Wider VariEZE

[Don Woodward]

Dear All

Has any one made a wider Vari EZ, say the same width as the Long EZ or wider?

Has any one modifided a variez to make the front seat wider from a standard variez size seat ?

Cheers Don

[admin]

I'll respond but hopefully you will get someone that has done it to tell you more. I don't have
the measurements but my Varieze only feels slightly tighter to me than my Long-EZ.
I know that some Vari's in the tub stage were completed as Long-EZ's so there is not
much difference if that is possible. I would guess the difference is an inch or two at the most. I have
read of other builders making depressions in the side of both the Long-EZ and Varieze to allow more
elbow room but I don't recall reading about anyone making the Varieze wider overall but I would not be
surprised if someone has done it. Maybe Bill James?

I'm curious as to why do you want to build a Varieze over the Long-EZ?

[A. Bruce Hughes]

The difference in width in the pilot's seat is 2" according to a book by Don & Julia Downe
published in 1981.  "Complete Guide to Rutan Homebuilt Aircraft"

Bruce Hughes   

[Bill James]

While building I heard of others widening their VariEze fuselages two inches like the LongEZ; a fairly straightforward change. Look at someone’s LongEZ plans for guidance; I did with the installation of my semi-LEZ strakes. If LEZ elements are desired, look at the plans. That's the answer, but if you don't need to leave just now, some follow-on thoughts:

As stated, the LEZ seat back bulkhead is two inches wider. Per my viewing of the plans and talks with LEZ drivers, the VEZ and LEZ have the same fuselage bulkhead stations and the same firewall.

The consoles are optimized for two inches more of hip room and instrument panel leg hole width. The LEZ has the wall depression by the sidestick for more knuckle room; my windows allow the same thing, so the stick could be closer to the side wall. So the cockpit has some LEZ specs without the extra exterior wetted area. I sometimes notice the shoulder space at the top longerons, but staying trim makes that a non-issue, which i will address as soon as i finish this bowl of Blue Bell homemade vanilla. I was strongly encouraged to make other LEZ improvements, especially the wings. I chose to stay with the VEZ model.
But I had an advantage- I was inclined toward minimal simplicity. That has helped me to enjoy and appreciate the VariEze. While I admire the larger planes and could fill most of the seats occasionally, if it had been possible I would have built the diminutive 390 lb N7EZ and its three mph per hp. From that  starting point the standard VariEze is totally pracatical.

Many of my ideas now still trend toward building a light Eze with “combined plans structure” including LongEZ fuselage foam and fiberglass schedule, and LEZ main gear strut. In the ridiculous but crucial 'technical' sessions we conduct  around our planes I have claimed that I would probably use the push-pull nose retract next time, unless I somehow breathed enough epoxy fumes to come up with something lighter; Ha.

I haven’t heard about it lately but Mike Arnold‘s AR-1 airplane is still an inspiration to me, especially the spartan structure. It is an excellent and successful exercise in design and minimalization. But with just a little more mass, in some operating situations I can almost do the same thing with my two-seater.

I don’t think widening the fuselage would have significantly affected cruise speed. I didn’t think a lot of things would have hurt, but the scale tells the tale. I think of adding a kitchen sink and such until I’m stung from being around Martinson’s or Hertzler’s planes again. Fortunately I haven’t been exposed lately to the pain of seeing Charlie Airesman’s work; him asking how fast I am, me saying 300 kts—on paper, and him confirming that he is still 30 kts faster—on paper. Which is probably true. While I have had the honor of buying Joe Person lunch, I haven’t had to endure seeing his 600 lb VariEze, although that is a goal.
This paragraph may not be especially relevant for you. But I am continually reminded how fortunate I was to get a simple spartan Eze airborne with two mags and two handhelds. If you are bitten, whatever plane, whatever width, get in the air and make some more friends and enjoy our freedom of flight. Lots of clocks are ticking.

The LongEZ is a more practical airplane, but these are some thoughts generated my the question on why someone might consider a VariEze. Like many others, my life is been richer because of this Eze venture and would have been with any of the options. Limitations such as the VariEze’s size and the rear seat fuel gauges have pressured me to stay almost painfully aware and focused on lithe lightness in as many areas of life as possible. I have been and always will be in recovery mode climbing to regain ground. The Eze is a useful tool. For me, the discipline of building and maintaining a plane generated more discipline and forced more productivity all around. As in all areas of life, I hope to struggle long and well.
Additional quotes came to mind during this mental excursion-

THE LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS (and a few other things)
1. YOU CAN'T WIN
2. YOU ALWAYS LOSE
3. YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME

THE LAWS OF AERODYNAMICS (and a few other things)
47. Size counts.

[dorr]

Al Fink has made a kind of wider fuselage, but only between the arm rest and the longerons, and lengthened the strakes a bit like the Long EZ strakes, adding a little fuel while taking away the aft fuel where the passenger's arms can go - the extra room for elbows front and back really opens the plane up, not really a bigger plane - in terms of air penetration, just more elbow room.  Those who have seen Tackabury's Vari-Long will see a similarity - but Al's strakes don't go all the way forward like Tackabury's.  As I recall Tackabury made his strake extensions almost to the elevators so he could carry skis in the plane with him.

Beagle

[Joe Person]

Don,

As I noted in my side email to you, I widened the VariEze one inch, nose-to-firewall.  The mod worked well, and I do not believe I lost any performance, speed-wise, best I can tell.

As for 600 pounds, well, I'd have to strip... the airplane a bit (no fly-away tools, spares, tiedowns, etc.), but N79JN would hit the 600 pound mark.  Her predecessor, N29NS, was 595 empty (with a C-85).

And as for Bill James buying me (and my far better-half) lunch at DFW last year, I sometimes have sleepless nights knowing that I need to reciprocate in a suitable manner.  I must get to Texas soon, and have that bowl of pinto beans & hot sauce and a cold beer with Bill, and muse late into the evening about what we'd do differently the next time we build a VariEze.  Maybe we doa VariEze in the manner of a Berkut's airframe approach...

-Joe Person