Hangar Flying

Sorry if this has been covered, but can't seem to find what I saw not too long ago........

I read something recently about Mobile One oil used that was purchased at Wal-Mart and thus not too expensive. I recall that Mobile One AV oil was a bust several years ago, but would like to know who may be using a similar automotive synthetic oil, what multi-weight, etc.
Getting ready to purchase a case of oil and am considering changing from regular aviation oil in my Continental C-85.
Or if it is a bad idea, would like to know also.

WJohnson
Varieze 725EZ

How many hours on average does it take to finish a Long Ez? If I start this Friday will I be finished by this Sunday? I am just kidding. Has anybody heard of an average hours to build? I know it will vary a lot between builders. I read 3,000 hours somewhere but I don’t remember where I read that. Would that be close?

In building my Varieze I roughly calculated it to be around 2500 man hours over 4 1/2 years....plus an equal amount reading/studying the plans, setting up the shop, ordering materials, looking for missing parts,etc. That was just to get it flying. Later were additional hours to build and install wheel pants, adding a spinner, and..........other later modifications.
I originally underestimated my time to sand, fill and paint by a great deal when I told my friend that I would have his compressor back in two weeks and think that I still had it two months later.
I don't expect that 4 to 5 thousand man hours would be far off to buld a Long.

You don't want to fly above 105 mph and have the brake snap shut. I did it only once a long time ago and it was a bit of a shock and surprise. It closed with a real 'whack' .......or something like that that made this pilot jump ........except that the seat belt and shoulder harness held me down.. Guess it is nice to know that he auto close fuction does work!
Unless I am really high on a short final I don't use the speed brake until over the numbers. When really high on final, I raise the nose and get it slowed down to ninty mph or less and lower the speed brake. I can save a landing and get it to touch down where I want. Also, best not to use it in a strong cross wind.
Wayne Johnson

Hi Flyboy,
I have not been on this site for a whle and just now read your questions about Variezes. I have a Varieze with a C-85 Continental that I first flew in 1981. Burt Rutan originally provided engine plans that allowed for a starter to be used with a C-85 engine since it was a bit lighter than the O-200. Since that time several light weight starters have came along and many O-200s have them. There are a few individuals that still fly without a starter, but I think they are pretty silly. Not because of the hand starting, since they hand prop very easily........ but any chance to do an air restart is a plus.
Landing and taking off in a cross wind is a snap compared to the Cessna 150 that I got my license flying. On take off the plane will immediately crab into the wind by itself and fly straight down the runway pretty much without doing anything! On landing it can be crabbed into the wind and kicked straight just before touchdown....but doing a slideslip is a no-no. The downwind wing can be blocked by the fuselage which will lose lift and the plane will flip over. Burt had limited the rudder travel years ago from four inches to about two inches to prevent a strong slideslip.
I am sure you have discovered from others by now that the plane has a great baggage area which doubles as a back seat if that baggage proves to be a passenger.........but the only other way is to add baggage pods on the wings. I have not done this, but I understand that they do allow you to carry quite a bit inside them.
The Varieze has had wing fitting corrosion problems, but if you find a plane that has been hangered most likely it is okay. The wing fittings should always have a good grease on all exposed surfaces. Also, if the top of the fitting is flush by covering or filling no lake is left for water to make a small lake.
There are two best (or more ) or favorite things about my plane. The first is the canard. It the IDEAL instrument for pitch and roll when flyiing the airplane !! The second thing is the plane has very few parts to have to remove and inspect vs a metal plane with screws and panels to remove, etc. And here is the third thing that is also really great......the mpg at a good speed. My plane is just average in performance, but it cruises at 150 mph at about 4 gph. And if I were to fly high and lean beond peak EGT like Gary Hertzler, I could maybe get close to 6o mpg. So with today's gas prices this is my new favorite thing. And maybe the last favorite thing is that it is REALLY fun to fly !!! My first long cross country was from the Los Angeles area to Arlington Washington in 7 1/2 hours with one fuel stop, so it makes a cross country plane. If you have a passenger in back, I would recommend carrying enough fuel for two hours plus reserve and be aware of density altitudes.
For insurance questions I would check with the EAA.
The only un-favorite thing is people are selling their planes at way, way too low of a price. Some Variezes have been selling for around $15k and comparing them to any other plane that flys fast, is efficient, fun, etc.....I probably would not sell mine for $25k.
Hope your questions are being answered and are able to find a good plane !!!

Wayne Johnson ........Lake Stevens, WA...........Varieze N 725EZ
email me if you want at.......... santee2602@hotmail.com

I expect that it would be a good idea to remember to add some baffling to slow the fuel movement in the long direction. The Varieze tanks have one in each tank. The baffling has the two bottom corners cut off per the original plans.
My Varieze has been flown since 1976 and did use a lot of auto fuel from the local gas station. In more recent years have stuck to aviation 100LL.
So no problems or leaks with fiberglass and epoxy tanks. Rutan recommended that the inside have a wet coating. I have heard about a few people having leaks, but builders  workmanship varies.
Also, no water condensation....... ever. Only time I had water in the tank was when I used a hose on the gas cap area.
I would like to have an all fiberglass RV-3 !!
cloudman

I have always thought that my Varieze was the greatest in a crosswind takeoff. Unlike other aircraft the EZ as soon as airborne weathervanes into the wind automatically and continues right down the runway. However, after I had installed too many lifting devices eg. large wing fences along with LongEz lower winglets, my plane would actually head upwind.....so cutting the size of the wing fences down from their very large original size got me back to straight down the runway again.

As far as final approach and landing I hold a sight bit of rudder into the wind if necessary and then use the rudder to get it straight just before touchdown. I can not tell you about whether a Long or Cozy will do the same. I did fly a Cozy for a few hours long ago, but do not recall dealing with any strong crosswinds. I expect that I have landed in direct crosswnids of at least 20mph with this method.

Don,
Here is a picture of the PIAA 1100X Platinum Dichroic  light in the nose. It is sort of egg shape at 3 inches in length amd fits in very nicely. I had done a quick search for motorcycle lights, but didn't find anything too promising. Also the xenon lights were way too expensive for a 'test'.

I am only attaching a single picture of the nose and one of the pitot on the fuselage side. You (and any others interested ) can email me for many more pictures....... including some ugly ones during construction. Terry Schubert has asked me to write an article and I am sort of waiting to see how the light installation holds up.

My first cut was 3 3/4 inches back from the nose and then cleared out and additional one inch to the rear of that cut.

email at : santee2602@hotmail.com

Regards, Wayne  Johnson....cloudman