Strider

Here is a download link for a Long-EZ in X-Plane version 9. This has been tested in v9.21 and should work well in v9.22 and the v9.30 betas. I'll update it again if required when v9.30 goes final-release. Lyc. O-320 150 HP carbureted; Empty wt. 825 Lbs. Custom artwork for EFIS, GPS, EIS, radios and simple autopilot. Takeoff Vr is 71 KIAS; Full-aft-stick speed is 58 KIAS with a rapid pitch buck; Top speed is 212 MPH true (185 KTAS) at 9,500 MSL drawing 9.2 GPH RoP and 385 F CHT. For best results set Stick response to fully non-linear in Settings/Joystick & Equipment/Centering in X-Plane. Please read the included text file. http://www.vigilanceaero.com/LongEZ_320_921.zip http://www.vigilanceaero.com/Long-EZ_921_air.jpg http://www.vigilanceaero.com/Long-EZ_921_pnl.jpg Updated O-200 VariEze and IO-360 Cozy MkIV are in process. Interestingly, the VEZ and the Cozy do not have the rapid pitch buck of the Long, but demonstrate slow, gentle pitch buck. Hmmm ... Sorry for the long delay.

X-Plane will show you how that plane will fly, Raiki. Using PlaneMaker to enter your design into X-Plane is easier than using AutoCAD in the first place. Download my canard designs for X-Plane (VEZ, LEZ, Defiant, Cozy) for tips and methods of refinement. Search the www.x-plane.org Download Manager for my designs under the user name "vezePilot" there.

The main problem with X-Plane is that it is a moving target. No matter how accurate a designer makes a plane in one version of the sim, with the very next version the physics may change and ruin all efforts at optimization. My canards for X-Plane have not been optimized in the new version 9.x and they need to be. Flight modeling has changed so much in this new version, there are several problems. It is almost impossible to get a prop strike in a real Cozy, so obviously the model is wrong in some critical respect. Sorry it is taking so long to release updated canards for X-Plane. I have been working this summer at getting back to building my own Cozy project, in addition to maintaining our VariEze.

Although I would like to develop the handling and performance of canards in X-Plane, No they are currently not at the level of fidelity that would adhere to FAA requirements. The Cozy in X-Plane has Trim indicators, but unfortunately I have it currently designed for the use of Hat Switches on your stick in order to adjust the trims. I'll need to add the Panel Mounted trim controls, in addition to the trim setting indicators. I have not yet completed updating the canard designs for X-Plane version 9. Sorry about the delay.

I'd take photos of my install, but it wouldn't do you any good. The VariEze and Long-EZ are too different. Klaus says in his manual to mount the processor box on the cool side of the firewall, and even then be sure there is an air space between the box and the surface it's mounted against. This seems to mean, Yes--put it on rubber mounts. My install is on the hot side of the firewall, and I must use the Hall Effect sensor on the accessory case. There isn't any room to mount the box behind the passenger's head in a VariEze. Also, I have no oil filter, no oil cooler, no fuel pumps, no flywheel and no starter. The LSE ignitions need a flywheel to use the crank sensor. If you don't get pictures from someone, refer to the manual. Route the high voltage BNC wires (400 volts) near the high voltage plug wires if you have to. Route the low voltage sensor wires and ignition power wires separately from the high voltage wires.

I hope to use it real soon. Rick did a great job putting it together, and that's part of my motivation to get to it ASAP. THanks for being patient. If it looks like I won't get to it in the next few weeks, I'll post here and let you know. Curt

There should be a text file entitled "Long-EZ_book.txt" in the folder containing all of the other components of the Long-EZ for X-Plane. In this text file, there are instructions for changing the setting using the X-Plane companion program "PlaneMaker." PlaneMaker is easy to use for designing airplanes for X-Plane. The instructions are as follows: Instructions for Lycoming O-320 150 HP engine and Culver 60-67 Prop: (for 182 KTAS (206 mph true) at 2,825 RPM and 9.2 gph) Open in PlaneMaker Standard Menu > Engine Specs Description TAB Top Center of page, "max power" CHANGE 115 => 150 Location TAB Second Row from Bottom, Left side; "design spd, acf prop" CHANGE 180 => 200 close Engines page Standard Menu > Weight & Balance WEIGHTS section "empty weight" CHANGE 775.5 => 825.5 close Weight & Balance page File Menu SAVE File Menu QUIT Prop change is simply increased pitch, from original 60-63 (180 mph) to 60-67 (200 mph); (60 is the diameter in inches, and 63 or 67 are inches through the air in one revolution at optimum prop design speed. This is how prop pitch is expressed for real propellers- inches in 1 rev at Vopt.) Weight change is due to heavier engine, and ballast required in nose to keep CG in proper range. Hope this helps, post here again if it doesn't. Curt Boyll VariEze N111JK Boulder, CO

