macleodm3

I have attached the Vance Atkinson electric pitch trim design and the Davenport pitch trim design. The plans for the Cozy include manual pitch trim which works well. If you want to make the Davenport electric, then just swap the 1/2" control rod out for a 12V electric actuator. Davenport_Pitch_Trim_Spring.pdf

Our local airport rules state that nothing other than X, Y, and Z can take place on airport property.... the list of accepted activities does not include aircraft building, and limits maintenance to employees of the company owning the aircraft or a contracted mechanic. I presented the recent (2016?) FAA statement to our local airport authority, with the hope that they would change the rules to include aircraft building. They say they would, and assigned the re-writing task to 2 board members. I helped those two write the new rule, but [they] never would finish up and present the new rules. Finally, the board said "OK, Andrew, we're not gonna re-write the rules.... but just ask us in writing when you are ready to move your project to a hangar, and we'll respond in writing that you can finish your build at the airport... But NO PAINTING on airport property." I think the no painting rule is fine. I don't think homebuilders should be able to put other aircraft at risk of paint overspray (if that is actually a real possibility, which it may or may not be). I must keep peace with the board, and they actually said they'd let a fresh project get started at the airport depending on hangar availability. They like to sell fuel, and projects don't buy fuel. I think any local airports should encourage homebuilding on aircraft property if they want to grow aviation at that airport. My local EAA chapter [removed by moderator] just went defunct. I am the only builder here, and the other guys just liked to plan a Veterans event every other year. There was no real interest in composite construction presentations from me, and nobody ever came out to see the Cozy project. I don't miss it... now I'm not a member of EAA any more either. Every EAA magazine is focused on Oshkosh... Kitplanes and CSA is much better.

The foam specifics (H45 PVC, Urethane, Last-a-foam) are in the plans of the aircraft you are building so that you can get the foam from any source and not be tied to any specific vendor. Which foam product are you having trouble finding? I don't know for certain that the foam Spruce or Wicks ships to me is correct, but I trust them. I then verify that the foam they ship matches the description of that foam in the plans. It would be "nice" if they shared their sources, but a company makes money by finding a source for a product and then reselling that product in small quantities for a higher price. For example, Garmin charges $400 for their GTP 59 OAT probe (needed for the G3X), but if we had Garmin's source we could buy the probe for less than $50.

Well... using the painters tape mentioned above (3M 471+) and micro.... I now have a seam that is good enough (meaning it looks good from 8 feet closer than before). I am currently working on the canopy in the basement where its warm (although the sanding dust has gotten me in trouble several times already). I did the following: 1- tape the windows using painters tape, electrical tape, and saran wrap, apply the BIg Fill 2- sand it down using the air file (IR 18" air sander) 3- remove all tape and wrap... clean it all up, move canopy to the basement 4-reapply painters tape and apply micro fillet using a bondo squegees cut to different shapes (micro sticks to plastic cards but not the bondo squeegees) 5- pull off tape before the micro sets... its a thin fillet, so 20 minutes using West 205 (fast) hardener worked for me. Painting will be its own challenge... hopefully in 2019!!!

Sweet! With your EZ building experience you know what you're in for... glad you got the kit! Its great to see that its going to get built... not just shuffled around for the next several years.

Cost to build one from scratch in 2019 - $50,000 to $90,000 (Airframe $30k; Engine $10k to $30k; Panel $10k to $30k) Time to Build... 2000 hours to 5000 hours (and anywhere from 2 years to 30 years) Good Resources....1 The Plans, 2 The Newsletters, 3 Central States Association (Flyins and Newsletters) 4 The Internet (EZ.org, Canard Aviators yahoo email list, Facebook Long-EZ Builders and Pilots group, Squadron III Newsletter (ask for it on the yahoo email list)), 5 EAA

I followed the plans and went with the least expensive option.... a flying mid time Lycoming O-360. I sold some attached components when I bought it (P-Mags, Carb, small oil cooler, automotive alternator, Skytech starter). I had to buy a few components while installing (B&C starter & alt, FI servo, Cozy exhaust, LSE Ign, bigger oil cooler). I'm in about $14k now(engine and accessories), with an estimated 1500 hours before recommended overhaul. Mid-time lycoming is a bolt on solution, and the plans make is SO EZ... having everything fit (cowls, baffles, components).... all that really is a big deal. Most Cozy's never get finished (flying), and many that do get finished don't often accumulate many hours. If I ever get up to 1500 hours, I'll be in a VERY small minority so I truly believe a mid-time 360 is a good choice. Yeah, I know its boring... but its in a Cozy MKIV (NOT Boring). (but ya gotta pay attention to cam rust and exhaust valves) IF I had to have an alternative engine.... I would consider the UL520. Its a modern airplane engine, and several in our community are flying or installing them.

