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Hangar Flying / Re: Is the LongEz going to be dead soon?
« on: April 16, 2012, 10:25:32 AM »

Marc, thanks a lot.  You hit the nail on the head for me.  Exactly what i needed to read and hear.

Also, I would very much be interested in finding the couple you mention that build one in two years, with a Honda Power plant.  Anyone on here got contact info for them?  At the end of that sentence you said "IIRC", what is that?

Congrats on your building, I checked out your page.  Very impressive. 

I am new to composite building, so i'm looking forward to diving in.  I just plan to do what i did when i decided to fly.  When the time is right soon, just dive in and don't think, just do.  I did my private in 2 months, and passed my checkride at 41 hours  I don't think i'd be able to replicate efficiency building a long! but i want to avoid dinkering, and "dorking" around.  Plan the build, build the plane.

I plan to build a LongEz to as close to plans as possible.  I DO NOT want to over think the project too much.  Plans built, 0-235, with simple day/night VFR, EFIS electronic panel, and get in the air and plan some "see the world" cross countries. 




2
Hangar Flying / Re: Is the LongEz going to be dead soon?
« on: April 11, 2012, 09:28:00 AM »
Thanks all...

My rant was a little cynical.....and after rereading think i misconstrued some points, but the jist was there. 

As far as frustration from not having a single source of all relative info.....I see that a gentleman on the board pasted all the links to all plans, etc, which is nice.  But as to be expected some of the links were no longer valid.  I just feel that the Canard community would behoove itself to have a single source organization.  Does CSA have all the knowledge base available?  How do i replicate M drawings, or ensure i have all and the most up to date knowledge on paper?  I have searched the web and seen the M drawings you can take to kinkos.

Regarding the community....all of you offered your opinion, but didn't see a real "hey, we're here to help.  Let us(me) know what you need and how the community can help"  Most of you offered great advice. But 256 people viewed my post, and only 5 (well 4) offered support....is 0.02% response the best the ez.org community has to offer?  I have been looking and found one person near me that built his longEz, and will develop that relationship.   

Stefano, your story is inspiring.  Thankyou. A friend of mine lives in Rome, maybe I'll come visit you for support and pick your brain!

SuperEz - That exact comment you posted, is exactly why I see the same posts on different Canard websites.  "is the canard dead?".  You don't know anything about me, but take a cheapshot at me?  Nice.   It's not kitbuilt vs. EZ, or my 'inability', there's nothing about building a LongEz that worries me  I would simply like the completeness of plans like the Cozy plans (but for LEZ) with the LongEz community in one place, for a central resource, like Vansairforce.  My point was, if the canard community could come together and deliver those two things, the next generation of LongEz builders would GROW.  And if i decide to buy a flying LongEz, all of those resources would need to be required also. 

Buying a flying one presents it's own challenges.  But i would welcome those.  One post i saw was from someone who had a question, or Variez wing fittings, or something or other, and one poster replied something to the extent of "There are only 4 people in the whole country I would trust to evaluate that problem"  Really?

Not looking for anyone to reinvent the longez.  Just don't know why www.ez.org doesnt have a "Resources" tab on the page, with ALL INFO NEEDED?

ZG4me - Thanks for the info, good points.  And yes, the scattered resources and community of canardians is frustrating.  Heck I went to the "other canardian website" and just read a post on there that essentially said that ez.org isn't worth visiting.  Which i disagree with.

So here's what I need and here's what I plan to do:

Need:
- All M drawings replicated to exact dimensions, anyone on here willing to copy me or sell me their originals, or tell me how to replicate them.
- Cross check that i have all plans info, I know where to get the CP's
- COMPLETE list of LongEz drivers, builders, owners, tinkerers, etc withing 1-3 hours driving range of me
- Materials suggest to me by the good folks on this site
 

Going to do:
- attend composite EAA workshop
- continue to read everything i can get my hands on
- Go to Rough River
- Keep bugging folks like you
- Try to find a Cozy/longez builder or owner as a mentor
- I've only flown in a longez once, need to do it more somehow

Thanks all



 




3
Hangar Flying / Is the LongEz going to be dead soon?
« on: April 05, 2012, 11:26:38 PM »

As a noob trying to give the  longez community a chance to opine I am going to rant.....

I want a Long Ez for it's mission, and it's economics.  A 140kt aircraft burning 7 gal/hr is very appealing to me.

well, i've been reading and checking stuff out for about 2 years now.  I'm a avid pilot (as can be being a single dad), and i'd love to just get rolling on building a long ez.  Sadly, the community seems to be either very small (dwindling), reclusive, or non existent.  I think i will have to resort to the Cozy community, i love the long ez...to me it's the original, less expensive...doesn't need a 0-360, etc.  But I will most likely do a cozy, i don't want to since i haven't even really read up on them, but will for several reasons: 

Support - existing plans, materials, active builders.....nuff said

Community - As i said, finding a long ez builder/owner/expert.....is a needle in a haystack for the noob.  As a first time builder, or purchaser of a experimental nobody is building, that is a big sign of caution.  I can spit in the wind and find 10 RV drivers in my back yard, and they are willing and the community is down right amazing.  I mean, i'm willing to learn and drink the kool aid, but it's a tough pill to swallow.  Look at the task of getting complete sets of plans and templates to build???  Not even mentioning the KNOWLEDGE!

Practicality - if i can't build one because i can't get plans, or support...well, i'm not really keen on buying a 20 year old plansbuilt plane i know nothing about, my local A&P won't know anything about, and trusting my life to it.  And I'll feel like it will take me a long time to be comfy with it since i didn't build it.  And will never know if the wing spar or some other critical part has a crap layup inside it. 

So, thoughts canard community? 

In my honest opinion - here is what i think needs to happen or in 10-15 years, the LongEz will be gone:

1. A group of LongEz gurus needs build a long ez -  document, photo, digitize and rewrite all the long ez materials with the help of a aeronautical engineer who will cross reference and QA/QC burts stuff.  Then charge $300 for the plans and COMPLETE knowledge base.  So that anyone who got them, like a noob like me can have all knowledge at your fingertips, go to a EAA composite workshop, and be on your way.  Make the purchaser sign a hold harmless/waiver of liability, etc
2. By doing that you can grow the "enthusiast" base, and have a website that takes donations, like the RV community does.  Whoever runs the website, takes those funds and MARKETS the long ez community for group buys, awareness, PR, etc. the CSA and Yahoo group of canard/long ez folks should merge, and make one site, like this   www.vansairforce.com
3. OR......someone redesigns the long ez, make it better (if possible) make it wider, support todays new engines, etc, whatever, and sell a legit copy and set of plans.  Heck, wicks and aircraft spruce would probably be silent partners in the biz?

Well, that's enough.  Sorry for the rant, just frustrated, or uneducated or not self educated enough.  Please advise.

Greg
Madison, WI

4
For Sale/Wanted / Re: Long-EZ Plans & Main Gear for sale
« on: October 05, 2010, 07:59:42 PM »
Sent you a PM, if you didn't get please contact me at   gatesgreg@hotmail.com

Thanks

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