Where do I begin?

[flameout990r]

Hay all! Well, here it goes: How do I get started building a LongEZ? Where do I begin? Who do I need to contact? I need a list of sorts. What do I need to do to my garage? Tools? Parts? Ect? I'm ready to get goin! Thanks! Walt

[flyingwaldo]

Read everything you can.  It should take you a few months....... then you'll answer your own question.     

[Joe Person]

I have an unused set of Long-EZ plans (all original, not copies), a new (unused) main landing gear bow, and a set of the main gear attach tube/bushing assemblies (new and unused) for sale, FWIW - $700.00 plus shipping for the works.

[LongEZDaveA]

flameout,

Please tell us more so that we can better help you.  Do you have original Rutan plans?  Are you building an Open EZ?  What is your background (optional)?

FWIW, I built all of my Long EZ major components (wings, winglets, fuse, spar, canard) in a spare 10 x 12' bedroom.  Those components were then assembled in the garage.

Good luck.....it's worth it!

[GlennBob]

I hope you're not too old.  There may not be enough years left for you to finish !    I bought a flying  EZ and had to re-do a bunch of stuff.  That was 5 years ago. Still not done !  Do you have boatloads of discrescionary  time ?  I'm not trying to discourage you,  just want you to have a realistic idea of what you're getting in to.  It's a HUGE  job, . .it'll probably be the single largest project of your life ! !   You'll have to set goals . . . (get this done by  . . .).   You'll have to be dedicated, .   do some work  even if small  every day ! !   (except Sunday, . .need a day off).  Watch lots of Youtube videos ! ! =  )   (keep fired up)  Find a list of other EZ pilots from the Central states newsletter and go visit these guys and see their planes.  Get ideas from them.  It's not a single task, . .it becomes a way of life.    . . . .Boy . . I feel  profound ! !   Bill  James  must be rubbing off on me ! !   Don't read that guys stuff, . .you'll spend the rest of your life reading and not building ! !   Ha ! !   =  )   Welcome to the family ! !     Glennbob  !

[flameout990r]

Flyingwaldo: Been readin and infact just ordered 2 books- Advanced Composite Techniques and Understanding Aircraft Composite Construction. Those should give me some good info! And I keep trying to find some plans, that seems to be a non-issue with the plans being offered from Mr Person. Guess what I need is the actual plans not copies...by the way, how does one know if they're copies or the real Macoy?

lLongEZdaveA: Don't have plans. Just the room and desire to build...whatelse does one need? The rest falls into place, right? Back ground? I'm a 42yr old Locomotive Engineer with an Instrument/Commercial rating in Glasgow, MT. I've been flying since I was 12(with my Dad). I recently sold a '48 Cessna 140 that I owned and maintained for 10yrs. As far as pertinant background info? Not really anything to do with composite at all. I've frame-off restored a '79 Ford 3/4 ton 4x4. She's beautiful! Just sat in a L-EZ and fell in love! I've ordered the practice kits for the RV-4 intending on slapping one of those or a Harmon Rocket together. Boeings 787 is composite...kind of a no brainer when they're building their ship out of it. And I know absolutly no-one who has or has attempetd to build a Long-EZ or the like. I'm pretty excited.

GlennBob: Thanks for the intro. Ya know, nothing thats worthwhile was ever easy. Above I stated I sat in a Long-EZ. The pilot/Owner didn't build it, he bought it. Guess it worked for him but not me. I want to build my own plane. THe Long-EZ may not be the easiest(understanding composites) but I'd give it a go. I'm where I need to be as far as life, which will undoubtably change along the way. I'm okay with that.

I'm contacting Joe, my 1st step, for plans.

Once I have real plans, what's next? Is there a thread somewhere about how to set up a workspace? What tools to buy? Where to get materials?

My space is a single garage- now what?

I see as I read along in different threads and about different projects that the plans get modded a bit. What mods are the ones that work and what are the ones that don't? The original LEZ was a great design. But that was the 80's...what improvements are there that folks are incorperating into their builds? I'd like to have a way to go before I begin. And yet that even sounds too far down the road. I've got to build the table first! Hahahaha!

Thanks for the replies everyone! All help is needed! I can take a lot of shit as well so bring it on! Hahaha!

