I got a Long-EZ for X-mas!!

[air apparent]

Careful son, you'll shoot your eye out with that thing...

 

So, I did it. I bought a Long-EZ project listed on Ebay. The structure is 95% complete (50% to go!) and the workmanship looks terrific. Strakes and a vert stab left to fabricate. This project was started over 15 years ago.

 

Enlightened self-interest is at work here. I am now in charge of an up-and-coming Systems Engineering program at a small University, and having worked at a major aerospace firm in the composites M&P group, and having lead a major University effort in vehicle systems integration, and having a suffered a keen desire to fly for most of my life, and having a strong commitment to the idea that engineers need "real" projects to learn their disiplines, I bought this project knowing I would be its driving force and pilot in every sense of th word.

 

So, I have a request of this group's members: I need your help to make this the best project it can be.

 

0) Help assessing the current build

1) Mentors for several student teams

2) Solid modeling (CAD) data for use in th classroom

3) Structured advice in restarting a project and continuing safely and with confidence

4) Help organizing the vast information available in the various forums

5) Assistance minimizing our University's costs

6) Someone willing and able to inspect the project here in Utah, soon, and to be available at project kick-off

7) other help I don't know I don't know that I need

 

I'm excited, and looking forward to the most rewarding Engineering experience I can create with my students. Anyone with the time and experience to share is greatfully welcomed to contribute.

 

Best wishes,

 

Jim

[Waiter]

Jim,

 

Welcome, and Congradulations.

 

I live here in NW Ohio, So I can't do to much for Utah, but anything you think of, let me know.

 

Waiter

[Big Steve]

Jim:

 

I built flew and then sold a Longeze. I live up in Idaho I get down to Salt Lake once in a while. I am building a Cozy IV (a fat Longeze) Welcome to the addiction. STeve

[Marc Zeitlin]

6) Someone willing and able to inspect the project here in Utah, soon, and to be available at project kick-off

Depending upon where you are in Utah, I might be able to fly up and inspect/help. My airplane should be flying again later this week after a 4-5 week repair/upgrade session that has made it even uglier than it was before, if such a thing is possible.

 

I would seriously recommend that you join the canard-aviators yahoo mailing list for extensive exposure to hundreds of extremely knowledgeable canard folks, both flyers and builders.

[air apparent]

Hello all!

 

A few more details...

 

I am located in Cedar City (Southern) Utah, so Tehachapi is relatively close. I'll pick up the plane using a 16' flatbed trailer, from Northern Arizona, in about 2 weeks if weather allows. Christmas in Phoenix allowed me to complete the transaction in person on Sunday and to pick up the documentation and mechanical hardware.

 

I plan to subscribe to every source of info I can find, up to the limit of my personal and e- bandwidth. At some point, student team leads will do more of the mental lifting and sifting. Every recommendation will be researched.

 

I anticipate several student teams: one each for propulsion, system integration, airframe, and controls/instrumentation. Semester starts January 7th, so I am scrambling.

 

Has anyone created an MS Project guide to the process of building a Long?

Does anyone have a comprehensive 3-D CAD model of the LEZ?

Which changes to the original plans are crucial and what orders the change process?

Etc.

 

My teams and I will have comprehensive rapid controls prototyping capabilities to share over time - see www.mototron.com for more info.

 

Thanks to each of you who have responded thus far on Christmas day. I hope to meet you at a fly-in some time soon (even if I have to drive).

 

Best to all and happy holidays,

 

Jim

[Bearair]

Congratulations! My wife and I just recently purchased a Cozy IV project also. We're in Southwestern ID a couple hours from Steve. Good luck on the Long EZ. I always wanted to build one, but the wife says we need more room for cargo. And remember, it was an icicle! Yeah, that's it, an icicle...

[Marc Zeitlin]

Has anyone created an MS Project guide to the process of building a Long?

There are a few folks that have done something for COZY's - haven't heard about anything for a Long-EZ. Ask on the canard-aviators list.

 

Does anyone have a comprehensive 3-D CAD model of the LEZ?

Doubtful. There are bits and pieces - but not a full blown solid model (yet).

 

Which changes to the original plans are crucial and what orders the change process?

Read ALL the CP's. ALL. That will keep you busy for a couple of weeks.

[Lynn Erickson]

Careful son, you'll shoot your eye out with that thing...

 

 

If you have not seen it. it will take a couple of weeks to read and a good resource its just one of the good thing on WWW.EZ.org

http://www.ez.org/2000ways.htm