New buyer/looker am I

[Britguy59]

After years of wishing, I am now looking to find a semi finished kit to build my dream. As I am still raising/feeding/kids I find the varieze more available and less cost than the Long Ez. Reading up tells me the Varieze has less useful load, some quirky handling, etc. Will it be impractical to take the wife and I on a weekend away with an overnight bag? Might as well decide before I pay for something. I have educated myself as best I can regarding wing corrosion, etc, and am about to decice on a local kit I found .
Thanks for fast input!  
Martin in Florida

[Chairboy]

I'm not VariEZ expert, but I have read that in addition to less range, the VariEZ also has less usable space/smaller seats.  How big are you and your wife?  How tall?  Those are questions at the heart of the answer to the question you have posed.

[Britguy59]

We are average weights,(180/150) heights, nothing unusual. I am mostly concened about flight characteristings, practical range and useful load from other owners. Best info is from those who own and operate one. I understand the limitations of adding buches of avionics and goodies. Will keep it simple.
Thanks!

[Delta Mike]

Hi Britguy,

I was in your position a few months ago, with the difference that I needed a flying machine. I set my goals on the VariEze for thier affordability, but it was an eye-opener to finally sit in one. It was quite tight for my 6-1 / 185lbs frame. One has to wear these canards, and the Vari is a tight fit.

I have a Long-EZ now, more expensive, more systems, and definetly more roomy and suited to my flying and traveling needs. I sure would like to have a Vari someday to hot-rod around the local area, but the Long in Long-EZ is very descriptive of its touring capabilities.

[Britguy59]

Well, the more I research, the more confused I get.  Let me see if I have some facts right.
I have to build 51% or better to be considered the manufacturer and therefore can do most maintenance and repair.
If I buy a partially build kit without an official set of plans, is it illegal to finish?
How do you learn to fly one once you built it? And how do you get it legal and in the air? I'm sure many potential builders ask this, just looking for the answers before I sink my $$$ into one!

Martin , Florida.

[Drew]

That is 51% or more to apply and recieve the repairmans cert for that particular airplane.  That cert will allow you to do your own condition inspections.  Without it, you can still do all your own maint---but you need to get an A&P to sign off the conditional inspection ("annual").

Check your insurance company to find out how much dual you need prior to solo.  You can either get someone else to testfly your aircraft and then check you out in it.  Or, you can get time in someone else's aircraft and then test fly your own.

If you are finishing off an airplane that does not have an airworthiness cert, it would be best to get an advisor to help get you through it.

[eric r]

my 2 cents ... I looked at a couple of Long EZ's and a couple of Variezes before buying a very nice Vari in Wyoming. As far as size, my varieze fits me great and is larger than any of the others I sat in. It all depends on how it was built! subtle differences exist on all! If you build a partially completed aircraft, you surely will examine / check tolerances / make minor adjustments / modify,repair or replace on all the previously "worked on" components. Documenting that work will sufffice as being the builder on those parts. Argue it if you must, but that's the way it is, and that's the way the builders assitance centers work! It ain't an airplane until the paperwork says it's an airplane. The Feds work on paperwork, so get it right and the rest will be O.K.
Again, as for size: I weigh over 220 and am 6-4. There were some Longs I couldn't fit in comfortably, whereas my vari is fine. The back seat room and the elbow room are definitely better in the Long. As far as performance, the Long is more like an airplane and the Vari is more like a asphalt loving hotrod. Long runways are the norm for comfortable use.

[Bruce Hughes]

Hi, Britguy

I have struggled with the question of how to learn to fly a Longeze.

My opinion:   If you have flown a few Cozies, you should be able
to fly a Varieze or Longeze.   Ask some Cozy owners for some help.
I got several rides in a Cozy and do not find it too hard to manage.

At least 2 pilots will train you but you pay for the training:  
(1) Curt Smith in Iowa   (2) Burrell Sanders in Colorado

I have flown with both and highly recommend both.    

Bruce