mlefebvre

How do I access the Central Statest Newsletter? Is it online? Also, is there a webpage link for lightspeed engineering that references this? Thanks! Marc

I have been reading about flow fences on Vari-EZ on a website: http://www.glassovercast.com/goc/mainthangar/tefence/tefence.asp, and wondered if this is something any of you builders have considered for the COZY? Do you think this would be a benefit to the design to increase performance? Has anyone added these and what were your results? Marc

Has anyone attempted to put a video together on constructing the COZY? I saw a mention of it on the cozy website but no update on it. Any news or information on that? On a related point, do you guys recomend any of the videos out there on composite homebuilt airplan construction? Thanks! Marc

I guess I should clarify a little. I dont truly consider the $500 a "donation", it was my attempt at humour which doesnt come through well over the internet I suppose. (Hence the smiley in my post) I no doubt respect and admire ALL that has been accomplished with the Cozy. Between Nat and Rutan, its a great platform. In a way the $500 is a CHEAP price to pay for each plane you build, and as someone else said here, once you build one, the second, third, and subsequent builds will go much quicker. Reusing jigs, and the honed techniques could go a long way. I guess to speak more about what I am thinking, I brought the idea of two planes from one set of plans cause I would like to build one to spec, and build a second one to "experiment" with differing techniques, configurations, features, materials, etc... Any good engineer likes a benchmark trial horse, the spec bird would be that, and the second would be a platform to start with and go beyond. Btw, any fellow Cozy *builders* out here in Hawaii? Any Cozy flyers out here other than the one who is grounded in the Hospital? (Hope he is doing well. Havent heard much in the paper in a while, although part of his plane was discovered by my friend Jace who was out fishing.) Mahalo, Marc

Are there any numbers regarding the expected MPG at 40%/75%/100% power for the stock power plant, etc?

Has there been any analytical performance, stress, or any other kind of modeling done on the Cozy? Most of the figures and performance specs are based upon stock builds and not cover upgrading the power plant, or materials, etc.. What is limit of the amount of speed the airframe can handle, stress on wings, etc... I have seen that Rutan and others have been experimenting with all kinds power plants including jet engines and even a rocket engine. Was this with upgraded construction materials to handle the increase in stress and speed for the airframe? What limits the Cozy from acrobatics? Are there any facts, figures and specs from the bleeding edge of performance on the Cozy? In another forum I saw someone posted asking about using other materials than fiberglass such as carbon or kevlar to increase stiffness. What say you? I have seen claims of 200mph in the cozy, what about 300mph or does this exceed the performance envelope for the construction and design of the Cozy? Marc

I have been contemplating building a cozy (obviously) and thought I would like to build two concurrently using the same set of plans. Is that an ethical dilemma? Or can you legally build as many as you like from your set of plans? Not that I am opposed to sending a $500 donation for each plane to Nat for ALL his hard work on the Cozy. Marc

Thanks for your reply. Are there any build web pages out there that demonstrate the possiblities or give some guidance? I am sure adding this extra weight you have to be extremely careful about CoG and dealing with the extra weight, etc... I read about his accident in the paper and suspected it was a Rutan type design but the article never mentioned it specifically. I am VERY happy that he survived to fly another day. I appreciate your reply and enjoy your website VERY much. I moved out here from the Boston area just over a year ago and dont miss the snow at all... Aloha, Marc

Hello All... I am very interesting knowing what options builders use to extend the range of the COZY. I am living in Hawaii and would like to be able to someday fly it with my wife to the mainland. I know this is almost double the range of the COZY (OGG to SFO is around 2100nm) so is probably a crazy question, but what are the options really? Increased tankage? Where? Can you put me in contact with other builders who have taken on this build challenge? Any other recommendations? Marc