Ron Springer

39 minutes ago, Kent Ashton said:

A/W certificate issued in 2020 so it is a fairly recent completion

I think you mean 2003

I used long bicycle cables but the barrel didn't quite slip into the Brock throttle quadrant. After some careful filing, I reduced the diameter so it fit.

I would be a lot more worried about takeoff than the landing distance, especially if you want to carry a passenger.

Eric,

The Canard Pusher newsletters call for additional layups on the main gear. Technically, you are supposed to grind off the tabs, add the glass from end to end, and then rebuild the tabs. On my VariEze from the same manufacturer, Bob added the glass as 3 separate layups: 2 outside the tabs and one in the middle.

I noticed on mine that the layups outside the tabs were delaminating at the trailing edge near the tabs. I stripped all those layups. I added them back on and then a little extra for Grandma. I also applied them differently. Each layer wraps around the gear leg and back onto itself at the trailing edge. I did not form a sharp trailing edge. My fairings will do that.

On 10/13/2021 at 12:25 PM, willflyformoney said:

Okay, FYI I just got off the phone with Endurance technologies who makes EZ-poxy, they have permanently discontinued EZ-87 hardener and only make EZ-83 now, hope that helps. Thanks Jon for the information.

That sucks! My can is running low and I was going to order more EZ-87 soon.

A couple years ago I replaced my Brock throttle and mixture cables, due to some broken strands on my throttle cable near the carb. I used bike cable and it required a mod to the barrel. I ran new cable housing from the hell hole to the engine.

4 hours ago, Mike75 said:

Any recommendations for finding a prop for a Varieze?  POH recommends 56X70 for an O-200.  Internet searches aren't yielding any great finds, maybe someone can recommend a supplier.  

I just bought a new prop for my VariEze from Gary Hertzler and he made it and shipped it in two weeks. I was expecting that it would take months.

For a stock O-200, he will probably recommend a 62 x 68. I ordered a 63 x 69 but I have Lightspeed pistons.

I don't think I would use clear hose there. I remember that it did just appear to be some automotive water or fuel line type hose. So. maybe you could substitute that?

I bought a new mount kit from Fresno Air Parts and it was dirt cheap and included everything. It may be a knockoff brand but it seems to work fine.

On 6/5/2021 at 5:44 PM, PRFLYER said:

Hello everyone. New member here.  I joined to learn about the Long EZ and Cozy aircraft.

I have never had the opportunity to fly or even see up close the Long EZ or Cozy, and would be interested in meeting with someone from this area that can show me their aircraft. I lean more towards the Long EZ in terms of my interest, but would also like to see a Cozy.

I am currently a half partner in a 1965 Mooney (M20E), and have previously owned a Grumman Tiger as well as an RV-6 and RV-4.  However, I have absolutely no experience with canard aircraft and looking to learn.  Thanks.

Best,

Fernando

 

 

In addition to Dave's offer, which is a good one, I am also in Rockville and have a VariEze at KFME. I share a hangar with a Cozy III too. You can send me an email at ron228rj@gmail.com

On 5/24/2021 at 12:12 AM, Higgins918 said:

Are there any failure points in the aircraft, any parts that have excessive wear I need to keep an eye on, or any big things that I should know in general about these aircraft? Thanks 

Another thing to check for is looseness in the main gear. Jack the wheels off the ground and grab the gear legs and yank them fore and aft and check for any play. You can check for corrosion on the outside of the wing fittings, but ideally, you would want to pull the wings off and look at the exposed parts that are inside and hidden from view. I would also look over the condition of the fuel lines and other critical parts if you are going to be flying it soon.

On 5/1/2021 at 11:41 AM, Philg said:

Yeah, I know. I've been down that road. Good luck  fighting the state. I got them to relent some but I think they said they'd give me 90 days or six months. I can't remember. You might could get it registered and a tail number assigned in that time and sneak by but I kinda doubt it.  

You can register a plane and get a tail number at any time. There is no requirement for the plane to be finished or even started. The plane only has to be finished for the airworthiness certificate. I am not sure if that helps, but worth pointing out.

