Hangar Flying

Brock Ez nosewheels are rubbish and the over machined/lightened centre flange cracks.

Get one of these - a real bargain and good quality.

http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog/product_detail.php/pid=14909~subid=12155/index.html

Regards
Steve

Check out CP30 page 6

4.2 Lbs filled & sanded
4.5 Lbs finished

Regards
Steve

Hi
Rather than your Experimental Class, we have a much tighter regulation structure in the UK where mods have to be approved by the LAA Engineering Dept.

However I thought these fences were so good, I wrote & arranged for this Mod to become an LAA approved Std Mod for UK Vari-Eze's so they can be easily fitted to UK Permit to Fly  VEs without further extensive involvement from the LAA Engineering Dept, using the LAA MOD 1 process.

http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/engineering/NewMods/Mod_table.html

In UK, it just needs an LAA Inspector's sign off & informing LAA Engineering. 

In USA you have much more freedom but can find everything you need here:

http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/engineering/Standard%20Mods/varieze.html

Best wishes with it. Well worth the effort.

Regards
Steve

Burt used pretty large trailing edge wing fences when he was developing the prototype Long Ez N79RA for the heavier MTOW, O-235 engine and lower landing speeds he (or rather more like the builders!) desired.

I recall seeing a picture of it at Oshkosh - still with wing cuffs (which preceded the vortilons)  and the VE wing. Note the (ineffective) rhino rudder up front and no winglet rudders and no lower wing skegs (I can't bring myself to call them lower winglets) !!!!

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/6/3/3/0773336.jpg

Originally Burt wanted to use the VE wing for the LE by using a longer spar. Eventually after about 50 iterations he realised he just couldn't make the VE wing work within the dedired design requirements, so he designed a complete new wing & airfoil section, similar to that of the Defiant. An innovator like Burt is likely to have tried almost everything. Once the Long Ez came out, sadly his development of the VE broadly ceased (other than mainly reactive responses to safety issues).

Due to the work of others like Klaus, the VE wing performance/capability now is very different to that which existed when it was first developed and from the performance data (presumably including wing  cuffs since they were mentioned in the text ) shown in the final 1979 3rd edition of the VE pilot's handbook.

I have standard vortilons and 3 main wing fences per side on my VE (exactly as per both av-mech's photos and Gary Hertzler's) and they are just fantastic. Aircraft is much better and solid at minimum speed, has better aileron response, better control at lower landing speeds and far better visibility on approach at those lower speeds.

Regards
Steve

Vari Eze Handbook is very specific about using the fuselage tank on long descents or in the pattern when low on fuel due to the fuel moving forward and uncovering the fuel feed pipe from the main tanks. Long Ez is less affected (but not indefinately immune) as it has fuel sumps that hold back a small amount of fuel. It is immaterial whether the system is gravity or pumped.

Thanks Bill for your kind words & generous perspective.

We consider ourselves very lfortunate to have been able to benefit from the decades of development, miriad of ideas, improvements, tips and  suggestions from so many generous and talented individuals over those years. I crashed and totalled my first Eze through pilot error and my survival was fortunate - aided greatly by the strength of the Eze and it gave me the opportunity/motivation to build another.

People like you, Gary H, Terry S and Marc Z have contributed silently both to our a/c, the way we operate it and how we view the priviledge  of flight in our own creation. - efficiently and hopeully now in a safe and conservative manner. 

The CP notes still inspire me - both from an engineering anfd flight operations point of view and I often read it a bit like a novel. The pioneering spirit and cameraderie of those early days shine out from them and not being part of it at the time  is only partly tempered by the benefit we accrue from coming along a bit later,
Mike is a long time CSA member and we have done a few articles on improvements and technical developments to help keep that spirt alive.

Ezes are unique a/c, both as a genre and as  individual a/c & the ability to customise, repair and  adapt them from raw materials means they have an almost infinite longevity - in not requiring support from a kit manufacturer.

Regards
Steve

Pictures sent direct.
Regards
Steve

If the bottom pins are not threaded it makes it more difficult to get the taper pins out.

Or at least an alternative method to that advised by Rutan is required.

His method is : after removing the lock nut, loosen the bolt a few turns , 'tap' its head gently to pop the bottom taper pin out  , then use a wood dowel from below  to pop the top one out.

I know a few don't like this method as it shocks the aluminium plates etc  & have made up a special tool to pull each pin out gently but if you are gentle with the 'tap', I'd trust Bert's construction & methods.
Regards
Steve