Hangar Flying

Reb. That doesn't seem right. I don't think my Long-ez canopy is 24" wide. I'll e-mail you some photos when I get home tonight. Something doesn't seem right here. Have you contacted Todd about this problem?

There’s been a lot of critiquing ads lately, so I hate to bring this up, but has anyone noticed the Long-ez plans for sale at the top? The description reads “Never Used” but from what I can tell they are copies. The plans changes are the printed descriptions from Zeitlin’s website, but aren’t actual Canard-Pushers (with the required pictures.) I e-mailed the seller, but never received an answer. Does anyone know if these are authentic plans or are they copies? If they’re in fact copies the ad should be changed.

Gilbert. FYI. I installed a Berkut style electric speed brake similar to James Redmonds.

http://www.berkut13.com/spdbrake.htm

It's light, and in my opinion a simpler installation than the plans built.

The scary thing about this string of accidents, in my opinion, is the qualifications of the associated pilots. I believe Paul Connor was an Army pilot for 30 years. Glenn Saunders was quite frankly the most qualified Rotax experimental aircraft installer in the country (he was the tech support guru at Kodiak, and helped numerous people with their installations; his engine caught fire.) & I think we all know about Dan Patch.

I sadly admit that the death of these three in particular has given me serious pause. But as someone else said. I wouldn’t quit flying for anything.

Glenn Saunders purchased an already flying Varieze and installed a Rotax 914. He reduced the weight by 50 lbs and saw climb rates at 1500 – 2000 fpm if I remember correctly. Sadly he crashed and died a couple of weeks ago. His plane may be seen on the member’s directory.

That very plane (with those same pics) was advertised somewhere else (I think it was on Controller.com or ASO.com) about 2 yrs ago for $ 21 - 22,000. quote]

I did the same thing, and got the same vibe 2 years ago. I almost purchased a Quickie2 that was priced too good to be true once, and have ever since been leery of low time low priced aircraft.

All things being equal, I'd pay more for a 10 y.o. Long-ez with 1900 hrs on it over the same Long-ez with 100 hrs on it. Contact the seller, feel him out, and see why he's selling and get the entire history of the aircraft. If he's not the original builder get the name of all previous owners & contact every one of them.

Also get a qualified inspector to go with you. Be sure to bring someone that has inspected several aircraft for purchase, and ask him about all the aircraft he has rejected and why. Then get references from him. If he's never rejected an aircraft there's no reason to bring him.

This all seems rather paranoid, but if you're really interested in the bird, you might just have a deal that's too good to be true.

Some of the members have expressed an interest with nose wheel steering, and would probably love to hear how you did it. I'm not considering it myself, but am curious what method you used.

Quote: “Perhaps you missed my point, or I missed yours.”

Yes, I thought you were referring to the templates. However the dimensions that are required from the standpoint that I am proposing are obtainable from the TERF CD-ROM.

Quote: “…do not match in any respect the Cozy's M drawings. The dimensions are all different, correct?”

No. The Butt Lines are different. The Fuselage Stations & and Water Lines are for the most part identical. Let’s take for example the position of the canard. This scenario applies to the Long-ez, Cozy, Cozy MK-IV and AeroCanard:

The canard NC-CLT lift tabs are bolted to the F-22 bulkhead located at FS 21.90 (aft datum point.) The bolthole centerline is at WL 17.875. The canard leading edge is at FS 18.6443 and the canard is installed with a positive 4.6721-degree incidence. The Long-ez bolts are drilled at BL 8 & the Cozy is at BL 15. Both of these dimensions are obtainable from plans section I.

Quote: “Purchasing cores and spar from Aerocad eliminates A9 through A14, but does nothing for you when it comes to A1-A8.”

A1 thru A4 are bulkhead templates. A5 depicts the gear attach brackets. A6 thru A8 is a sectional from the nose to the control stick.

Quote: “You need those drawings, don't you?”

I think you got me. You might have to purchase your bulkheads pre-fab.

Seriously however, I think you’ve convinced me that I wouldn’t be willing to build a Long-ez without the A drawings as a reference. I’m not convinced that you couldn’t build a Long-ez per plans without the A size drawings, I just wouldn’t want to be without them for reference.