KITPLANES Long EZ Walkaround Video

[@ronarmstrong835]

I got to see one of these at an EAA air show a few years back. The pilot told me that anyone who wants one of these should build it themselves. That way you know its built with no potentially dangerous deviations from the plans. Always loved the design.

[@babyboomer9560]

As long as you belong to the local EAA. Don’t try building it all by yourself without anybody looking over your shoulder. The more eyes on your project the better.

[@RichardJansen-j6q]

What a beautiful example of Rutan's design.

[@wesvasher]

Really beautiful Long EZ. These planes still look like they're from the future!

[@majorchungus]

That's because they are.

[@triskellian]

Beautiful work on your Long EZ! The fit and finish look terrific! I love flying this Burt Rutan design; they're so nimble and fast.

[@supersonique001]

Would love to buy a ready and sorted out one ! Stunning and futuristic design, lovely.

[@wayneblackler2818]

Beautiful Long EZ, Mike. All the best from Australia.

[@saiajin82]

So beautiful, I will own one of these one day.

[@Mitchelln99]

Did you get one yet?

[@williamssamuel3124]

@@Mitchelln99nop

[@iananderson1848]

Beautiful . First saw one in 1988 at the Bicentenary at Richmond RAAF base outside Sydney Australia . Just fabulous . From a fan in Qld . Great video about the front landing gear and elevators .

[@carlosa.avalle528]

I knew I had seen your airplane somewhere before. It was in this video. It was good meeting you and Mark at the Canards West Mike. I had even left you a comment 2 years ago, maybe even before I had mine!

[@desalegnem]

Amazing design and beautiful light weight airplane!!! It's an outstanding work after retirement.

[@jonathanfunnell4167]

LOVE THESE PLANES SEEN A COUPLE OF THEM AT AIRSHOWS

[@johnboylong40]

Gotta say as cool as the glass is I’m fonder of the gauges. Just don’t trust the glass and that’s probably unfounded but just how I feel. Beautiful aircraft!

[@jadams3427]

What an immaculate Long EZ !

[@TRabbit1970]

Simply fabulous example of a Long-EZ.

[@coyotekillermiller]

You did a fabulous job building that plane . Nice video as well.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

As a Varieze owner, I approve this message.

[@ATLRCFlyer]

I do too 😊

[@ThePaccarWhisperer]

Awesome plane!😎💪🏽

[@carlosa.avalle528]

Nice introductory video to canard airplanes.

[@venusreena2532]

Pleasure to hear an expert talk

[@rodbrown8306]

Beautiful and incredible little aircraft, would love to own one just like yours, .....enjoy!

[@DavidKozinski]

Beautiful aircraft and fantastic description .

[@lanselithgow5865]

Incredibly effective , efficient aeroplane. There were 2 of them temporarily staying at Bankstown airport , Sydney, Australia in 1986/87? ..on their way around the world! Think a British guy Whitcomb was the first to design , propose the winglet , but Burt Rutan was the first to fit & fly. Didnt he test it on his variviggen before the varieze?

[@skeeterjo1288]

So totally cool! Love sharing this video

[@panthros7395]

My dream plane.

[@Allbbrz]

Always loved it . Thanks for the video Mike.

[@Jhbv55]

Thank you sir for sharing this!

[@brucetouzel6484]

can you still land it if motor stops ?

[@Mikefngarage]

such a totally cool airplane I would love to build one if I can develop the time. I really have a hard time understanding why John Denver died in one. I guess maybe he didnt check the fuel and was flying at a really low air speed which is totally safe on this plane. My best guess is he was too busy enjoying the view and flying near stall and when he ran out of fuel(my best guess is that he did that and forgot to check the fuel status prior to takeoff). Otherwise this plane would have a nice glide and be able make a rough landing on the beach with that small nose gear.

[@KitplanesMagazine]

You can read the accident report here: www.avweb.com/flight-safety/close-up-the-john-denver-crash/. He was trying to switch tanks and basically flew into the ocean.

[@robertwood6238]

I dunno, you still wouldn't get me in one! Another guy I knew in Nashville, Tenn. built one and was flying it at the airport and had just taken off. Flew down to the end of the runway, went to bank and apparently went nose-down into the ground while banking! Killed him!

