JLKnolla

Dave, Does that mean you have written a Long-EZ\Open-EZ AFM\POH to GAMA Spec 1 (industry standard nowadays)? As an experienced Technical Writer and Editor I'd be happy to review it if you want. I had already started on a GAMA Spec 1 style AFM\POH based on the original Long-EZ POH for my own use and posted the other day to gauge interest from other builders\pilots for a professionally prepared and formatted AFM\POH; if you have done one as well maybe there is an opportunity to share some work and make a great document. Let me know. John

Been a while since I checked in, have had several interruptions, read that 'life happens'. I would like to see how many folks would be interested in a baseline AFM\POH for the Open-EZ? I have an original Long-EZ POH but was thinking I would follow the more standardized GAMA style AFM format. Basically, I would prepare a Word document that individual builders could then modify to fit their specific aircraft (e.g., rotary engine, retractable gear, warp 5 engines, etc.). If I were I to charge for something like this, I am curious what the builders out there would be willing to pay for a professional AFM\POH? As for me, I am not ready to start building yet and am actually considering purchasing a flying Long and making many of the mods I am interested over time - my work will soon be taking me away from home and I need a reliable and efficient way to commute 600-1000 miles every few weeks. Your thoughts\suggestions appreciated. John

Well, I have gone back and forth over the possibility of purchasing a flying Long-EZ or RV-6A (prices are up for the Long ~$40K, down for the RV-6A ~$60K), the glorious Titan T-51 Mustang replica, a design of my own, or the Open-EZ. Considering that time is short as I am building not one but two businesses, and that money is even shorter, I am settling on a modified Open-EZ as the best of all possible worlds. Planned mods remain essentially the same as when I originally found the Open-EZ project last year: - Stretched nose ala Davenport\Dave Lind\Tony - Wright EZ Lift Nose Gear - Strong Pitch Trim - Infinity Retractible Mains - 2-Tube Blue Mountain EFIS-Lite (ADI\HSI) with BMA 2-axis Autopilot - Oversize Canopy (still side-hinged) with fixed (removable) windscreen - 2-3" stretch between longerons laterally (top and bottom) - Contoured side skins for fuselage - Airfoil shaped Strakes for additional baggage and fuel - O-320\O-360 with downdraft cooling (Waiter style if it works), MT-7 3-blade CS Prop, possible ram-air - Removable baggage pods - 1 configurable for additional fuel - Tall rudders and no lower winglets - Oil Heat in nose Already have downloads, will be getting TERF CD within next 30 days and begin planning after reading original construction manual. All fuselage mods will be documented with new CAD drawings (AutoCAD). Still planning on VF-1 Wolfpack CAG paintjob either in original red or in tactical low-vis greys. Need to figure out how to tell the wife........

Waiter has a good point reminding everone this is line art based on a tracing of the original EZ 3-view and is most certainly not in its' current form "engineering quality". That said, the contact patch is about 6" aft of the nose tip.

Tony, Attached is a clean PDF top and side view based on your long-nose mod. PM me with e-mail Addy for a DXF. Let me know if you need anything else. John Super-EZ -Clean.pdf

Howdy all! Thought I'd mention that in addition to designing and manufacturing graphics and spray masks, I also have over 11 years experience in technical publications and logistics support for military and business aircraft. I have been sole author of a number of civilian and military Pilot's Guides, Airplane Flight Manuals and Pilot's Operating Handbooks and derivative checklists over the years, having worked on no less than 8 certification projects under FAR's Part 23 and Part 25. If you want a full GAMA\FAA style POH and or checklists I'd be happy to help - price is based on the size\complexity of the job, availability of stick time (no I'm not kidding, I love to fly and will trade partial payment for stick time if my wife isn't looking) and the nature of the project (cool planes will, of course, pay less). Basically, I am happy to help with Operating Limitations, performance graphs if you have the data, but focusing on Emergency, Abnormal and Normal procedures - can do technical illustrations as well. We can also provide data files for installed EFIS\Engine Monitors that display checklists, get things printed in full color and bound, or provide raw files to you for your own printing. I am starting to do this again as a consultant on the side but am happy to share my skills at a significant discount to help keep sport aviation organized and safe. Let me know if I can help. John

Yes Tony, I could print just the side view with no wheels, $15 for a 12"x12". Do you have a complete side view in DXF or DWG or would you like to use the one I grafted together? Your local sign shop may be able to take a DXF or DWG and do the same, worth checking on as well since they are right there near you. Let me know. John - Open-EZ Pre-Build Planning

I think that one is a Mid-Continent unit and it was ~$2K from Wicks or AS&S IIRC. Van's actually has a great selection as well and the costs are good due to their volume - too bad Van can't sell those airplanes of his. I am not completely sold on the need for stby's with 2 independent EFIS systems, especially if they run on separate busses and one has a stby battery which is how I would plan to do it - just used to seeing stby's on the glass panel aircraft I have worked on over the years (military and business aircraft). Thanks! John

