Landing Gear

[Stanford Zinger]

Hello Everyone

I just got my Long EZ yesterday

My first question ( an Im sure there will be many more) When you are sitting in the cockpit with the nose in the
parked position, should you be able to crank the nose wheel down. What is the procedure for getting in or out of the airplane  with or without the passenger

Many thanks
Stan

[Bob Holliston]

Who sold you this airplane without checking you out with the systems? You didn't steal it did you?

[BruceHughes]

You did not say whether you had a manual or electric system.  That suggests
that you have a manual system.

Assuming that you have a manual, you MUST be very careful with the gears
or you will be disassembling the gear system because you broke several teeth
off the gear.   That is very easy to do.   Guess how I know that.  If it happens,
you can turn the gear about 90 degrees (was that 120?) to get unbroken teeth
to articulate with the worm gear.

The original large gear is far from strong enough to support you.  You MUST
crank the nose wheel down while holding the fuselage about horizontal.  Be
careful that it does not get away from you due to the nose being too high.

Bruce Hughes   

[av-mech]

My normal operating procedure (I have a manual system) is to get the backseater in and buckled.  I put the fuel selector in the header tank (pointing up) position so that I can use it to hold the right seatbelt up out of the seat.  If I get in and sit on the seatbelt then I gotta get out to retrieve it.  I take the left seat belt and slide the buckle tang in the slot for the trim lever to hold it out of the way.  I don't do anything with the shoulder straps as I can get them no matter where they end up.  Next, standing at the cockpit, I use my left hand to grab the front of the canard and my right hand grabs the canopy rail and I lift the nose up until I find that the airplane is about balanced.  I use my right hand to reach inside and crank down the nose gear.  As the nose gear touches the ground I continue cranking until it is fully extended, at this point the fusleage has come up a little farther.  NOTE>>>>>>do not let go of the canard yet!!!!!!    At this point I insert my left foot in the foot well on the outside of the fuselage and apply some body weight, then I can move my hand from the canard to the canopy rail.  While applying body weight I put my right hand on the roll over structure and hoist myself up and usually end up in a standing position in the cockpit.  Checking to make sure the seatbelts are still clear, I put my hands on the armrests and slide my feet and legs into the forward fuselage.  Buckle up, set fuel lever to mains and hit the start button.  That's a long winded response to an easy operation.  You will not have a problem.

[av-mech]

Forgot to mention that I am flying a Varieze and so it may be a little different for the Long.  Chime in you long flyers, we have a new family member who needs help.

[Stanford Zinger]

Hi Guys
Thank you for the info. I  decided that I am going to put a electric nose wheel in the Long
I have bought one from ez jet lift.
And by the way, the guy that I bought this from died about 5 years ago. Its been sitting in a T hanger ever since

Regards
Stan

[av-mech]

Stan,

Those electric lifts are really nice, I used to fly a speed canard that had one.  Just sit in the cockpit and flip a switch, nice......You'll have a lot of fun with your ez, I know I really do.  The only advice I might  be willing to give without someone asking is watch out for the weight creep.  In aircraft that I have owned before and with my ez now, I tend to try and find things I can take out vs. what I can add in.  Light airplanes are happy airplanes so be cautious with adding to much to your ez.  Just throwning that for what it's worth.