Rutan VariEze

The Rutan Model 31 VariEze is a composite, canard aircraft designed by Burt Rutan. It is a fairly high-performance homebuilt, hundreds of which have been constructed. The design later evolved into the Long-EZ and other, larger cabin canard aircraft. The Varieze is notable for popularizing the canard configuration and moldless composite construction for homebuilt aircraft. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2185x1543, 625 KB) Rutan VariEze (UK registration G-VEZE) at Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire, England. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2185x1543, 625 KB) Rutan VariEze (UK registration G-VEZE) at Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire, England. ... Scaled Composites (often abbreviated as Scaled) was founded in 1982 in Mojave, California by famous aircraft designer Burt Rutan out of what used to be the Rutan Aircraft Factory. ... Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), is a composite material or fibre reinforced plastic made of a plastic reinforced by fine fibers made of glass. ... In aeronautics, canard (French for duck) is a type of fixed-wing aircraft in which the tailplane is ahead of the main lifting surfaces, rather than behind them as in conventional aircraft. ... Elbert Leander Burt Rutan (born June 17, 1943 in Estacada, Oregon) is an American aerospace engineer, noted for originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, energy-efficient aircraft. ... Also known as amateur-built aircraft, homebuilt aircraft are constructed by one or more persons for whom this is not a professional activity. ... Long-EZ belonging to NOAA The Rutan Model 61 Long-EZ is a homebuilt aircraft with a canard layout designed by Burt Rutans Rutan Aircraft Factory. ...

The first prototype, N7EZ, first flew on May 21, 1975 and was shown at Oshkosh later that year, where Dick Rutan piloted it to an under 500 kg class distance record of 1638 miles. This aircraft used a Volkswagen engine conversion. A second kit prototype, N4EZ, with a larger wing, O-200 engine and many other detail changes, was shown at Oshkosh in 1976, and plans were offered in July 1976. Approximately 2000 aircraft were under construction by 1980, with about 300 flying by late 1980. Ultimately, more VariEzes and LongEzes were constructed than any other homebuilt type of the time. Plans sales ceased in 1985. May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

Rutan's stated goals for the design included reduced susceptibility to departure/spin and efficient long range cruise; these goals were achieved. The use of a canard configuration allowed a stall resistant design, at the price of somewhat increased takeoff and landing speeds and distances relative to a similar conventional design with effective flaps.

The prototypes flew originally with elevons on the canard for both pitch and roll control, but the design was changed to pitch control with the canard elevators and roll control with mid span wing ailerons after a few aircraft were built.

While resistant to pitch departures, a few builders discovered a potential for a novel lateral departure mode resulting from one winglet stalling at large sideslip angles. An outer wing leading edge droop (or vortilons on some examples) was added to alleviate this problem, and rudder travel was reduced.

The design's stall resistance did not appear to translate to a lower accident rate than other homebuilts; a review of the NTSB database from 1976 to 2005 shows 130 total accidents and 46 fatal accidents out of a fleet of about 800 (691 registered in 2005).

History from: the Canard Pusher newsletter. Also see "Flying the VariEze", Air Progress, April 1978.

Fuel capacity: 25 U.S. gal (95 L).

Typical empty weight: 700 lb (320 kg).

Cruise speed: 160 kt (181 mph, 291 km/h) at 5.1 U.S. gal/h (19.3 L/h).

Range (at cruise speed): 575 nautical miles (650 statute miles, 1065 km). A nautical mile is a unit of length. ... A mile is any of several units of distance, or, in physics terminology, of length. ...

Max. Speed (level flight): 185 kt (210 mph, 340 km/h).

See also

• Long-EZ
• Beechcraft Starship

Long-EZ belonging to NOAA The Rutan Model 61 Long-EZ is a homebuilt aircraft with a canard layout designed by Burt Rutans Rutan Aircraft Factory. ... Beechcraft 2000 Starship (NASA) The Beechcraft Starship is a futuristic-looking aircraft designed by Burt Rutans Scaled Composites, and produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation. ...