to afford the cost of the insurance. With only 400 hours on my ticket, insurance was out of the question for the mono-wheel and even the tail-wheel was going to be a problem due to my limited tail-wheel time. So the best option, if I wanted insurance, was the tri-gear kit. Another quick call to the Europa sales office in Lakeland and that change was in effect. Thanks to the design of the kit all wheel configurations can be fitted to the same fuselage and so only the wheel kit needed to be repacked for my plane.

The second big challenge came with what you would think would be an easy one. The N-number. In order to get builders insurance on the kit while under construction, I needed to have an N-number assigned by the FAA. While the FAA makes this very easy with its website for picking your own number and doing it all online the problem comes when you actually sit down and start working out what you want YOUR number to be on YOUR aircraft. After a few attempts at numbers I had come up with a few based on what I thought was very sound logical thinking. I then passed these on to my family who also had ideas on what an N-number should be and how it should sound saying it over the radio. Each family member wanted to be part of the picking of the number process. Well after taking into account family member names, ages, birthdates, pets, towns and almost an unimaginable number of letter and number combinations that "sounded cool"  The final N-number came down to the kit's serial number from the factory ,262, and the first initial of my two children. A for Alex and E for Elizabeth. The 262 worked out for me with one of the many number combinations my wife had worked out using birthdates and years. Both my wife and I were born in 1962. So 2 and 62 made the 262 seem logical to all concerned. And I could live with that on the radio a whole lot better then some of the other options like N9092Z (November-niner-zero-niner-two-zulu) or N262SZ (November-two-six-two-sierra-zulu).  By the time air traffic control got that back to you correctly you would have been through the airspace and looking for a parking spot on the ramp! With that two week's of the kit's construction under my belt and not a single part unpacked or installed I thought the rest of the building process would be easy!