Open-VariEze?

[josebasu2]

Hy there. First of all, thanks to all of you that are trying to keep alive Rutan's homebuilt canards. I recognize, and appreciate, the effort and sacrifice of using some building time for your own projects in order to provide the necessary documentation for the rest of us to build an Open-EZ.

 

I bought the TERF CD from a fellow aeromodeler that had bought it just to get info for his scale projects (lucky me). I also downloaded the templates for the Open-EZ, but I'm in love with the Varieze. Please, don't try to persuade me about the convenience of building a LongEZ clone over a Varieze clone arguing that the LongEZ is an evolution of the VariEze. Actually, they are two different airplanes, and I like the Varieze better. In my case size matters, and I want it small so it can be towed regularly. I'm aware of the wing attach fittings not being produced any more, but that could be solved somehow.

 

I've looked over some threats and I've seen that there may be some other people interested in a an Open-Varieze project, so if the templates are out there, why not scanning and posting them here? May be starting a new section dedicated to the Open-Varieze inside Designs & Modifications.

 

 

Thanks every one! Hope this works!

[SAF_Zoom]

For the price a complete VarieEZ can be bought, I don't think it is worth building one from scratch.

 

Maybe find an uncompleted project with all the hard to find component.

 

Just my 2c,

[josebasu2]

Thanks for your replay, but to me, the name of the game is 'homebuilding' rather than 'shopping'. This has to do with the 'educational' purpose of every drawing (no matter the plane) out there.

I know I can buy, but I wanna build. Call me whatever, but I have more time than money. Building from scratch means that I can distribute expenses over time at my will, and above all it means learning.

Anyway, I won't change my point: I wanna build my own Varieze clone, hopefully an Open-Varieze and fly it some day.

Please, don't discourage people this way.

Anyway I appreciate your replay and respect your opinion.

[Lynn Erickson]

Hy there. First of all, thanks to all of you that are trying to keep alive Rutan's homebuilt canards. I recognize, and appreciate, the effort and sacrifice of using some building time for your own projects in order to provide the necessary documentation for the rest of us to build an Open-EZ.

 

I bought the TERF CD from a fellow aeromodeler that had bought it just to get info for his scale projects (lucky me). I also downloaded the templates for the Open-EZ, but I'm in love with the Varieze. Please, don't try to persuade me about the convenience of building a LongEZ clone over a Varieze clone arguing that the LongEZ is an evolution of the VariEze. Actually, they are two different airplanes, and I like the Varieze better. In my case size matters, and I want it small so it can be towed regularly. I'm aware of the wing attach fittings not being produced any more, but that could be solved somehow.

 

I've looked over some threats and I've seen that there may be some other people interested in a an Open-Varieze project, so if the templates are out there, why not scanning and posting them here? May be starting a new section dedicated to the Open-Varieze inside Designs & Modifications.

 

 

Thanks every one! Hope this works!

not that it can't be done but it would take twice as long to do as the Long ez. there are many updates and changes to the vari eze. for all the work it would take there might be two planes built. there may be one other person in the world besides you that will want to build one. the others will just buy a project and finish it. If you want to build one the plans are out there. I have a couple of sets of shop copys collecting dust, if I can find them you can have one but you will have to figure out the updates for yourself. there is a set for sale on this forum that have never used see http://www.canardzone.com/forum/showthread.php?p=51895#post51895

[TMann]

I think Zoom may be right on this one. If you want to build a Vari-EZE, you'll need to find plans. Given the configuration of the design, most builders will want to step up to the Long-EZ (Open-EZ) given that there is little difference in the construction time and cost.

 

The effort that has been devoted to the Open-EZ project is quite extensive. I don't see where the effort to do the same for a Vari-EZE is going to draw the same level of commitment/interest.

 

That said ........ it is likely that you could locate an existing set of plans associated with an abandoned project. From there, you could throw the parts away or sell them on eBay and start from scratch.

 

One aspect that you should keep in mind is that along with the lower level of interest in that particular design is a lower level of commitment to produce parts for that design. While you can find the prefabricated parts for a Long-EZ, the same cannot be said for a Vari. As such, you will need to have parts CUSTOM made for your project.

 

......... remember the part where you said you had more time than money? That's where this type of expense is going to be a project killer.

[SAF_Zoom]

Thanks for your replay, but to me, the name of the game is 'homebuilding' rather than 'shopping'. This has to do with the 'educational' purpose of every drawing (no matter the plane) out there.

