| Long-EZ | |
|---|---|
| Long-EZ belonging to NOAA | |
| Role | Homebuilt aircraft |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Rutan Aircraft Factory |
| Designer | Burt Rutan |
| First flight | June 12, 1979[1] |
The Rutan Model 61 Long-EZ is a homebuilt aircraft with a canard layout designed by Burt Rutan's Rutan Aircraft Factory. It is derived from the VariEze, which was first offered to homebuilders in 1976. The prototype, N79RA[2] of the Long-EZ first flew on June 12, 1979.
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Changes from the VariEze include a larger main wing with modified Eppler 1230 airfoil and less sweep—the canard uses the same GU25-5(11)8 airfoil as the VariEze—larger strakes containing more fuel and baggage storage, slightly wider cabin, and the ability to use a Lycoming 108 hp engine with no nose ballast. Plans were offered from 1980 to 1985. As of late 2005, approximately 700 Long EZ's are FAA registered in the USA.
The aircraft is designed for fuel-efficient long-range flight, with a range of just over 2,000 miles (3,200 km).[3] It can fly for over ten hours and up to 1,600 miles (2,600 km) on 52 gallons (200 liters) of fuel. Equipped with a rear-seat fuel tank, a Long-EZ has flown for 4,800 miles (7,700 kilometers).
The pilot sits in a semi-reclined seat and controls the Long-EZ by means of 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.
In 1997 Dick Rutan and Mike Melvill flew two Long-EZ aircraft on an around the world flight. Some legs of this flight extended over 14 hours in the air.
XCOR Aerospace modified a Long-EZ and replaced the engine with twin liquid fueled rocket engines to form a flight test vehicle called the EZ-rocket, which was used as a proof-of-concept demonstrator. Initially, a follow-on version called the "Mark-1 X- Racer, was going to be developed for the Rocket Racing League,[4] but the Velocity SE was subsequently selected as the airframe for the Rocket Racer, rather than the Long-EZ.[5][6]
Ivan Shaw built a Long-EZ and then converted it into a "Twin-EZ", an aircraft with twin wing-mounted Norton wankel engines (precursors to the MidWest AE series).[7] Shaw, a Yorkshireman, later designed the Europa XS kitplane.
Singer-songwriter John Denver died while flying a LongEz on October 12, 1997. The NTSB believes that he inadvertently pushed on his right rudder pedal while twisting to the left in his seat as he struggled to operate the fuel selector valve.[8] Contributing factors in the crash were other pilot errors, a design that led to an overly optimistic pre-flight fuel-check estimate,[9] a known defective (very hard to turn) fuel valve, and non-standard placement of the fuel selector valve by the kit plane's builder, at variance with Burt Rutan's specs.
Denver was aware of the faulty valve prior to take off and had previously flown the aircraft only for approximately thirty minutes in an orientation flight the day before the accident, although he was an experienced pilot. The NTSB cited Denver's unfamiliarity with the aircraft and his failure to have the aircraft refueled as causal factors in the accident.[8] The aerodynamics of this unusual aircraft did not play a role in Denver's crash.
The author James Gleick crash-landed his Long-EZ at Greenwood Lake Airport, in West Milford, New Jersey in 1997.[10] Gleick was seriously injured and the passenger, his 8-year old son Harry, was killed.[11]
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[1]
General characteristics
Performance
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