A Plane Is Born

Mark visits the Popular Flying Association Rally at Cranfield to see some of the 3000 or so home-built and vintage aircraft that have flown in for the weekend. Mark talks to Graham...

Mark travels to the Europa Factory in North Yorkshire where after seeing all the components that go into making a kit, he takes a test flight with Technical Director Andy Draper. I...

Mark learns that before he starts to build his aeroplane he must attend a workshop on composite building techniques. His crash course is instructed by expert Neville Eyre. In Part...

In the workshop work begins on the Europa's wings and Mark puts his composite skills to the test. In part two he continues his flight training as he learns about climbing and desce...

Work on the plane continues with the Cockpit module and control yokes. Mark also receives a visit from Neville Eyre, his PFA inspector who checks to see that his work so far is air...

Work on the aeroplane moves to the Tailplane and Mark gets to grips with an electronic spirit level. Back at the Flying School Mark attempts circuits and touch and go landings. And...

This programme sees the building gathering pace as Mark installs the cockpit module and seats into the aeroplane as well as the trim tabs and actuator into the tail plane. In our r...

Mark is back on familiar ground as he fits brakes, wheels and undercarriage to his aeroplane, Martin Dovey introduces us to his vintage Kit-Plane the Kit Fox and it is the turn of...

A packed programme sees major progress on the plane with the rudder assembly completed and the fuselage top on and finally bonded. Back at Staverton, Mark lerns how to talk - impor...

It's a red-letter day down at the workshop as the brand new engine arrives with Europa's Andy Draper. Mark takes on the delicate task of fitting the engine to the fuselage as well...

Part two of our engine installation and Mark takes on the fitting of the ducting, oil and water cooling, radiators, cowlings and finally the propeller. Safety is the theme in our r...

It's the bit Mark has been dreading since he started - the wiring and Instruments. To give him a better idea he meets Robin Walsh who explains the differences between instruments a...

The interior starts to get the red carpet treatment (well Blue actually) as Mark takes on the job of carpeting and upholstering his aeroplane with aircraft trimmer Matthew Leach. A...

A Red letter day as Mark prepares for his PPL Test at Aeros, and we recap his flying lessons from throughout the series; meanwhile, his aeroplane is transformed with a coat of pain...

The final programme in the series sees our newly built plane go through the final checks it needs for it's certificate of air-worthiness, will it pass and can Mark finally realise...