The Long EZ is a Fast and insanely Fuel Efficient Airplane To Own
462,639
Published 2023-05-20
In January 1985, it was announced that plans for a new canard were being offered, to eliminate "rain trim change" that had been experienced by Long-EZ pilots.[4] This trim change is usually a nose-down trim change experienced when flying into rain requiring a small aft force on the stick to maintain altitude, which is easily trimmed out, using the bungee trim system. The new canard was designed with the Roncz R1145MS airfoil, which produces considerably more lift than the original GU25-5(11)8 airfoil. This enabled the new canard to be designed with less span, reducing wetted area and thus drag. The new canard has a negligible rain trim, and rain adds only 2 knots to the stall speed.
The aircraft is designed for fuel-efficient long-range flight, with a range of just over 2,000 miles (3,200 km).[5] It can fly for over ten hours and up to 1,600 miles (2,600 km) on 52 gallons (200 liters) of fuel.[6] Equipped with a rear-seat fuel tank, a Long-EZ flew for 4,800 miles (7,700 kilometers) in December 1979, still, the record for aircraft weighing less than 1000 kg.[7]
The pilot sits in a semi-reclined seat and controls the Long-EZ using a side-stick controller situated on the right-hand console. In addition to having an airbrake on the underside, the twin tail's wing-tip rudders can be deflected outwards to act as auxiliary airbrakes.[6]
In 1996 Burt Rutan awarded TERF Inc. the job of publishing the plans for the Long-EZ and other of his aircraft under The Rutan Aircraft Factory CD ROM Encyclopedia to further assist new builders and maintenance for existing builders.[8][9] Some components for the design are supplied by Aircraft Spruce & Specialty.[10]
#experimentalaircraft #aircraft #aviationlovers
Experimental electric motor power installation
In 1997, Dick Rutan and Mike Melvill flew in convoy around the world in two Rutan Long-EZ aircraft that they had built. This "around the world in 80 nights" flight was called The Spirit of EAA Friendship World Tour, and some legs of it lasted for over 14 hours.[11]
All Comments (21)
-
"As the case goes with aviators, I got divorced, started flying again." Appreciate the honesty and the chuckle.
-
The aviator you interviewed sounded like a professional TV personality! Such a passionate conversation
-
1,600 miles in ten hours? That's about right. I flew my 290 powered Long EZ from Hood River, OR to Oshkosh, 1,610 statute miles, nonstop in under 8 hours with a 12-15 MPH average tailwind. I was at 17,500' for seven hours.
-
The Rutan organization = genius. I have been enamored with them since they were featured on a science or PBS program in the 80s.
-
Amazing aircraft. That tiny thing will take you 1,000 miles, and quickly! People, please stop saying this plane model killed John Denver. This is irresponsible and not true. The plane had been modified from the original plans, and Denver made mistakes. Saying it killed him is like saying a modified car killed someone while they were fiddling with the radio buttons and not paying attention to the road. Even with the fuel switch not in the place where the plans dictated, it was still pilot error. The plane had been working fine for the previious owner. Use some intelligence and critical thinking instead of parroting everything you are told. You can read the incident report yourself, which is the right thing to do if you REALLY want to get the facts, rather than trashing the reputation of the plane, and its designer, by being maliciously ignorant and lazy and contributing to the stupid half of the internet.
-
Gets 32mpg!! Better than my Honda CRV. And that's at 160mph cruise speed! Wow
-
My father and I built one of these to a finished air frame, which I understood from other builders was about 1/2 way, time wise. We then sold it, and the guy we sold it to did the engine, avionics, and finishing work and flew it all over heck and back. Another guy in Indiana now owns it. Nice looking build here, I've seen a few that look like they were cut our with a hatchet and the epoxy and glass was thrown on from across the room. My son still gives me grief when I bring up the subject for selling it. He got a ride after it was finished. That was my second mistake. :-) I told him he could build his own, and I would help. Nada, so far.
-
“You’re not filming anymore are you?” Some fun was definitely had
-
1981. Traveling from Alaska to So Cal. Pulled off the Hyway going thought Mohave after seeing airplanes. Ended up at the Rutan hanger and they invited me to look around after quick hello. There were a couple EZs outside and the first Long EZ (I think) inside. Really nice to a airplane enthusiast passing though.
-
In the late 80s I took a commercial flight to Ayres rock in Australia and there was a Long Eze parked there. I had a chat with the owner who had flown from Adelaide (about 1,200km) to collect his girlfriend. What amazed me was that he didn't need to refuel to complete the return. I'm a XC glider pilot, so I love all airplanes especially that one.
-
I knew a guy with a Velocity RG,a Long EZ inspired canard. He routinely made 700+ mile flights without refueling. Amazing aircraft design from Routan.
-
Used to service these Mid Eighties - it is in fact the perfect design - so much so Beechcraft built a multimillion twin pusher turbo fan business jet. The nose gear needs redesign is about the only weak point. Cheers
-
A friend of mine had one of those and I got to ride in it once. The Long EZ is such a cool plane and very efficient and nimble.
-
One particular flight in my B36TC, I was cruising at 12,000, 170 mph on a 350 mile leg to a gathering of Beech owners. On my TCAS I saw a target at my 6, closing fairly rapidly. I contacted him, he had my airplane in sight and said he’d pass at +100 on my right. I was thinking it was a twin, maybe a Mooney cruising at max power since I was well into my turbo at 80%., 24 squared.. As he passed me, I saw it was a Long EZ. I complimented the pilot on both speed and looks, he came back, chuckled and said he was “just putting along”. I’ll never forget that, and he left me far behind. Great airplane, genius design. Never have flown one but I’ll bet they are fun.
-
So it gets 30 MPG. That's insanely good.
-
Enjoyable video review and flight! I had an opportunity to fly one many years ago and had a blast. I love that a Long EZ has excellent performance with modest power. Pretty cool that this one is IFR!
-
cool. Burt Rutan was way ahead of his time.
-
My dream plane ✈️ , for sure! Owner gave the whole nine yard description.
-
The Long Eze was the more commercialized slower, heavier, roomier version of the efficiency winning Veri EZE, which was 1/2 the weight of the Long. The Veri Eze didn’t have a starter to save weight we hand propped them!! The original ones built straight and very well were exceptionally light had no trim tabs and ran 180-190knots in the 70-75% power range typically on old remanufactured 100hp Lycomings. The biggest challenge was getting a good high pitch prop. We had a Rutan Prop designed for high cruising speeds which made taking off interesting. The prop wouldn’t actually bite till about 60knots at which point it felt like getting kicked in the back side when it finally bit air. 90 was minimum rotation speed.
-
Beautiful aircraft! Great looks and performance. I'm envious!!
