Extending strakes on a Vari?

[eric r]

I've seen pictures of a few variezes with the strakes extended forward to add a little "elbow room". What's the consensus: alter the angle like some Long ez's, or add a simple strake like I see on the latest CSA cover? It appears to me to be a simple add-on. I don't want to introduce any weird aerodynamics! Buy pre-fabs (where?) and cut to fit, or just start contouring foam?

[Bruce Hughes]

That MUST be a high stress area.

I stay with the plans method.  

Bruce Hughes

[MacGyver]

Al Fink did extended strakes on his VariEze, and tested the airplane extensively.  The airplane flies well.  I would not worry about airframe stress in this area of the fuselage, but one must still do some re-design to account for the revised strake set-up.  Al is a very experienced airframe engineer (among other things) - he did not make the mod willy-nilly.  Contact me off-line (ezejoe@comcast.net) to get Al's contact info.