Since getting hooked on this Eze thing in 1975, I believe this is the third or fourth “fix the VariEze wing attach” series that I have enjoyed following. Please don’t stop, this is a good one. I appreciate the serious and deliberate progression through good questions. I will just slide in a couple of fellow-traveler comments.
My bottom line early -- I got started late building the plane. My labor-intensive business and building the plane benefitted from my not being on the computer until after getting the VariEze flying. Combined with several other factors like "The List", the plane was in the air several years earlier than projected. My experience with the VariEze fittings has been positive. Like most long term VariEze types, I feel little inclination to counter anyone's opinion on the fittings, but dont mind stating mine.
Like you, I also researched the wing fittings. One example, having seen some early VariEze drawings of tapered ‘through-the fuselage’ sailplane-type wing plug-ins, I considered trying to design and build those myself for a ‘better’ design and quick attach. What could go wrong?
I corresponded for several years with a VairEze driver that had flown his plane 2400 hours and never paid hangar rent. His plane was kept at home in an enclosed trailer and was taken to the airport on Fridays and assembled and then tied down in ideal weather, or pushed into a friend’s hangar overnignt, and then packed up and trailered home on Sundays. With the simple supports he had, removing or attaching the wings and canard was 20 minute process. A few years ago I heard he was over 4000 hours. This and other examples helped to wrap up my research, with the awareness that the VariEze fittings have some significant advantages, like no adjustments, and as Joe Person points out above, are just an excellent design. And like all of the other elements of the plane, they must be built correctly and maintained properly.
While I was building I was strongly encouraged to put LongEZ wings and spar on my VariEze, as several others had done.
We have been traveling to see grandkids lately and my wife has mentioned several things she would have liked the plane to have, like a toilet, and popcorn machine. I have written articles on the advantages of the LongEZ, but having a LongEZ would not have solved this
I still enjoy chewing on the "law of thermodynamics" that was recently explained to me because it covers so much of life... You always lose, you never win, and you have to play. I am enjoying finding the exceptions...
With 14 years and a thousand takeoffs and landings, including the three flights last weekend, I believe and have experienced that to have an operationally friendly plane there are many other fish to fry besides the wing fittings. And lots of these things can be done after the plane is flying. If a guy is interested in flying
You play the game and you take your best shot. Good luck. Many qualified engineers looked into this and decided not to go into the wing fitting business. And so far no non-engineers have made their fortune with this either. I got some good advice once, from someone you would know. "If you can make a living doing anything else besides trying to sell stuff to people that build their own airplanes, do it.
Oh, now i remember the thought that triggered this response - To get yourself up and flying you only need one set of fittings. There are probably still some out there.
Good building