Hangar Flying

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I've spent a long time looking around the web but don't seem to be able to find a canards-for-dummies that explains the questions I should be asking myself, and the various choices about models/layouts/sizes that I need to understand, before I go and ask the same questions in the hangar mentioned above.
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I started building a Cozy-IV 6-7 years ago, having never sat in one, nor knowing my true mission profile. Today, I think I made the right choice.

The Cozy is pretty quick, decent fuel burn for the speed, has room for four but back seat passengers need short legs on extended trips. I look at mine as a two seater with a HUGE baggage compartment, many others see theirs that way too. And as you imply, you'll turn heads no matter where you land.

A few disadvantages. You need paved runways, and relatively long ones too. There is no 'door', you need to shoe-horn yourself into the seats. Not an issue for many, but if your joints don't move like they used to...

Veri-eze is the penultimate go-fast-on-a-dime flying machine. Plans no longer sold.
Long-EZ is the luxury version of the Veri. Slightly wider/faster/longer. Limited luggage space if you fill both seats.
Cozy-III/IV/Classic is a frugal version of a go-fast four place canard. (the Classic is sold in EU?)
Velocity is a luxury version of a Cozy, with unique features. (not sold in EU?)

With a few exceptions, there are no major financial outlays to build a canard. You can manage nicely and build one for 100EUR/month... for a lot of months

It generally takes 2.000-2.500 man hours to complete a canard, or anywhere from 2-10 years.

Rick

Bill:

We've crossed paths at fly-ins many times, Burrall's gig was no exception, yet I still haven't been able to place a face with "your most excellent stories". Am I batting 1,000?

See ya soon! I'm the 'middle aged' guy with thin and balding salt and pepper gray hair. Wear an aviation themed ball cap too, can't miss me!

Even if we never meet, keep writing!

Rick

Marco:

Is the Long layup schedule both sides and the bottom all at once?

1) You can cool your shop a bit, and use a slower epoxy.
2) Or you can do like the Cozy: Do the bottom first, stagger the ply's an inch, peel ply the edges, then do the sides later. Mask the sides in case you get drips on the raw foam. I didn't 

I did the bottom and then one side of my Cozy by myself, I think it took ~6 hours (each) by the time I finished up. I had help for the last side, it was nice having someone help mix and apply glass

On the Cozy, be prepared to snip the cloth at the speed brake depression, it can be difficult to get it to form into the depression without cutting, though some have had no problem... Not me though :-/

Rick

If I had any brains, I'd post the drawings/pix for others

First pix is the layup/dimension schedule.
Second is mine before slotting for the clevis pin. The clevis area is ~.75" wide, the spring portion is ~.62" wide.
Third is an install in a Cozy-IV
The servo is a RAC T2-10a, mounted on a right angle bracket on the main spar.

I used a 3" PVC plumbing connector fitting for the 4" diameter. Butted (and hot glued) some 3/4" MDF onto the 3" fitting to set the height (and inner width) of the ears. packing tape, peel ply, and assortment of pins/levers/wedges/weights to hold the layup down while it cured, then I squared up one side on the table saw before removing the cured spring from the mould.

Rick

Weather could have been better (rain), though temps were nice. Friday was rain/fog/low ceilings most of the day. Saturday AM off/on showers. Saturday late AM, mostly clear (woo-hoo!).

I counted 37 planes on the ramp on Saturday afternoon, though I know more were in attendance. A few more non canards than years past. An RV was parked on the ramp when I arrived at 1:30 AM on Fri. Apparently he didn't know "the rules"

A turbine Legend made an appearance, did a few low passes for those that could twist their heads fast enough. Very sweet plane, but the wings (and engine!) are in the wrong place

Had a couple of pilots from Edmonton Canada that flew down. Yair Gill and his wife, from Israel, made an appearance too. Yair brought a new design FHC hinge to show. A fella from the UK (building a Long) flew into the Detroit area, Doug and Elana drove him down in their camper van.

All seats taken for the builders lunch on Saturday, maybe 100 warm bodies?

A few pix:
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=36
http://longezproject.blogspot.com/

All things factored in, I had a swell time. I think others will say the same.

Rick

PS: Even the FAA took notice! They sent a couple of their finest undercover representatives to check everyone's papers.

You might drop Robert or Valerie Harris an email, am certain they can provide you with a diagram. http://www.ezjetinc.com/aboutus.php

I am ready for electric nose gear, what is the best and why?

They (Wilhelmsen or Wright) both work well

The Wilhelmsen is a drop in replacement for the manual crank, but you will have to drill the AL attach plates of the lift to fit your EZ. I installed one in my Cozy build, FWIW.

And the Wright requires notching/cutting an existing bulkhead, last I checked.

They both work well

Rick

Center to center: 28" wide, 19" tall. Or a square rectangle. Measurement taken off my tub.
Firewall to aft edge of top Dynafocal rings 10.45" (taken off the plans). Bottom rings ~.25" longer due to thrust line angle, ~1.5 degrees.

Rick

"One gallon should be plenty..."

If only that was true.  I don't remember how many gallons but it was far more than one.   

I'll let everyone know!
Right now I'm 95% certain I'll only need a gallon of color (and one+ gallon of clear) as my preferred brand of color coat gets reduced 1:1 to spray.

I'm also using a SATA HVLP gravity gun that's supposed to have 105.83% transfer efficiency. Seriously though, I used to use a suction spray gun where EVERYTHING had to be masked off.... even the cat. These new gravity feed big bux HVLP guns are well worth the cost IMHO.

There was more than one "sandable" primer gallons, ...

Roger that!

Rick