Yes you could argue that 51% remains.... but the fuel strakes are partially built and some could argue against you. Before you pull the trigger you really do need a good firm answer on this.... do some research over on the Van's Airforce forum. With the 10,000 builders over there its likely this has come up before. Here is a result from VAF that may raise your eyebrows.... I wouldn't move forward unless I was certain it would all work. It sounds like Canada has inspections that they make during the build..... Hi to all !! Previously, I posted here about my plan to start building a RV-8 outside of Canada (in France or Switzerland) then, when my job here is done in 2016, move back home in Québec with my project. After discussions with French and Canadian authorities, here's the scoop if any one else has the same idea: Concerning amateur building, Transport Canada doesn't accept any foreign inspections not made by the MD-RA (Minister's Delegates-Recreational Aviation). 3 options are suggested: 1- Complete the airplane in the foreign country with all their necessary inspections and paperwork, then fly it for a minimum of 100 hours. Then it's possible to import it normally as a private plane. 2- Build until you reach an in$pection $tep, have a Canadian in$pector come over to do hi$/her $tuff, and you're re$ponsible for all hi$/her expen$e$ of cour$e... 3- Build until you reach an inspection step, leave that part open for future inspection and import it that way. (I guess if the skins are set, some un-riveting will have to take place...) I don't believe I'll have time to complete it so my option will be to do all possible steps without closing up the skins... Then import the disassembled plane for inspection in Canada, and complete it afterwards. One side note, for France to issue a F- registration to a foreigner, he/she needs to be considered as a permanent resident. So my empennage is ordered and on it's way, the tools are just about to be ordered, and I finally found a decent place to build... Expected start of building is April !!! Have a nice day !!!

That Cozy III for $29k looks like a very fair deal. I don't know that airplane at all.... but the photos make it look very nice. I've been hearing that 172 prices are on the rise.... wonder if the value of 3 and 4 seat canards will ever start to climb again?

Also... the Canard Aviators yahoo email list and the Cozy Builders google group have lots of active members too. Join those groups too. To get the most answers to your question(s) on canard aircraft you have to sometimes post your question to 3 or 4 places.

Yeah... just hide the wings, canard, canopy, gear... anything that can be removed from the fuselage. Are the strakes (fuel tanks) built yet? They are beyond the 51% point in my opinion (although I'm not done yet...) Show us some photos of the project!!

Welcome! I hope you pick a great project. I would recommend you try and find a project that was built to plans specifications. Don't forget to have someone knowledgeable check the project with you if at all possible. These aren't that difficult to build correctly, but lots of us seem to think we can build it "Better" than the plans specify (and THAT often just makes things bad...). Have FUN!! Its a life changing challenge....

Search for 3M Vinyl Tape 471+ It conforms amazingly well, around corners and such. Excellent product, but hard to find locally. Advance Auto, Auto Zone, O'Reilly's all did not have it. Found it at a local Federated Auto Parts store by calling around.

Most Cozys have a curved spot like that but less noticeable amount.... a hat bill shaped curve. I've seen another Cozy with one similar and think it looks good too... maybe 5% more shade from directly overhead. The Aerocanard canopy is much much more coverage... I like the Cozy version more. The glass overhead helps fair the bubble in to the fiberglass. With the bubble only, there is a noticeable dip... it should look good once its faired in with micro.

Yeah... the plans have us build up a bunch of tape... all mine has been removed so I don't have to deal with lots of old tape residue. I try to not have tape on the canopy for more than several weeks. I have added 1 layer of blue painter's tape (auto body painter's tape... not paper masking tape) and some protection film. Next, I am going to do a big micro fill and wipe off any micro that ends up between the fiberglass and blue tape. Let that cure. Sand it down to final profile. Do a small micro fillet... using my contoured micro as a guide on one side and the edge of the blue tape as a guide on the other. Let cure to gel (not complete) and then carefully remove blue tape and black tape and clear film.

Totally agree.... Truly enjoy building this project... wonder whats next?

Yeah its awesome!! It keeps everyone else out of the workshop too.... theft prevention! And I think it kills bugs which like to crap on the plane.

People have no idea how many little beautiful parts go in to and get buried in one of these birds.... good job on the seatbelt parts!

Yeah... I see pinhole swarms in my micro too. I am not worried about them... I'll fill them with raw epoxy like you mentioned. How big of a pinhole can you fill with the raw epoxy? Most of mine are small (1/16") but a few are larger perhaps 1/8" or 3/16" diameter.

The transition from glass to clear canopy is to me, one place that can make any aircraft look cobbed.... unprofessional, home made. Everything else can be perfect... but some canopies look professional here and some don't. They're all awesome... if they're flying... but I'd like to go the extra mile for this one area. Mine doesn't look as good in person.... I'll need to take a couple new photos this evening to show canopy / glass areas that need some attention. I was wondering if anyone had a great trim product... some sort of a adhesive backed rubber trim strip that worked well. I did the painter's tape / micro around the inside of the rear windows and they turned out OK.. I suppose I could do that for the canopy too.... I have a thick film of sanding dust on my canopy... so that is my protective covering.

So... this is for a Varieze I suppose? A new Long-EZ canopy from Aircraft Spruce is $675.... I say you should ask around half of that and put a free ad on barnstormers too.

Thanks for the tips Kent! What are you representing in your photo... the way it should be done or the way it shouldn't be done? I see two scratches, some uneven micro around the NACA, and an uneven gap. It still looks fast... if mine looks that good I am going flying.

I am not satisfied with the seam where my clear canopy meets the fiberglass. I have attached a couple photos.... one inside and one outside the plane. Are there any great techniques for this area? I am looking for a very nice, clean line... Any tips?

I keep a compressed air nozzle close at hand to clean off the sandpaper.... 30 seconds sanding, 10 seconds cleaning the paper, back and forth. You get SO MUCH progress at this stage, its worth it. I have a bunch of cured micro that needs to be sanded (had company over the weekend and got no sanding done). I LOVE my Ingersoll Rand 315 air sander.... $40 with free shipping (used), but I don't think it would work well with a smaller compressor. Its making the sanding easier... but I still use the 36" sanding boards too.

Ohhh.... I see. Thanks! So, we can just make it bigger? I didn't understand the materials.... Thanks!!!