WHERE ARE THE ENGINEERS ? ? ?

[Mike Simms]

My heroes have been Orville Wright, Steve Wittman and Burt Rutan.  I admire their contributions to aviation.  But where will the next hero come from ?  Who will come forward to design a long-needed, low-cost, easy-to-construct personal airplane ?
Of course most anyone can design the latest, high-performance, budget-busting, time-consuming whiz-bang.  There are scores of examples out there.   But what is really needed is a break-through design that can be built in weeks (not years ! ) and doesn't cost like a new home or 4 years of college education.
I know it must not be an easy feat, but isn't that what engineers DO ?  I'm not even sure of the financial rewards of such an accomplishment to the designer.  But he can be assured of a prominent place in aviation history.

[jak]

WEEKS???  GASP !!! DID YOU SAY WEEKS?..IT TAKES OVER MONTH JUST TO GET THE FAA GUY..TO COME...
   TRY THE LOCAL RADIO CONTROL CLUBS... ....WEEEEKS??? JEEEZ...

[Wayne]

Try the Thatcher CX4. Nice looking, scratch built and most of all, affordable.

http://www.thatchercx4.com/

[Don Goest]

Hi - I , too, have often wondered where homebuilts willgo next.  And there IS a need for reduced cost and higher performence.  I don't think he was talkin about ultralites or "radio control".  If homebuilding is going to lead the way in gen avaitaion, its sure not gonna be in $300,000.00, pressurized models.  Problem is, most any aircraft is a compromise and the design objective has to be extablished.  Each one fills a niche.  The EZ's role has not been in ease of construction or performance.  Several designs easily surpass it in those areas.  Someone, somewhere is at work now on a design that will again turn homebuilding on its ear.
Don

[niceez]

An EZ is neither hard to construct and for performance I never seen any other design go as fast or far on such little fuel.  Gee, that was it's design goal.  Gary Hertzler's record still stands as well as Klaus Savior's.  It all depends on what a person wants.

I am afraid Mr. Simms is wanting his cake and the consumption privileges too!  We engineers already have what you want.  There called certified airplanes!

Just remember you can have a new LEZ in 90 days if you have enough money.  There is - time, quality, and money.  Pick any two and adjust the scale up or down and the other is the requirement or result.

[scott]

:shock:  did you a lez in 90 days ? is that b-new ? how??  :shock:  (lets pretend i have the money)

[Anonymous]

:shock:  did you a lez in 90 days ? is that b-new ? how??  :shock:  (lets pretend i have the money)

You can buy completed wings and canard from aerocanard.  You can build the fuselage in a couple days.  You can buy prefab strakes from aerocanard.  All the hardware can be purchased already machined.  Cowlings can be bought.  Engine install and flight controls are pretty straight forward.

So, have the plane basically together in 6 days and then spent 84 days and nights filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding......

[Joe Person]

...or, you can buy a completed airplane and get lucky (a-la Bob Eckes and his purchase of Geroge Nopper's 1990 OSH Grand Champion), or buy a semi-dog (or a real flea-bitten varmit airplane) that needs work and more $$$$ to make safe & airworthy, all in 90 days...

[Joe Person]

...or, you can go for Good and Cheap (inexpensive) - I put my first VEZ into the sky for $9500 US (1990) dollars.  Made as much of the machine myself as possible.  The VEZ, for its overall capabilities (as well as the related compromises), is still one of the the best bangs-for-the-buck around.

-Joe Person

[niceez]

Scott,

EZ to do Scott...  You just hire the right people..  When you have a crew of 10 professional builders doing the job it doesn't take long.  But not many people are willing to pay $380,000.00 for a LEZ.

Dale

[Anonymous]

they call them ultralights. they can be built in weeks. if you want an airplane it will take time. Unless the FAA will allow a 91% rule.