Hello from Wyoming

[techmancchs1]

Hello,my name is Steve, and I'm a canard-a-holic

I fell in love with Rutan's designs as a teenager when I saw a Beech Starship flying in Denver, and have been into them ever since. I've never met anyone who flies or has built an EZ type aircraft.

As far as flying experience, got my private ticket in 2002 I have over 200 hours PIC flying 172's and 182's. I'm currently a transport mission pilot in our local Civil Air patrol squadron.

Anyway, not to get too long winded here, I'm thinking of possibly building a Long EZ, or more likely buy a flying one..... but before I take a leap of faith I would love to sit down and visit with a pilot / builder about it. also, I'm curious how "comfortable' the cockpit is as far as leg position etc. (from photos of cockpits, it looks like your legs are more out in front of you, instead of in a sitting position). Anyway, is there anyone near that would be willing to catch up with me? I live in the northeast corner of Wyoming (Gillette), but I could also fly somewhere to meet you.

 

Let me know, and thanks for your time

Steve

[very easy]

In Douglas there were some cannard flyers. Past tense because I bought one of their plane and shipped it to Australia. A big aircraft hanger with runway has been built and I think the turbine club and some other groups are using it. It's so big I thought they would lease some of the space to Boeing, when I saw it. Was in Gillette to pick up the truck to drive the a/c to LA.

[rickh]

Steve:

 

I'm near Estes Park (KLMO or KFNL), can put you up if a flight down here is in your picture. Current METAR is frigid.

 

Several builders/fliers in this area. www.freeflightcomposites.com and vigilanceaero.com may give you a couple of leads.

 

Might also check: http://www.unc.edu/~gorczows/cozy.html and see if anything pans out.

 

I don't know of any in your area, but there have to be some.

 

Rick

[Big Steve]

Steve said:

Hello,my name is Steve, and I'm a canard-a-holic

Well If you are really a Canard a holic you will build one of your own to be a true canard a holic. There is way more satisfaction to build than to buy. Ps. Longezes have way more leg room than a cozy at least that is my exsperience. Build on STeve

[argoldman]

Steve said:

 

 

Well If you are really a Canard a holic you will build one of your own to be a true canard a holic. There is way more satisfaction to build than to buy. Ps. Longezes have way more leg room than a cozy at least that is my exsperience. Build on STeve

 

There is room for all canardaholics, be they strictly imbibers or imbibers and distillers.

 

Yes, you are right, your legs are somewhat stretched out. What you don't understand is that in the EZs, the whole seating configuration is different. It is not standard seating with legs stretched. That would be torture. In the EZs, your back is actually reclining about 45 degrees, your hips are slightly bent and your legs are somewhat stretched out. Sounds horrible!!!!

 

However, it is a VERY comfortable position, almost like sitting in an recliner chair. a couple of minutes is all it takes to accomodate to it.

 

In addition to being very comfortable, since you are somewhat reclining, the physiological effects of G-forces are felt much less. You don't notice this at first, but as you do "zoom ups" and steep turns, you have the feeling that something is missing--- that is a reduction in the increased G awareness.

 

With the EZ seating, and high Gs, instead of your stomach descending to your feet, it stays around your family jewels.

 

An additional factor in the seating is that in vertical impacts, the force is distributed through your ribs to the seat back, rather than vertically to your spine, decreasing the possibility of making you shorter.

 

After crashing my dragonfly (similar seating) and surviving spinally, despite prior existing rods in my spine, I chose to build the Aerocanard because of this seating arrangement.

 

I recline to comment further:bad:

[techmancchs1]

HAHAHA! You guys have some classic one-liners and puns!

 

@rickh - I might have to take you up on your offer, I'm thinking late spring or early summer I might head down your way and take a look at your project. Maybe even get my hands a little dirty with your permission, and just check out the whole building routine. The wife wants to go to Estes Park as it has been a few years since we have been there.

 

@Rich - thanks for the info on the seating position. It'll be different than what I'm used to, but shouldn't be a problem.

 

Just out of curiosity (if anyone knows), does the ez really fly similar to the Flight Simulator X version from AlphaSim? I downloaded that a few days ago and seems OK, I'm just getting used to the shallow approach (and can't figure out how to deploy the speed brake:( )

 

Thanks for the input so far!

[rickh]

@rickh - I might have to take you up on your offer, I'm thinking late spring or early summer I might head down your way and take a look at your project. Maybe even get my hands a little dirty with your permission, and just check out the whole building routine. The wife wants to go to Estes Park as it has been a few years since we have been there.

 

You're more than welcomed. I'm pretty rustic up here, compared to mid-town Manhattan anyway. May be able to swing you and the missus a local cabin for a day/two at low/no cost. Though it's a bit more rustic

 

X-Plane is fairly realistic, from what I know. Many (all?) of the canards are done by Curt (see vigilanceaero.com above).

 

Rick

[SAF_Zoom]

 

Just out of curiosity (if anyone knows), does the ez really fly similar to the Flight Simulator X version from AlphaSim? I downloaded that a few days ago and seems OK, I'm just getting used to the shallow approach (and can't figure out how to deploy the speed brake )

 

Thanks for the input so far!

Its linked to the parking brake....