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JOHNSTEICHEN

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Everything posted by JOHNSTEICHEN

  1. Double the engines, double the wiring. Level of difficulty is the same as a cozy. Same construction techniques. Although I can't calculate it acurately, the surface area that needs to be filled, sanded and painted is much larger. Double the cowls. Basically, everything has to be done twice. You have to buy 2 of everything. I estimate that I used at least 6000 hours of build over 5 years. I built a Varieze in 2 years prior to the Defiant. Took maybe 1800 hours to build that one. John Steichen
  2. There is a small under construction Defiant Web site at: http://defplax.tripod.com/defiant/
  3. There is only One model of the Defiant. The Original prototype of Burt Rutan was called the Defiant I with all the plans built versions called the Defiant II. The "II" has been dropped. Rutan's original was a one off proof of concept and differs from the Plans built Defiant slightly. I think the canard, wings are longer, and there is a different toe in of the winglets on the plans version.. There are many variations of canopies and rudders among the builders however. Mine has 2 180 hp Lycomings with wood props. It cruises at 167 kts at 9000 ft. Weighs 1970 empty. Gross weight is 3000-3400 pounds. Fuel is 116 gals, climbs at sea level at about 2000 ft/min mid weight. Single engine service ceiling with those engines is about 8000 ft. Fuel burn at 75% power is 18 gal/hour. Great Airplane, nightmare to build. Joy to fly John Steichen N27ez@aol.com
  4. A Defiant did make it thru the GB process years ago, but it was a nightmare. Don Foreman in Kent if I recall. John Steichen N27EZ
  5. There is a Defiant Newsletter and Defiant Group. You can contact John Steichen N27EZ@aol.com. Back issues of Newsletters are available dating to 1986. Anyone wishing to discuss building the Defiant can contact me directly. We have 1400 hours on ours now and it is going strong.It will be in the 1000 hour corral at Oshkosh this year.
  6. There are plenty of Defiants that are being built. There are probably 30 flying, and probably another 30 under construction. The builders generally do not need specific help as these things are just big Long EZ's or Cozies. I do the newsletter on the type and the builders seem to forge on for years with out a glitch. The design has been out there so long that there really are not any surprises and very few airframe and flight issues. These have been delt with years ago. Anyone who wants to build can find plans. John Steichen N27EZ
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