I know I can buy, but I wanna build. Call me whatever, but I have more time than money. Building from scratch means that I can distribute expenses over time at my will, and above all it means learning.

Anyway, I won't change my point: I wanna build my own Varieze clone, hopefully an Open-Varieze and fly it some day.

Please, don't discourage people this way.

Anyway I appreciate your replay and respect your opinion.

Hi it was not meant to discourage you. But you can have 2 partly built VarieEZ for $4,500 on Barnstormer (including the hard to find parts like the wing attach fixture that some sell for $700 to $800) It also includes the canopy (mounted) (maybe what $500), the TerfCD ($300 new), an engine mount (couple of $100), the wheels and brake assembly... etc...

 

As you can appreciate, the cost of material alone is going to be a lot more. And you would still get to be hands on as there is a lot of work still to be done.

 

Just my 2c,

[raiki]

The biggest problem with a Vari, as I see it, is that there are certain parts not detailed in the plans that needed to be purchased from the suppliers. Wing attachment fittings come to mind. I think the plates are mostly detailed but the tapered bushes and the part of the plates that mate with them are not. I don't know if anyone is manufacturing them anymore, although I haven't really been looking.

 

Others have changed the wing attach method to something like the Long, but if you are going to that trouble you might as well build a Long. Better supported by builders on this site and others, parts available, CAD drawings available as part of the OpenEZ project. If you feel the need to scale it down a fraction (though I can't think of a good enough reason) then go for your life.

[Jack Morrison]

There are a pair of partially completed VE for sale on barnstormers.com, experimental tab. Very reasonable.

 

Jack

[WTJohnson]

Thanks for your replay, but to me, the name of the game is 'homebuilding' rather than 'shopping'. This has to do with the 'educational' purpose of every drawing (no matter the plane) out there.

I know I can buy, but I wanna build. Call me whatever, but I have more time than money. Building from scratch means that I can distribute expenses over time at my will, and above all it means learning.

Anyway, I won't change my point: I wanna build my own Varieze clone, hopefully an Open-Varieze and fly it some day.

Please, don't discourage people this way.

Anyway I appreciate your replay and respect your opinion.

................

I believe that Jiran at Mojave built several Varieze wings with a slip fit into the main spar, thus eliminating the metal wing attach fittings. I have seen some photos recently of a rough looking similar method, but was not impressed. I expect that Rutan figured that the metal wing fittings were lighter in weight.

Re-designing the wing attach to be similar to the LongEz may be a reasonable way to go. I have not thought about it much at all, but seems feasible.

WTJohnson .........Varieze 725EZ...........built 1981

[josebasu2]

First of all thank you all for your replies.

Thanks WTJohnson, I know about the spar mods you talked about. I've even seen some pictures somewhere on the net (http://michaeltdrew.com/photo.html).

As I mentioned in my first post, I know that one of the biggest concerns that keeps people away from building a Varieze clone is the lack of availability of the controversial wing attach fittings. Nowadays it should be relatively easy, and within reasonable costs, to build the parts oneself, or to send it to a CNC water cutting facility. The main reason for not doing this, is that in the drawings there are not any measurements other than the width of the plate that goes into the fuselage side. Considering that the materials and their thickness are clearly indicated in the drawings (even the taper of the pins), it shouldn't be difficult for someone who owns the attachments in their pristine condition (not used nor attached to the plane) to take measurements and post them, or better to produce engineering drawings of the parts, so anyone could use them.

If anyone has them but cannot use CAD programs you could post the measurements (hand draft), or just scan the parts themselves against some reference (engineering paper, transparent rule, etc. ) so those who know could produce CAD drawings for every one's use provided that the obvious accuracy checks demonstrate that the drawings are exact clones of the real ones.

I've done some drafts myself in ACAD over the TERF drawings. Even though the only measurement used as reference has been the width of the plate, it's been very quick and easy to obtain the rest of the measurements. However; I've observed that there are some problems of symmetry in the TERF drawings themselves, probably due to distortion during the scanning process ???, that lead me to some guesstimations. Don't worry, I wont use these drawings whatsoever!!!!!.

Anyway, I uploaded four screen captures (no measurements at all to avoid confusion) of the CAD drawings (drafts) I did to show you it can be done. It is a pity that the main reason for sending to the junkyard a wonderful design as the Varieze, is something as easy to solve as to find someone eager to post the required templates and the intentionally missing measurements of the wing attach fitting.

Thanks again .

 

 

 

 

[Terry]

I have a set of unused wing attach fittings and a set of wing cores that are surplus to my needs. Make me an offer.

Terry