Flying The Stagger EZ

Video sponsored by Air Models
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David Williford takes us along for a ride in his beautiful Stagger EZ. It's called that because the right seat is placed aft of the front left pilot seat in a staggered configuration. I can't thank David enough for sharing his airplane with us so we could all learn what it's like to fly a Canard aircraft.
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[@unlisted773]

4 years later, and people like me are still enjoying this video. Very well done! Thanks for sharing your beautiful airplane with us.

[@BadBobV65]

I had to go back and listen twice. I thought I heard comm traffic with McKinney tower. I used to work there at McKinney Exec Air and flew my ultralight in and out of there before it was controlled. The Stagger Ez is a beautiful aircraft. Its too bad plans are not available now that I am nearer to building my own. Oddly enough, I helped a builder right there at McKinney finish out his Velocity and get it in the air.

[@malibujack4852]

I built a Velocity and it has full length rudders (N767SD). I also have the trailing edge fences and VGs. I also put my sparrow strainer “upside down” and these changes make the aircraft rock solid in stability at all speeds all the way down to stall at 67 knots.

[@CharlesAiresman]

Hey how about giving the builder designers name. It was the late Steve Write. Steve was one a huge part of the EZ community and an early builder of a Vrieze. He had an infectious attitude and went to all the events, even after he sold his VE while building the Sager EZ for about 10 years. Steve wore a straw hat and a big smile. He asked many questions about modifications others had made to their various EZ designs and would share all that he learned building the Stagger EZ.

[@gxlbiscuit]

This is one of my favorite planes.. Gorgeous!! Id get rid of both of mine for one of these.

[@u.s.patriot3415]

Because of the 2-place side by side seating that this variant offers, it will be our first test platform choice when mounting our (2) EDFJ to the back section of each wing, closet to the fuselage. We expect a combined static thrust of _______ pounds. 2nd choice is a Sonex Waiex B with tri gear. Goal is (2) hours of flight time with 30 reserve.

[@sblack48]

Can you fly it from the right seat? Are there rudder pedals. Interesting way to maximize shoulder room in a narrow cockpit. Dehavilland mosquito did the same thing. Winglets are usually towed in to load up the outboard wing to reduce induced drag which is the primary function of winglets on most airplanes. This is a standard practice on most winglet equipped airplanes like airliners. On canard airplanes they serve as the vertical stabilizers as well. The toe-in has very little impact on directional stability. The lateral stability would be dominated by the wing sweep and any wing dihedral, though it doesn’t look like there is much. I would expect the canard dihedral to be unnecessary and not make much difference.

[@docrw]

What a fantastic video and airplane!!

[@aeromagnumtv1581]

AWESOME! I had no idea that this side x side seating design was even available in a Rutan EZ type design. Thanks for sharing! (Mount Pleasant, only 90-minutes north of me).

[@ErikJohnston]

AEROMAGNUM TV the Velocity and Cozy designs are side by side as well. Might check those out

[@chrisc9611]

How does this differ from a cozy mark I’ve?

[@ginacalabrese3869]

He moved the mic boom to cough. Dude is clearly a pro.

[@aeroteslaaviationworks176]

Should you ever fly down to Frogmore International Airport, would love to see this aircraft.

[@hedonzx822]

Very nice plane, I think even without the baseball caps (Look-out limiting devices) the view ought to be spectacular 😬

[@buckbuchanan5849]

Beautiful plane

[@larrynoe6162]

A lot of builders are using vortices generators to counter the adverse lift in rain. (I know this is years later)

[@donjohnston3776]

We did a demo flight in a velocity. On take-off, my wife said "I want one".

[@DotBone89]

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

[@IntegralKing]

if my company ever IPO's, a Velocity will be my first purchase

[@bryanhauschild4376]

Would she call my wife?

[@pauljames1682]

Started with a Cozy, but there was no shoulder room.

[@willcarrera22]

Im about 30 mins out from Mount Pleasant, do you guys do any fly ins in the area

[@pendox99]

i could learn stuff from this pilot! thanks!

[@MegaScott]

Pilot David has a real gift for gab. Sounds like he really knows what he's talking about. The autopilot on this plane seems to work really well, can you tell us what brand of servos, and which autopilot he uses?

[@sarahwilliford6400]

MegaScott, the manufacture of the cylinders is a company called, Millennium. The main avionics is a Dynon Skyview Touch, and too the servos are made by Dynon.

[@MegaScott]

Thank you Sarah!

[@Aero360Aviation]

Very cool and interesting !

[@gmcjetpilot]

6:16 Lyc O-360 180HP has a compression ratio of 8.5 to 1 not 8 to 1.

[@jackt6112]

I assume that is a fixed pitch prop?

[@CharlesHess]

If it is so aerodynamically clean and efficient why not make the cockpit a bit bigger? Looks more cramped than a C150.

[@MrJamespcastle]

170 Kn cruise, that's why.

[@robertf863]

I wish they made these..it may get aftordable for me someday..then I could get back into flying.

[@venusreena2532]

Looks like a Velocity .. made in Florida

[@josephc.9520]

No it's one of a kind

[@tinolino58]

Happy pilot :-)

[@ssoffshore5111]

Cool and unique setup! What is your range in this plane?

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

So...who was flying it? Does it have an autopilot? The pilot didn't touch the stick.

[@Jack-ne8vm]

Great plane.I want one! Autopilot seems to keep pilots eyes inside the plane, though.

[@huangbinapple]

Is this a cozy Mark 4?

[@berniemccann8935]

Why no registration numbers?

[@berniemccann8935]

Oops. sorry, wasn't looking at the winglets.

[@russellhanson7415]

Jacket 90 that’s me lol!

[@jorgenelsonfelix52]

Hey guys this if you travel like a missile. I send a great greeting to all from Buenos Aires 😃👍👍.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Is this plane sold as a kit, or plans only, or both?

[@ErikJohnston]

RocKiteman _ 2001 it’s a one of a kind. There were plans to make it a kit but never happened

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

ErikJohnston >>> Roger that - Thanks!

[@sarahwilliford6400]

There are other EZ's that are very close to mine. I know of one that just came up for sale in Ft. Worth, TX

[@randysmith6493]

Very nice.

[@MrDavesbox1]

how about some shots of the panel in flight- looking at just you 2 got very old....lol

[@ErikJohnston]

Sgt Dave But I’m so dang good looking !!! Haha

[@59vaughn]

Wow....!!

[@kencohagen4967]

What is a stagger EZ and who makes it? I'm familiar with the canard designs, but have heard about this one. And Damn! Ten days on a newly designed prop! I mean he probably had the major part of the design down, but turning it into a pusher..... The staggered seating arrangement makes total sense. That would allow for big guys like me to fly the airplane and still have room for my best friend to fly along on the trip to Las Vegas, where everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! Lol!!!

[@MrDavidwilliford]

Ken, The Stagger EZ is a one off of a long EZ. It seats three instead of two in tandem. It's a plans built airplane. There are no kits for this airplane. Cato Propellers is a major manufacture of GA props.

[@jimbo7577]

@@MrDavidwilliford Did your wing come out of a mold? Very smooth!

[@MrDavidwilliford]

@@jimbo7577 No, the wings were not made in a mold. It's foam cores that are fiberglassed just like all Long EZ's are made. The process was developed by Burt Rutan. Lots of sanding makes them very smooth.

[@gmcjetpilot]

Music made me excited.. but engine sounds like lawnmower. Stagger seating is not new, Rutan did this, as did others.