Richard, My company and I can design the scheme, and then produce spray masks for paint or produce computer cut vinyl graphics but please understand we do not paint. Basic Design is $195, and includes up to 3 starting schemes and then working one until you are happy. Standard Design is $295, and includes up to 6 starting schemes and then working one until you are happy (most commonly selected option). Advanced Design is $495, and includes as many schemes as necessary, unlimited consultation. Design charges are credited to any order over $500. Something nice for a Berkut 540, in masks or graphics or a combination should be in the $600-900 total range (design and graphics\masks) unless it is overly creative, e.g., multi-color fades or very complicated multi-color designs. Even then though I would estimate $1100-1400. We can install the graphics or spray masks if requested (at your hangar or any of 3 Albuquerque airports) and provide support to builders or paintshops when paint or graphics are applied for $375\day plus expenses. The advantage with graphics is they go on quick of course. The advantage with the masks is that it saves you a massive amount of time taping and re-taping and ensures symmetric appearance left to right. You can PM me with details of your idea if you don't want to let the cat out of the bag or we can discuss it here. Let me know. John

Here's what $23K will get you, ready for Day\Night VFR\IFR, including 2-axis autopilot, dual redundant EFIS displays, 2.25" backup ADI, ASI and ALT, and a serious engine monitor. Just a picture at this point, probably need to plan to add another $3500 for a Blue Mountain Sport for the GIB! Enjoy! John - Open-EZ Planner

Try the EZ Squadron classifieds at www.ez.org. There are several airframe projects there right now. John

The attached is a comparo side view of a stock Long-EZ and then an Open-EZ with a 15" stretch on the nose (similar to Tony's). I also changed the canopy line and added a windshield as I said above. These are not full-on CAD drawings, just full-size basic views like I generate for our spray masks and graphics. Enjoy!! John - Open-EZ Thinker

Because I like to put the cart before the horse sometimes, below is my first pass for an Open-EZ with a few modifications (some obvious some not), including Tony's long nose and a 3" increase in cockpit width at pilots seat bulkhead, a canopy mod (fixed windshield for birdstrike, still side hinged), downdraft cooling, a 6" prop extension, MT-7 prop, and retracts. Bob mentioned having a fighter, and so my first paint scheme is a tribute to VF-1 Wolfpack. Enjoy!! John - Open-EZ Thinker

Forgot to mention, the Sportsman 2+2 belongs to Marc Cook, Editor-in-Chief for Kitplanes magazine. I flew out to Chino and put the graphics on after he got the airplane from the painter (white and blue). This airplane will be on the cover of Kitplanes next month. While we have had many requests for a number of certified and experimental aircraft, we have only done N #'s so far for a couple Velocity's, not too many canards. I'd love to tackle a few Cozy's or Long's and VE's, or Berkuts and Velocity's. As soon as I get a good line drawing put together for the Open-EZ (I am planning a canopy and cowling mod along with Tony's long nose), I'll play around with a couple paint\graphic schemes that would suit my needs (thinking of the CAG's F-14 for VF-1 Wolfpack from the early 80's - red Wolfpack logo and long stripes, duplicated on the tipsails), probably try a Thunderbird scheme, and maybe something similar to Dave Lind's beautiful white and grey Long as well. I'll post sketches when I make some headway. John - Open-EZ dreamer

Hello all! I have a small business in Albuquerque, New Mexico called AeroGraphics Design. We design custom graphic and paint schemes for all aircraft, and can manufacture those in vinyl appliques (decals) or as spray masks for painting. You can visit my website at www.aerographicsdesign.com for more information - feel free to ask any questions there or here and I will be happy to try and help wherever I can. Below are shots of a couple recent projects I completed, the Glastar was all vinyl on white paint, the Sportsman was blue and white paint with grey vinyl. Great forum!! John - Open-EZ Dreamer (for now)

Howdy all! My name is John Knolla and I recently found the canardzone.com forums, and what can I say, seems a great resource. A little about me, I am 36, married (we have a 10 year old daughter), own a couple small businesses in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I have been a fan of Burt and the EZ series (and their derivatives) for about 20 years. I hold a Commercial Pilot's License, Single-Engine Land with Instrument Priveleges, and I have about 350 hours in 18 different aircraft types including many certifieds and experimentals, notably the Long-EZ, Sportsman 2+2, Merlin GT, Bucanneer GT, although about 1/3rd of my time is in Bonanza's. I am not current at the present time, the old triple paradox of flying - time, weather and money; you can have any two but lack of the third will ground you. I have worked in aerospace for the past 14 years, both on my own, designing, manufacturing and installing custom graphics and spray masks for aircraft (www.aerographicsdesign.com), as well as stints at Raytheon Aircraft and Eclipse Aviation, primarily in Technical Publications, Logistics Support, and management for 8 different Military and Business Aviation programs. I am very interested in the 'OpenEZ' project as I have always like the Long-EZ but did not want to buy a completed aircraft (I have a few mods I really want) and was not looking forward to trying to buy a set of plans off e-bay or some other place. I liked several things about the Berkut and almost tried to build one but thankfully my finances at that time prevent me from starting and they went belly-up shortly thereafter. Anyway, just wanted to say hello, I look forward to participation here and perhaps sharing a completion notice and first flight in the future. John