Hangar Flying => Hangar Flying => Topic started by: Screw on February 01, 2011, 06:09:15 PM
Title: New guy
Post by: Screw on February 01, 2011, 06:09:15 PM
Screw-In
Hi All....I'm the new guy here. I wanted to say hello first of all, and let you know that I'm interested in building or buying a Canard.
A little background about me. I work for UPS as a driver. I'm 42 now and a family man with 1 wife and 3 kids, 2 poodles, 1 rabbit, 1 turtle, and a garage full of RC planes (modeling with my dad since I was 11). I even lost my virginity to a girl in my Civil Air Patrol unit when I was a teen (TMI???). Was in the Army, and worked for the State of Georgia Prison system for a while. That was where I met my wife. :o That's also where I got my call sign "Screw."
I'm a pilot SEL since 2000, and I've spent a few years flying "club owned" Cessna's and Pipers recreationally. I spent a few years playing with gyroplanes and have built two "N" numbered registered gyros. Both are sold now. I have experience building and flying Experimentals as well as dealing with the paperwork.
I got out of gyros a few years ago due to a tragic death, or series of deaths that just hit way too close to home. My first gyro was a Ken Brock KB2 VW powered (Great flyer...No bells or whistles). I sold to a gyro instructor in Mustang Ok. After owning it for a couple of years and as I was just starting to fly my new 2 place Dominator, I heard about the death of the guy that bought my first gyro. Apperently, he got caught up to low and slow for a downwind turn. Then that very year, one by one, a total of five people that I new personally all had died due to one reason or another. No matter the reason, they are all still dead and all were much better gyro pilots than me. I sold out.
Now I'm itching to get back in. I've renewed my Medical, put in a few hours here and there, and my shop is begging for a project. I'm not sleeping at night thinking about it.
Where can I purchase plans, instruction booklets, ect. for a Long EZ? I've seen the Aircraft Spruce sells some stuff, but not the basic stuff like plans or pre fab wing or fuse for an EZ. What's the deal on the EZ?
Thanks in advance-
Screw-Out
Title: Re: New guy
Post by: Bruce Hughes on February 01, 2011, 08:11:34 PM
Hi
If you want to buy a project, you will find one advertised from time to time on Ebay. Be VERY, VERY careful on those; some have been offered more than once and may be 'DOGS'. Every canard weighs something different and some are way too heavy or have other defects. Maybe dangerous defects. I had a problem with my brakes that I created and did not find for a long time. I was lucky; I was not moving when I found the problem.
David Orr keeps track of canards for sale. He also can tell you if it is a good deal or a "dog" (like mine). His email address is canardfinder@........ I have forgotten the rest but someone else can give it to you. Or look in the CSA directory in the CA section for him. He charges a "finders" fee. Some canards are not advertised anywhere else, I think.
You may find a completed project or a project through CSA and you should join it anyway. It is the best $30 that you will spend on airplanes. See the home page of www.ez.org for more information. You will get the Jan. newsletter AND a directory. In the directory, you will find some guys who live close to you and can give you some help. It is ESSENTIAL to find someone who is an expert on fiberglass work to show you how and to tell you some no-nos. I had to learn pretty much on my own and never got very good at it. My project shows the result of not knowing much.
Plans for the Cozy IV are available from Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. They also sell some kit parts for the Velocity. Both are larger airplanes and probably are more than you need. Sometimes you can find plans for a Longeze on ebay. Watch out; they may just be copies. Useable, I guess, but not exactly ethical and they may not have the critical templates which are used up in building.
The CozyGirrrls is a very good source for all parts. I would buy from them instead of Aircraft Spruce. There IS a difference and the two ladies sell better stuff. Google up CozyGirrrls.
If you really find a project that looks good to you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy it until an expert has looked at it. I don't know where you live. Tell us and we can suggest an expert. I don't know all of the experts but I can name 5 that I would trust my life with. They will charge for their time.
Bruce Hughes :)
Title: Re: New guy
Post by: Rick Hall on February 01, 2011, 08:57:28 PM
My UPS driver Chuck dropped off my plans a few years back. "What's in the box Rick" he asks. "Plans for an aeroplane" I says. "Oh, a model one?" he replies. "No a real one, four seats, 200MPH, ..." I says. As Chuck heads back to the truck he's shaking his head and I can hear him mutter "I'm delivering him a whole friggin plane, piece by piece..."
Quote
Where can I purchase plans, instruction booklets, ect. for a Long EZ? I've seen the Aircraft Spruce sells some stuff, but not the basic stuff like plans or pre fab wing or fuse for an EZ. What's the deal on the EZ?
Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) stopped selling plans, and support, for the Long several years back for various and sundry reasons. If you poke around the interweb a bit you may find references to OpenEZ. Might be prudent to follow them, might not. They might be copies, they might not.
You didn't mention your location... I might suggest heading to one of the canard fly-in's across the US and poke and prod. I've found all canardians are genuinely enthusiastic about showing/explaining their planes to potential canard owners/fliers/builders.
Sun and Fun in FloriDUH has a nice turnout of Canards; Rough River (2i3 in KY) is 80-90% canards; CopperState in Casa Grande, AridZona; California has a west coast fly-in "Canards de Mayo" at the Columbia airport; and of course there's the ever popular KOSH.
Beagle (David Orr) is the guy to contact about buying a pre-owned canard. He knows his stuff. canardfinder at att dot net
Rick
Title: Re: New guy
Post by: Marc Oppelt on February 02, 2011, 10:32:31 AM
Download all the files. Take them to a print shop and have the templates scaled until the tic marks along the sides are the correct dimensions.
Some people might say you have to have an original set of plans to build from...but others are building from these plans and it's working out just fine. Go figure...
Title: Re: New guy
Post by: flyingwaldo on February 02, 2011, 11:32:14 AM
I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who is flying from the bootlegged plans or the Open EZ program. There is also a lot of interesting innovation going on without an equivalent amount of engineering from what I understand. The only one I've seen flying was really roomy but burned a lot of fuel to go the same speeds. I suppose it may have been worth it to someone. Hope they all turn out as safe as the originals!
Title: Re: New guy
Post by: Screw on February 03, 2011, 10:58:51 AM
Screw-In
Thanks for the "heads up" guys. I appreciate all. Especially the part about buying a "Dog." I'm not very familiar with full scale aircraft, and that was a concern trying to buy one. Thanks for David name and contact info.
I'm in the Atlanta area.....Specifically Loganville, Ga. I'm right down the road from a guy name John Leder. He has a Velocity at the Covington Airport.
He took me up in it a while back and I fell in love. It fish-tailed a little here and there, but other than that a very stable platform.