Thanks again everyone, Walt

[flyingwaldo]

Walt,
Joe could well be the best contact you'll make in your quest.  He won't steer you wrong or sell you anything phony.  You'll get a lot of other input and will learn who to follow and who to humor......  Joining CSA will get you more data, an index of articles and a list of folks to talk to.
The plans will tell you a lot about tools, space, etc.  The Canard Pushers are available online and in the TERF CD's.  Pick your topics or questions and search the forums.  Lots and lots of info out there.  Also, the Cozy builders group is a wealth of information and the many builders have experience galore.  Check out Wayne Hicks' web site where he has documented everything.  Other have also.  Other than Wayne and the Cozy Girrrls, and maybe a couple others, be wary of those that have yet to fly their projects.  Some have gobs of advice and multiple daily postings on highly modified and 'improved' designs and tend to argue with the engineers....  You'll soon recognize the couple guys that have built more than one Long Ez or Varieze and they know what you want to.  Get to know them.
There is plenty around to read and learn from.  I've printed and accumulated almost 4 -3" binders full over the last few years.  You might consider going to Rough River if you can in a couple weeks to meet the Central and Eastern group, the Girrrls, the Harris', Gary Hertzler, Terry Schubert and Ken Miller.  A lot of talent in one place for a new builder.  Many good contacts.
Good luck!
Waldo

[Linda]

Where do you live??  Yes do join CSA.  Attend a flyin or two and get a ride if possible.
Good luck.
EJ  (building and flying since 1979.)

[Joe Person]

Walt,

I assume that with your railroad work, you run on the Hi Line.  You may want to look into a trip over to Havre, MT, to talk to John Anderson - he built a fine VariEze back in the late 80's/early 90's, single-handedly.  If you want to pop over to Havre, let me know, and I'll see what John's availability is.

Meantime, the plans I have for sale are originals.  They have the original front & back covers (Thick light blue heavy paper), and the plastic spiral-binding (entails thin, rectangular perforations across the top of each 11 by 17 page for the plastic binding device).  Additional sheets (full-size templates) are what we call "Size D" drawings - approximately 2 feet by 2 feet).  Copies of plans will not likely have indications that I have noted.  Copies of the "full-size" sheets should be avoided, as reproduction technologies (unless one uses true "one-for-one" copy technology) will typically distort the images.  The full-size drawings are the source for critical shapes (airfoils being the biggie). 

One other thing I'll "second" - lean who to listen to on forums such as this - there is a lot of qualified help out here, and then there are just as many "theorists" who are still building, have not flown/maintained a canard, and who will offer all sorts of advice (some of which can turn out to be unfounded or unsound).

If you want a fast, efficient, long-range airplane that will get you from Glasgow, MT to anywhere else in the country, a Long-EZ is tough to beat (unless it is a light VariEze and your back seater is not huge, or is not there...).

[srothert]

Here are some other building considerations.  My Long-Ez started in my basement and was finished in a 12x22 foot garage with an 8 foot door.  Things can get a little tight towards the end of the project, particularly if you are storing the wings on the floor. It can also get quite dusty as well.  I kept and cut all my glass in a separate room in the basement.  If you plan on working during the winter time, then plan on installing some type of heater that will keep the room/project/materials no lower than 55-60 degrees Farenheit.  You can jack up the temps about an hour or so before you start working, if needed. 

Getting the plane in/out of a single car garage can be a challenge as more pieces are assembled.  At some point, one person may no longer be able to do it themselves.  A 10 foot garage door is preferable to an 8 foot garage door.

As for tools, see the plans for a list of normal hand tools.  The only thing that I bought before I stared the project was a fairly large shop vac with the large 2.5 inch hose.    Nice to have tools (particularly for metal parts) are a benchtop drill press, metal cutting band saw, disc sander.

Tony Bingelis wrote three books on “homebuilt aircraft” and they can be obtained via the EAA.  There is a wealth of information in those books and I referred to them many times.

Steve Rothert
Long-Ez N49SR

[Joe Person]

Walt,

One thing you can do right now, to start familiarizing yourself with the Long-EZ, would be to go to www.cozybuilders.org, and download all the Canard Pusher (CP) newsletters from CP 24 on.  Plan on spending a fair bit of time in research & study, prior to beginning construction.