I am going to purchase my dad's Varieze project from him (price is just right). It's a legit VE, 70% finished, 90% to go. However, my thoughts seem to be a little different than his on some things. While he was intending to make it a full IFR traveling aircraft, I am thinking more along the lines of light and fast. I think that's what the VE was designed for.
The tub, wings, and canard are made, gear is mounted, all parts are there. A Subaru E81 will power it. It has wing cuffs and the VE winglet. Other than Dad adding a landing light in the nose and the Subaru engine, I believe it is built to the plans. It appears to be well-built with good craftsmanship (my dad bought it years ago in almost the same state it is in now). I would appreciate some discussion/suggestions regarding the following topics.
- I have read the wing cuffs work, but cost some knots. There seems to be some disagreement regarding vortilons vs. trailing edge fences for reducing the approach/climb-out speed. Should I remove the cuffs and add vortilons or fences?
- Some have suggested the VE winglets are only useful for protecting the main wingtip in case of a tip-touch. Others suggest the LE winglet on the VE improves flight characteristics of the wing in much the same way as TE fences. Do I need winglets at all?
- The original design of the VE had anhedral in the main wing due to the lack of control surfaces, relying on elevons in the canard for control. There were some accidents during landing when a tip dropped and the pilot instinctively tried to correct using aileron rather than rudder (as per Rutan's instructions), thereby causing the canard to stall and nose-in. Rutan then modified the design to include ailerons on the main wing and apparently went away from the VW engine. That is when the weight started increasing. The original plan had the empty weight at 320 lbs and used a 65hp VW conversion (per a 1976 Popular Mechanics article). It seems empty weight to the plans is now about 1050 lbs. Where did all the extra weight come from and where can weight safely be cut?
- What is the max safe speed, built to the plans. What can be done to increase it?
- I have read the VE is now rated for +/-2.5 G. How can that be increased?
To sum things up, I want to build the VE to be a light, fast, get-from-point-A-to-point-B-on-very-little-gas flying machine. As I start my planning, I would ask for suggestions on what others have found to work and what to stay away from, what to keep and what to lose. I am a member of EAA and will soon be a member of CSA. I don't yet have dad's plans/newsletters in hand, and won't for a number of months. I'm just excited and trying to look ahead.