I would recommend staying with X-Plane v8.64 for a while longer. The DVDs for version 9 are available, it's true, and you can download and run the updates from www.x-plane.com. BUT, this is still a BETA application. There are lots of bugs and problems still. X-Plane version 9.x (b13, at this pt) is available for public use because Laminar Research is a VERY SMALL company, and they get a bunch of enthusiasts to do their Beta testing for them. It is still very early in the process. From my experience with X-Plane (10 years now) I would wait until at least version 9.20. This is particularly true for people who think that flying a computer flight simulator has relevance to their flying what they believe is the very same plane in "Real Life"tmCircleR. (people like me.) If you intend to use the computer for any sort of transition or proficiency or familiarization, you must wait until I've had a chance to run the flight models through the standard requirements that the FAA uses for Approvals of X-Plane in flight schools, and this isn't worth doing until the program is stable. Improper or incorrect simulator training is worse than none at all, trust me. However, I have just spent about three hours test flying and making adjustments to my canards for X-Plane in version 9b13. They are basically flyable, but I don't know yet if they're accurate. I'll get these uploaded to my Web site and post their availability. This includes VariEze, Long-EZ, and 3 different Cozy's (Well, two Cozy's and a CharlieGolf RG Full Retract with Blue Mountains, and ... etc). X-Plane has proven very useful for my flying. I've been flying a VariEze that I did not build for more than three years now. Just this year alone, I have flown to Colorado Springs 3 times, to Sedona, AZ, Kremmling and Grand Junction, CO, Oshkosh, WI, Elizabethtown, KY and Las Vegas, NV. All of these flights in the real airplane were like a Deja Vu, because I had flown the flights in X-Plane. Sorry for the delay, but you may notice that X-Plane is affordable and the only canard-type computer flight models worth using, are free.

Actually, my canards are already designed like this in X-Plane. It's just not down as low as 12,000. Even my VariEze's for X-Plane have oxygen, and it's On by default. But it's set for about 17,000 feet, and it doesn't run out. So I've put it in mainly just to keep X-Plane canardians out of Class A. But you can also turn it off. In which case, yessiree, right at about 12,000 X-Plane's screen will start going dark. This is a normal feature of X-Plane, and it requires that you have the blackout from g-force and hypoxia enabled in the Rendering dialog screen.

I've been pretty busy lately, and haven't flown for about two weeks. So I need to go up again soon. Last time I was up, I did rolls for the first time! I need to go up again Solo and do some more. Otherwise, when would you be able to get up to Longmont Airport? I usually like to fly in the mornings, and if it's cooler like today anytime from 9:00 to noon would work. Afternoon flying is often rather bumpy. BTW, did you get an email through Canard Forums that I sent?

Well there aren't any official canard groups in the Denver area, and I don't know of any EAA Chapters that are particularly supportive of weirdos who fly backwards, plastic airplanes ... but we're considering at least starting an "inclusive" annual canard get-together of some kind. It seems now that Rick Maddy may not continue his famous annual Colorado Cozy Barbecue. Did your search turn up Rob with his VariEze based at Metro, our VariEze based on Longmont Airport, or Bob or Ion with their Long-EZ's at Longmont, or Lee and Don with their Long-EZ's up in Greeley? There are also Burrall and a coupla others down at Meadowlake near Colorado Springs. If you would like to go for a ride, I'd be happy to oblige. Here is a picture of our plane, while we were on our way back from Oshkosh this year: http://www.vigilanceaero.com/Mankato_MN07.jpg Talk to you soon, Curt and Gail VariEze N111JK and Cozy plans# 872 Boulder, CO

Those are excellent photos, drawings and descriptions Waiter. The way that J. Kendrick built the access door in our N111JK is VERY much heftier. It forms a tunnel or short tube inside the nose and perpendicular to the outer skin surface, about TWO INCHES deep, and with glass/foam/glass walls of the tunnel more than a half-inch thick. This tunnel is about 4 inches in diameter. This method reinforces the skin surface of the upper nose about ten times more than is necessary, and yeah I guess it was/is kind of an overkill way of doing it. If you have access panels/doors, over-doing their structure is not a bad thing.

The fellow who built our VariEze installed a very well reinforced inspection/access door in the nose of this plane. It is round, large enough to access not only the battery but also to install rudder pedal extenders, and there is no chance that it jeopardizes the structural integrity of the nose. This is because it is a very thick and deep flange which is covered by a round aluminum plate, .065 thick, and with four screws into Tinnerman nutplates. If you still need specifics/photos of this please email me at curt<at>vigilanceaero.com.

A new Long-EZ for X-Plane is now available. This flight model demonstrates all of the correct numbers according to the Owner's Manual: Speeds, RPM's, Fuel Flows, and correct glide ratio engine out prop windmilling. An image: http://www.vigilanceaero.com/LEZ_poster.jpg And the download: http://www.vigilanceaero.com/Long-EZ_840.zip Includes Dynon, GPS-196, Becker, Grand Rapids, TruTrac, and O2 system for VFR day and night. Per-plans empty weight of 775 lbs, and Lyc. O-235-L2C with instructions for converting to 150 HP O-320.

Here is a 2 minute video (Quicktime, 32 MB) of a canard RC model that I designed in X-Plane, and built and flew back in 1998. It was the first test prototype of my own SuperTandem design: http://www.vigilanceaero.com/SuperTandem1stFlight.mov RC model plans sales are actually an active industry, huh? ... hmmmm ...