[@sblack48]

It won’t stall, but if you get too slow it will dive into the ground. Similar end result. Their accident rate is no better than conventional designs and it might be a bit worse because it requires some different techniques. Lots have crashed on first flights due to pilots not being used to the aircraft

[@crystianangelvalentin2768]

Can this plane install a ballistic parachute?

[@rayvaughn5658]

wow this guy is the best .......sweet

[@Bearcat01]

Can someone who’s 6’1 fit and fly this plane?

[@simoncorporation3]

Inspirational.

[@MaysHangar]

great video but why not use an extra battery as a ballast or use the nose as an extra luggage compartment to equal out the weight?

[@wesvasher]

Wouldn't that make it nose heavy once the pilot got in though?

[@MaysHangar]

@@wesvasher I would agree but wouldn't those canards always add an extra force of lift on the nose to balance the weight? instead of having to pitch up, stretching out the surface area of the canards would be just as beneficial no?

[@KitplanesMagazine]

You never want to carry any more weight than you have to. Rutan surmised, correctly, that the pilot will be on board for every flight, so he or she might as well be that ballast.

[@xpeterson]

@@MaysHangar Canards are notoriously difficult to design and then are very particular with their weight and balance. While the canard does contribute to the general aircrafts lift (unlike a conventional horizontal stab), the downwash it leaves in its wake negatively affects the main wing behind it (unlike a conventional tail where it helps the tail produce downforce). Increasing the wing loading on the canard will exasperate this problem, and increasing the canard size will exasperate this problem as well as potentially create destabilizing issues as the Aerodynamic center still needs to be aft of the CG center to keep the stability characteristics of the plane. Its a bit counter intuitive as there is almost a sense of stability that comes from having 4 lifting surfaces much in the same way that a car has 4 wheels, but canards are very finicky with their design.

[@EatPezzzz]

No need for a ballast when there's a pilot in the seat.

[@damianketcham]

She’s beautiful. Too bad they don’t sell plans anymore. I wanted to build one. I’ll probably build a Cozy or a RV-9A if I ever get the time.

[@damianketcham]

@@Fjord_Driver I heard from Ari Glantz’s site that there are some inaccuracies in the files that he checked with AutoCad. Not sure if they’ve been fixed.

[@superskullmaster]

Just watched an awesome video on flightchops about this plane.

[@shanethepain2009]

What dose the movable surfaces on the main wing do, aileron only or flaperons ?

[@EatPezzzz]

ailerons

[@bigbusa1]

why are the fuel gauges only visible to the passenger... assuming you even have one? How does the pilot see the gauges back there?

[@EatPezzzz]

Yes. The pilot can turn around and see them or most use a make-up mirror. But the 235 Long EZ usually only burns about 5 gallons/hour, so you just change fuel tanks every half hour, and you're good.

[@BixbyConsequence]

That type of gauge needs to be directly attached to the tank they're reading, and that's where the tanks are. Slightly inconvenient but simple, reliable and accurate.

[@wilsont1010]

Why he did he left out the speed brake?

[@spurgear4]

Nice machine. I have always wanted one

[@DavidGilesColorado]

I am getting one of these by the way when I find the right one

[@bryanhauschild4376]

So at 6gph, are you running 65%?

[@EatPezzzz]

6pgh is typical for any plane running a Lycoming 235.

[@wernerhoerning3915]

onde comprar o kit projeto

[@randygoodspeed6460]

how does one get the blue print?

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

Beautiful plane, but that wood prop makes me nervous. Why do they use that material instead of others?

[@EatPezzzz]

It's wood wrapped in fiberglass. All canard pushers use them to absorb the shock of flying in plane's wake. These engines were never designed to push.

[@wernerhoerning3915]

for sale?

[@FRIENDHORATIO1]

Very nice

[@brettanderson3461]

Did you know Robert Sudderth? He was my father in law, and built the Long EZ as well.

[@Mattblackaviation787]

Why do only the nose gear retract on some planes?