The best electric heat is electric clothing rather than trying to heat all of the air electrically. I have an Aero-stitch electric motorcycle vest that plugs into a jack on the instrument panel. I wear that under a sweater and a fleece. A big winter coat is just too bulky in a VariEze for me.

But, the cabin heat off my carb heat muff works so well that even though I have worn it this winter, I haven't felt the need to turn it on. It was 25 F when I took off on Monday and I had the vest on just in case but didn't use it. But, I didn't climb any higher than 3000 ft on that flight. Maybe a different story if I climbed to 10000 ft!

Flying works out well with my 34 kg dog. However, I wouldn't want to take him a plane where he had to sit side by side with me up front. He prefers it in back anyway where he can check my six!

On 1/3/2021 at 12:10 PM, Marc Zeitlin said:

No holes through primary structure. The hole I drill is from the area FWD of the LE of the winglet, where the lights will actually attach, aftward to the end of the aileron cove. Since there's no shear web in the outboard wing of a Varieze, the hole only goes through foam.

That sure is a convenient feature of the VariEze for drilling that hole ... no spar in the way. It is probably the way to go if I do the upgrade.

I mentioned that I have pre-existing wires in the wing, but there are only two wires. I believe they are just under the skin so they are probably microed in and it won't be possible to pull new wires through the same location. There are ways to trace them where you put a tone on the wire and then use a probe to detect it. One unit is as cheap as $25 on Amazon. But, you really want four wires. I could still do it with two but the position lights and strobes would have to be turned on together and the strobes wouldn't be synchronized.

Adding lights is on my list of future upgrades for my VariEze. I have two options:

1) Some wiring was run back in the late 70s when it was built. But, I don't know if the wiring is good or how easily I can determine where it is located at the wing tip.

2) I can do what Marc did above. I assume he used a copper pipe with teeth as a drill???

I also assume I will need to drill a hole through the outside winglet attach layup? Can't go around it, right? Any recommendations on hole size or just keep it as small as possible?

On 12/24/2020 at 1:42 PM, JL07 said:

Hi EZ Ahab,  

Since the Cozy Mark IV design plans only mentioned Wicks Aircraft and Aircraft Spruce, who did you end up ordering your foam from?  

Or, did you end up using floatation foam from your local dealer since you are able to bring your foam back home with your truck?

Hi JL07,

EZ Ahab (Steve James) hasn't posted on here in over a decade, but he has certainly bought lots and lots of foam. Try reaching him over at his website:

http://www.eurekacnc.com/

Ron

12 minutes ago, Evan said:

well it looks like izzy and i are going to get it, ill update everyone on the trip and the progress 

I told you! He is a professional plane mover. It reminds me of this meme of him from a couple years ago driving The AeroCanard west as he viewed the sunrise at the California state line. It sucks to have to drive a plane!

Last time we needed to drive an Aerocanard from Maryland to Tehachapi, we had Izzy drive it!

On 7/9/2020 at 11:50 AM, Kent Ashton said:

I am amused to see the JHU Dragonfly show up. That one is headed to Titan! But they probably want to fly one on Earth for a bit.

Is the VariEze also in Lancaster? I fly a VariEze in Maryland, not too far away.

See Canard Pusher 43 Page 5 for a mod to the nose gear retract system that I recommend.

http://www.cozybuilders.org/Canard_Pusher/

Jerry Gardner has thousands of hours on his VariEze in Sheridan. But, I don’t think he flies it anymore. He kept his plane in a trailer and hauled it to the airport almost every time he flew it. I just posted a bunch of pictures from my visit with him in 2015 on Facebook (Rutan LongEz and VariEze group). I bought my VariEze in Cody that year. 

On 3/8/2020 at 10:18 PM, bmckinney10 said:

Upcoming
- replace Lord engine bushings

Check out Fresno Air Parts for the best deal on purchasing those ...

On 1/2/2020 at 11:02 AM, Kent Ashton said:

The long runway was 1622 feet wide.  The shorter runway 1037' wide.

These are some impressively wide runways! Maybe they do things differently out in Arizona?

Mine was modified with a spring-loaded locking mechanism so that the rod didn't have to be swung to the right and interfere with your right leg, as shown below.