Oh wow... Great video and good editing. Many good flying memories for sure. Past LongEZ builder and owner here.....so this brings back many goooood memories!
How did you go David? I'm 53 and have aspirations too! (I know 90 year olds with aspirations... just saying!). I hope you and junior are building/flying something now in 2021! Cheers from Australia - Dave
Built one with my dad to airframe completion, no engine, avionics or finishing, been told that's about half way which seems reasonable. Then off to college and it kind of petered out. Sold it, he finished it, flew it for years, then sold it. Now someone else is enjoying it, and I got ONE flight. Feels like I need a T shirt, at least. Makes me wish we'd finished it, but oh, well. Have fun! Looks like it rolls nice! Looks like you (or someone) spent a GOOD bit of time finishing the tops of those wings! Looks great!
Love this! I noticed how good the reflections were of the hangars off the top of that wing... some nice manufacturing went on there! And for the first time I was picturing myself in one and wondering how wide her shoulders are and how long her torso... I'm a big bloke and wonder if I would fit. I am comfortable in an NC MX5, just, but suspect these are a little tighter!
The Long Ez is a fantastic plane. I built one in the 1980s and am now finishing off an abandoned project. It is very safe if you know the limits. The scare stories are largely fiction. The Denver crash was caused by unfamiliarity with an unauthorized modification to the fuel system. Not the fault of the design. Patrick Wareham.
The change to the fuel system was “not un-authorized” In fact the builder/mfg of that particular plane authorized it. That’s the beauty of experimental, you can do what you want. Denver’s crash was due to unfamiliarity with the plane systems.
@@judd_s5643. OK you are right, but the original plans called for the valve to be placed between the pilot's legs, so presumably that was considered to be the most suitable place for it. From what I read about the Denver crash, he pushed one rudder pedal while attempting to change tanks. That suggests that there was something amiss with the ergonomics of the changed position of the fuel valve.
Long Eze designed was caused by too many people installing O-335 engine in Vari-Eze. Rutan said 85hp engine was engine for Vari-Eze. Also too many pilots not used to squirrely and fast landing speeds. Too used to Cessna 150/Piper Cherokee docile landing speeds. Canard stalled on flare, one tip dipped down, touched runway, especially in crosswinds….airplane cartwheeled down runway. Also needed longer runway. Look it up Aviation Consumer magazine in late 1970s. I was building Vari-Eze. Stopped building it. It was such a problem , in one of his newsletters Rutan mandated a dozen hours or so in a Grumman Yankee before first flight. I was in Lancaster, Ca at time working on my commercial. Dozens of aeronautical engineers from Lockheed, Rockwell, McDonald Douglas, etc. building it. Locals renamed it Vari-Tedious…cause it took so long working with new epoxy systems in 90degree optimum temp in garage. Had to get liver tested periodically and wear face mask for safety.
Wow!!! Cool cool cool!! I'm guessing you need a pilot license?! Wow I'm just so impressed! I loathe flying commercial bec TSA scares me and their pathetically incompetent!! This looks like the way to go!!
Yes, there is a variant of the Long EZ that can be built as an LSA with relaxed licensing requirements (you can get a license faster and with reduced medical requirements).
Built one to a complete air frame, then got held up for a variety of reasons and sold it. Watching this makes me really wish I had finished it. My son used to crab about the fact that I didn't every time he saw one in the air. Sold it to a friend, he finished it and flew it all over the country. One of the few regrets in my life. Fun to watch, though. Looks like a beautiful bird, I can tell you spent a few minutes with the ole' sanding block. :-)
Nice video, nice editing. Thanks. Good habits, too. You made me stop and think about how I always strap in first thing. Now I may change to post-start or even after run-up for quicker evac in case of fire on start or other. I've owned lots of aircraft and have had all of them, including my first VariEze, inverted with the exceptions of the amphibs and the 'copter. About to purchase my next VariEze, so I'm watching all the Rutan aircraft videos. Just a note: unless there is something about 91.307(c) that I am missing, you might want to review it. Could be a tough sell to interpret her as a crewmember. Blue skies and tailwinds, my friend.
Wow! I'm not a pilot yet, but I have been fascinated by canard aircraft since the Wright flyer. Only question is which one? Long EZ? Cozy MKVI? Thanks for the fun video.
Amazing pusher, and no Stall ! I m fascinated by the EZ and other "Canard + pusher" design, but i guess none of these birds in Europe due to tighter regulation ?
Katz Rule! : Yes, you must hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate-Airplane in order to be the pilot in command of an experimental airplane. Until you get your certificate, ask for a ride from someone! You'll be amazed at how many pilots will gladly offer a quick flight. That's how I got a ride in an RV-7A! Talk about a fun flight and the owner wouldn't take a dime for fuel!
Joe C--- Your 1st sentence is incorrect and has been since 2004. There is now a lesser category of license called Sport Pilot. It allows you to fly any plane that fits the Light Sport criteria, whether experimental or certified. This means less than a certain weight & speed, and only 2 seats, no retractable landing gear, etc.
Jesus dude. Brutal much? It’s Van Halen Jump. I get that it’s not your bag, truly but, horrible? Like bag pipes and accordion? See? There are people who like both ya know? LOL, it’s just music. Now I’m dying to know what song you’d lay down for it?
Hi Daniel the canard is not a elevator, but it serves the the same purpose. Different terminology like a v tailed Bonanza has a stabilator. The canard provides pitch attitude for the aircraft as well as a front wing for lift. The first aircraft to fly also had a canard for pitch control. The Wright Flyer. Not sure if Glenn Curtis (of the Curtis Jenny fame) was the first to put tail feathers in the back, rudder and elevator. Seems like everyone copied that design and is now more conventional. I think that is why the Rutan designs look so futuristic but are in reality a very old design.
Some of these comments are real old...but I can't believe there are people who would A) complain about glorious Van Halen and Lenny Kravitz playing when everything is always copyright blocked on RU-vid and B) not know how to mute their device instead of whining. Great upload I want to fly in one of those now!
Yes, airplane noise is best. However this was a special purpose vid where the music was dictated. Interestingly the music in this video generates either love or hate, there seems to be no in between. Amazing how polarizing a music track can be! Or is it REALLY the music?
Why are you risking all those innocent lives below just for an acrobatic joyride? If something went wrong you'd kill so many people with that huge chunk of metal 😪
A barrel roll is (just barely) an aerobatic maneuver. You stay at one "G" and could be holding a cup of coffee in your hand (or a glass of beer) and it won't spill. I fly a LongEZ and have done thousands of barrel rolls. UTUBE: Bob Hoover doing a roll while he's pouring himself a glass of tea.
@@lesizmor9079 Unfortunately he is 40+, and he complete ignores the drone FAR's. The guy lives on Maui and thinks he lives in the "Kingdom of Hawaii". He is "da kine"....if you have ever spent time there.