[@EatPezzzz]

The nose gear retracts because the empty center of gravity is very close (sometimes behind) the main gear. If no one is in the plane, it could tip over backwards when parked. Retract the nose gear, lower the plane, and you'll bring the center of gravity (vertically) forward of the main wheels. The main gear doesn't retract because there really isn't enough room for the workings to make the gear retract. There are some people who have done it, but it really cuts into the fuel capacity.

[@cantrell0817]

​@@EatPezzzzExcellent answer

[@johnmorrisnyagado6364]

Never met any on sale, any leads?

[@EatPezzzz]

Barnstormers, Facebook, Craigslist, Trade-a-plane. There's always a few for sale.

[@ExtremeRecluse]

Most are sold for the cost paid to build it

[@pdapdp7913]

They should sell those kits again. There's nothing as good today for the triple of it's price.

[@EatPezzzz]

These were never a kit, they're plans built. Rutan released the copywrites and now the plans are free online. Start building!

[@pdapdp7913]

@@EatPezzzz That made my day happier. So, is it feasible to find the components in today's market?

[@StepAttitude]

​@@EatPezzzz That made my Friday. I have a second hand printed set, but would appreciate a digital set. I started an E-Racer but never finished it. Maybe The second time with a long easy is the charm.

[@sblack48]

Sure, just plan on 4000 hrs or so. Have fun sanding

[@MartinSage]

I understand you sold it.

[@stevemiller2210]

Fuel gauge does not look to easy to see from the pilot cockpit

[@EatPezzzz]

Make up mirror makes it easy.

[@michaelrobinson1134]

I'm not an aerospace engineer but that prop looks like it's on backwards for a pusher....

[@johngranato2673]

Super

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

This is the type of plane John Denver died in. :(

[@EatPezzzz]

There's always one person who has to remind the world of this. Do you frequent the Beechcraft videos and remind everyone that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Randy Rhoads, and Jim Croce died in one?

[@tinolino58]

Ouhps the cruise speed is exaggerated 🙈

[@EatPezzzz]

Not really. A built 235 (assuming, as he said 118hp and 6.5gph) with a very clean cowling, pressure recovery pants, 180mph is quite realistic. Check out my "long EZ landing GYH" video. Video starts when I begin to slow down for landing, starting at 185mph

[@Wingnut353]

@@EatPezzzz Probably even better than that with the full retractable landing gear that you can get from infinity since that gets you 10-15mph conservatively (they claim 12% on a LE which is about 19-23mph) or maybe a little better at the same engine output. It probably depends on the prop also as the landing gear is disturbing air going into the prop decreasing it's efficiency.

[@EatPezzzz]

@@Wingnut353 While that is a good point, there is SOOOO little room in these planes for extra stuff, like the mechanics of a retractable main gear. I know Infinity sells them, but it would be a tight squeeze. I just finished a built 320 swap on my plane (formally 235). That woke it up!! ha.

[@rexdenemo5235]

Hi Folks, I sure wish some billionaire would invest in fuel injected, turbo-charged "Revolver Cylinder Engine" in a Long EZ Imagine flying at full power with over 360 hp. on a liquid cooled engine under 200 pounds of weight flying on 87 Octane Gasoline. With a tighter engine nacell, and a scoop radiator, it has less drag than the standard Long EZ. Sure wish someone would put that engine with a featherable pitch 4-blade adjusting prop. Yep, could probably fly 2,000 nautical miles without refueling, or with a 35 gallon back-seat tank, one could get another 1,000 miles for one passenger. Very respectfully, R

[@konradcomrade4845]

a college of Yours glued a row of little woolen threads on the canard, to instantly see when the laminar flow wants to turn tubulent. A trick copied from sailplane pilots!

[@wernerhoerning3915]

ninguen responde.

[@jlions72]

It doesnt scare you that John denver died in this type of plane because he could not reach the fuel switch over ..? hope they did something about that it shouls be right next to the pilot....!

[@ademirvanifaria5242]

$$$$$$$...?

[@darkstars101]

horrible placement of the fuel gauges.

[@babyboomer9560]

Reminds me of John Denver airplane. Bad spot?

[@MaxDamage-bh2os]

So, it`s fuel consumption is about 8 liters per 100 km on 300 km\h? Amazing! Damn, usa has such idiotic measure units...

[@dennisanonym8658]

yes, the imperial system is crap. I also think the metric system is better.