Varieze 2.0 2013

[venezuela]

Hi
I know you can build today a long-ez with all improvements like roncz canard, ruders and all new design, but, will you be able to build a plans built varieze with some improvements today, with better wing attachments, best canard and naca wing and other modifications to build a very very light plane? Mainly to flight SOLO (maybe with a dog in the rear) but with a corvair 100 HP engine (same weight and performance as o-200).
There are ULTIMATE modifications around internet?
I asked in other forum, but, this is the master of canard.
I live in Venezuela, hard place to find aeronautical engines.
So, as i live in Valencia, there are 2 big resin / fiberglass manufacturer at 10 min from my house, i can get easily the composite, all steel parts, etc. Only specialized aircraft parts will be from ebay, and i have 2 or 3 years to buy it.
So, i asked an engine seller and he has a corvair in the yard, so, why not?.
I also read that you must first be sure of the engine you can buy, to avoid unfinished project in your garage.
I am also reading a lot about VIKING DRAGONFLY, good airframe to a corvair 100 hp engine (And beautiful plane too).
A friend of this forum, but direct email, said that is not too good the varieze over longez, and a LEZE with a corvair COULD be a 1 seat SOLO safe plane.
I have all plans from longez, but, as the verieze is smaller, i think better performance, less TO/L requierements, etc, remember, i will flight SOLO.
Thanks to all.
Marcel.

[Hmanvel]

There's a guy in S.E. Michigan who is nearing completion of a VariEze with a Corvair engine.  You might be able to learn more about that combination when he has flown it.

[venezuela]

Well, the mainly problem is NOT the corvair conversion, because it could take me around 2, 3 or 4 years before i plan to install the engine, maybe can get a o-200 at this time, whos know.
But, the questions is if there are some improvements for a plansbuilt varieze.
I think the goal of all canard builder is to build a COZY MK IV or DEFIANT, good 4 seats planes cross-country, but, the enterprise could take around 10 years. I want to do it too. But, the varieze EXIST, so, i want to try first to build a VEZE or LEZE for a lots of reasons, first, to know to build a composite plane, and, to have a plane to enjoy before the 4 seats building. I know the LEZE also exist, good design, all possible improvements, good fleet flying.
But, by numbers, VEZE is small, less weight, less power requiered as same performance, and to 1 seat, must be a very funny plane.
But, the problems here is safetly, the Veze had some problems about final speed, rain/bug issues, hot landing, wing attachments, etc. So, these problems has been solved?
I know about the guy building the corvair version, i tried to contact him by other forum but not reply yet, so, if he can, me (Or all with low buck engine) can too.
I have read about stats for the LEZE, mainly in accidents reports, and you can see 2 things, 1st, the leze pilots use to perform solo flights, and 2nd, certified engines in all these planes, so, the problem is not certified or conversion, the problem is well done.
Leze is beautifull, safe, big room, great range, great engine selection, proven design, almost all mods have been achieved, but, VARIEZE ALSO EXIST, and, even almost 40 years after, i want to know if is safe to build it TODAY. (Plansbuilt, not kit).
I am not engaged in VARIEZE or VARIEZE, i just want to know why not?
I was born in 71, varieze in 75, so, i have all my live dreaming with these planes.
You can see the composite homebuild aircraft world is increasing each years, pro-composite vision, personal cruiser, gazaile2, krsuper2, dragonfly, etc, all plans build planes, all can use auto conversion engines, but, rutan canards is Not as same speed, why? to me, small engine aircraft selection, too low builders at time (I have not found 20 builders website active), but, me and some others, still want to.
Marcel.

[go ez]

Well I'm biased as  I have a Varieze.
They are Fantastic docile  fast economical a/c  - easy to handle in the air and on the ground and to trailer/take home if you run out of money to pay hangarage
If building from scratch this would be my wish list
O-200 with gravity fuel flow - no pumps to go wrong - B&C starter and 30amp B&C alternator
LE Main Gear, 5.00 x 5 wheels and full size tyres and spats  and LEz fuselage attachment method/aluminium extrusions  and LEz extra plies glass structure to the main spar
Brake cylinders up front
Nose gear hatch
GU canard with Roncz tips
Vortilons
Main wing fences
Baggage pods
Bigger tanks (137 Litre inc Fuseage tank) using long ez type pvc foam
Maybe 1-2" wider fuselage and build it from PVC foam / LEz UNI layups
Use longer LEz NG30 nose gear  foam plates & lengthen nose to blend in aesthetically better to the fuselage tub
Cozy IV 10" nose wheel and swivel mount
Jack Wilmhelmson Taper bearing nose gear strut top pivot
Alodine all ali fittings inc elevator tubes and support brackets and wing fittings

Live your dream
Regards
Steve

[Alan Laudani]

I agree with the above wish list except for the Roncz Canard.
The original design works, why experiment with it.
The elevator could be put together with the Long EZ fittings.

Builder and Flyer of a Varieze
now building a Corvair 3000/Vision EX

[Super-EZE]

Respectfully, I just don't understand a comment like "why experiment with it" on an experimental aircraft forum.

[dkreidel]

There is a very good reason not to install the Roncz 1145 canard on a Varieze. Rutan explicitly said DON"T DO IT as the 1145 is a much, much more powerful (higher lift and higher AOA before stalling than the intended GU) The concern is the canard can be driven to a high AOA that is still flying when the main wing is stalled - a deep stall and generally unpleasant event.

I'm sure someone has either knowingly or unknowingly installed a Roncz canard on a Varieze  - if you are reading this please be careful!

[BruceHughes]

I believe D. Kreidel said "DON'T DO IT" very well.   Just a little addition:  The CG would be VERY different if you used a Rontz instead of the original canard.   And you would have no idea where the correct CG range might be.  We have had a few deep stalls in canards that were built correctly but someone still got the CG wrong (due to the way the aircraft was loaded ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY!)    Now you are thinking of changing a design in spite of the designer's stated "DON'T.

IF you try to use the Roncz, your friends will witness a pile of broken airplane.   You will not be a witness....

Bruce Hughes 

[vonjet]

I believe he said he wanted a GU canard with just Roncz tips....not a full roncz canard.
Would the roncz style tips on a GU affect anything?

[dkreidel]

Oh, I my have missed that!  I've been flying Roncz tips on my GU Long for 30+ years. This was originally done as a modification by Mike Melvill after John suggested Mike do so.  I'm sure Roncz tips on a GU Varieze would be fine.

[zig-1]

kinda funny talk here. Gary Hertzler put a Ronz on his eze. still walking around I think!

[dkreidel]

Have you seen his Varieze? There isn't anything stock about his 30+ year old airplane; Gary isn't your average EZ driver/builder either.