Hangar Flying

Well, N6553C is no longer in the fleet.  I had an in-flight electrical fire starting in her on May 10th of this year and flipped her 3 times while attempting an emergency landing.  She was totalled.  However, I did salvage some pieces/parts.  Here is what I have.  Call me if you are interested - Mike 913-626-4130.

- Custom seat black vinyl cushions (front and back) with faux weave pattern in them, with the words "Rutan Aircraft Factory" embroidered in red on them (one thicker than other, so you can decide which goes where, depending on your height), plus the head cushion in the same black. - $125

- front nose leg with complete swivel assembly, wheel and tire - low hours on the multi-ply smooth tire (can't remember the manufacturer of it) - $100

- Complete cover - covers wings, canard and fuse - red, yellow and blue.  This was custom sewn using patterns from a fella's pattern (doing fittings on it to make it just right), using all high end outdoor water-proof fabrics. - $350

- Main gear bow (no cracks.  It sheared off at bolts and did not damage any layup work) - $350

- Exhaust for an Lycoming O-235 - $100

- Various belcranks, pullies, etc. - will define with you and make a deal

- Carb intake pan and air filter (the brown composite one) - $65

I've had PPG aircraft paint training back in '01 but have never painted composite.  I'm in the process of doing the research to paint a friend's Long EZ and could use any advice you may have to offer -

- Any preferences on fillers for the areas that need it?

- How best to repair a dinged lower back corner of the rudder?

- Best paints to use - remember, I'm a PPG guy by training, but I am always open to learning if there is a current latest/greatest product - primer/paint combo.

- Sanding advice - mistakes to avoid that I, as a metal aircraft paint guy, might not have thought about (I am of course doing the due diligence reading and have a couple books on order from Aircraft Spruce)?

- Other helpful hints/advice?

Thank you.

Mike Westendorf
a69flyboy@yahoo.com

I am installing a retractable belly landing light on my Varieze this Winter (same location/action as the Long EZ) and am looking for a drawing and/or pictures of the assembly from either a Varieze or a Long EZ.

Can anyone help, by supplying these pics/drawings?  Also, if you know where I can buy the lever/actuator (one used for Long), that would be helpful as well.

One of the things I'm strugling with is how to seal the opening when the light is deployed.  I hate to think about dirt/mud/water getting up in the ear beneath the seat.  I was thinking about a double door, with the second door closing off the opening when the light is down.  This second door would be integral to the first and positioned at such an angle as to close the opening when the kight is down (say a 80 degree angle to the first door, assuming the light deploys at a 10 degree down angle to the fuse).  Ideas, comments on the idea and angles?  I suspect that someone has had this idea before.

Thus far, I've purchased the xenon light and wired the circuit, with wires strung to the storage area beneath the pilot seat (false bottom seat).

Thanks.

Mike
N6553C
KC, KS

Joe;

Appreciate your FAA lesson.  The reality of EAA flight is that 75%+ of the experimental planes do not comply strictly, whether it be on lights, CD players, Cell phones, Ipod jacks wired into the intercom system....  Lights are all over the place, and in my opinion, LEDs have made it a safer, more cost-effective world in which we fly.  People can afford to make themselves actually visible out there at night... and not have to worry as much about blown bulbs.

The LEDs on my plane (your remember it N6553C... the varieze you tried to buy way back when) were approved at build, as was the antiquated strobes top (red) and bottom (white) back.  The bottom one's controller went out, and will be replaced by a perfectly good "joe's hotrod.... and police car prefered supplier" LED strobe system... which cost me about $40.  I may put a wag system on as well (LED set in each wing in the same compartment as the wing tip position lights) - another $60.  The 2 interior 12" flex LED strips will cost me a total of $20.  Add a free 6 station fuse panel from a friend and 2 additional switches - another $15 thanks to Ebay.  So, I should be flying well-lit and very visible night in a couple weeks... for $75 (will add the wag later, if I do it, and will do the $45 single Xenon landing light (includes controler) this Winter as well.  It just doesn't get much better than that.

BTW - 45 hours and climbing (pun intended) under my PIC on 53C.  Adding lights as soon as parts arrive.  Landing light door/actuator this winter.  Taking out the Narco nav/com and the tach (which was made inop when EIS installed) and replacing the nav/com slot with an AI (want it for night VFR).

What are you flying these days?

I have an old torpedo heater that I converted for this use.  I attach a large dia. tin air duct pipe with a 45 joint at mid span (approx 8ft total span).  I put one end at the heater and the other at the air inlet under the belly and let her go for 15 min or so.

Make sure you are not at too high temp at the exhaust end of the duct pipe, or you will melt your baby.

I received an older cover from one of the guys here (sorry, I'm away from the house and don"t have his name handy).  Anyway, my mother is a seamstress and is making a custom cover from that one.  I asked her to please let me know what she would charge to make more, in case anyone else is interested.  This one is for my varieze - N6553C.

Mike
816-500-7074

I just purchased my Varieze and am going to mount a single landing/taxi light.  Both of these ideas look interesting.  May I please get some pics of the construction of them, as well as some advice on how they have faired over use?

Thanks.

Mike_westendorf@yahoo.com
Mike Westendorf
816-500-7074