imported>Tuulispiä: false information removed about record ( it was Gery Herzler 1984 who made the record ).

2025-05-10T15:02:04Z

false information removed about record ( it was Gery Herzler 1984 who made the record ).

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{{Short description|Homebuilt aircraft designed by Burt Rutan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = VariEze
| image = File:VariEze in flight.jpg
| type = [[Homebuilt aircraft]]
| national_origin = [[United States of America]]
| manufacturer = [[Rutan Aircraft Factory]] (plans supplier)
| designer = [[Burt Rutan]]
| first_flight = May 21, 1975<ref name="JAWA82 p564-5"/>
| number_built = 400+ (1982)<ref name="JAWA82 p564-5"/>
}}
[[File:F-PYHS-Rutan VariEze (cropped).jpg|thumb|On the ground]]
[[File:Rutan Model 33 VariEze - GPN-2000-001910.jpg|thumb|right|Langley wind tunnel]]

The '''Rutan VariEze''' is a [[glass-reinforced plastic|composite]], [[canard (aeronautics)|canard]] aircraft designed by [[Burt Rutan]]. It is a high-performance [[homebuilt aircraft]], hundreds of which have been constructed. The design later evolved into the [[Rutan Long-EZ|Long-EZ]] and other, larger cabin canard aircraft. The VariEze is notable for popularizing the canard configuration and moldless [[glass cloth]] composite construction for homebuilt aircraft.

== Overview ==
Work on the VariEze design, which grew out of Rutan's experience designing and building the [[Rutan VariViggen|VariViggen]], began in 1974. The first prototype, designated Model 31 and registered N7EZ, first flew on May 21, 1975 after four months of construction. This aircraft used a [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine|Volkswagen engine]] conversion. Three months later it was shown at [[Oshkosh Airshow|Oshkosh]] where [[Dick Rutan]] piloted it.

The aircraft was so popular at Oshkosh that Rutan redesigned the aircraft so that it could be sold as a set of plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Rutan%20VariEze%20Prototype.asp |title= Rutan VariEze Prototype |publisher=Air venture museum | access-date= 2010-12-05}}</ref> A second prototype, the Model 33, N4EZ, built using a larger wing, a [[Continental O-200]] engine, and many other detail changes, was shown at Oshkosh in July 1976 and plans were offered for sale. Approximately 2000 aircraft were under construction by 1980, with about 300 flying by late 1980. Ultimately more VariEzes and Long-EZs (a derivative, slightly larger design) were constructed than any other homebuilt type of the time. The sale of plans ceased in 1985.

Rutan's stated goals for the design included reduced susceptibility to [[departure resistance|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 (aircraft)|flaps]]. The holder of the [[CAFE Foundation|CAFE]] Challenge aircraft efficiency prize briefly was Gary Hertzler, set using a VariEze.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.cafefoundation.org/v2/main_story.php | title = CAFE Foundation | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080723165515/http://www.cafefoundation.org/v2/main_story.php | archive-date = 2008-07-23 }}.</ref>

The prototypes flew originally with [[Elevon|elevons]] on the canard for both [[Pitch (aviation)|pitch]] and [[Roll (aviation)|roll]] control but the design was changed to pitch control with the canard elevators and roll control with mid span wing [[Aileron|ailerons]] after a few aircraft were built.

While the airplane was resistant to pitch [[departure resistance|departures]], a few builders discovered a potential for a novel lateral departure mode resulting from one winglet stalling at large [[sideslip angle]]s. An outer wing leading edge droop (and later [[vortilon]]s 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 for other homebuilts; a review of the NTSB database<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/ | title = Aviation query | publisher = NTSB}}.</ref> from 1976 to 2005 shows 130 total accidents and 46 fatal accidents out of a fleet of about 800 (691 registered in 2005). Precise comparisons are difficult, however, because of the haphazard nature of data collection and analysis for accidents involving homebuilt airplanes.

The VariEze is subject to a 2.5g positive, 1.5g negative, maximum load factor limit applied after the discovery of problems with some VariEze wings.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.cozybuilders.org/Canard_Pusher/RAF_inspection.pdf | title = Canard pusher | type = RAF inspection service bulletin | publisher = Cozy builders | access-date = February 20, 2010}}.</ref>

In lieu of a parking brake, the [[Landing gear|nosewheel]] retracts and the nose rests on the ground. Referred to as kneeling, this eases access to the cockpit. Resting the nose on the ground also prevents the plane from tipping onto its rear when the pilot's seat is unoccupied.

==Specifications==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83.''<ref name="JAWA82 p564-5">Taylor 1982, pp. 564–565.</ref>
|prime units?=imp

|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=1 passenger
|length m=4.27
|length ft=14
|length in=2
|span m=6.77
|span ft=22.21
|span in=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=53.6
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=580
|max takeoff weight lb=1050
|fuel capacity=24 US Gal (91 L)

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Continental O-200]]-B
|eng1 type=air-cooled [[flat-four]] engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=100


|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=195
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=(max cruise)
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=165
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note= (econ cruise)
|stall speed mph=55.5
|range km=
|range miles=850
|range nmi=
|range note=at econ cruise
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1600
|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent

|see also=


|related=
*[[Rutan Long-EZ|Long-EZ]]


|similar aircraft=

|lists=


|similar engines=


}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* "Flying the VariEze", ''Air Progress'', April 1978.
* [http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19860067000 National Air and Space Museum VariEze history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402171042/http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19860067000 |date=April 2, 2011 }}
* [http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19890564000 National Air and Space Museum VariEze Kit Components] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409074515/http://nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19890564000 |date=April 9, 2010 }}
* [http://v2.ez.org/feature/F0412-1/fran.htm December 2004 EZ of the Month] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007204110/http://v2.ez.org/feature/F0412-1/fran.htm |date=October 7, 2011 }}
* [[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83''. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0748-2}}.
* [https://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/45mpg-at-207mph Getting 45 MPG at 207 MPH]
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%202676.html Rutan Technology in Europe] ''Flight International'' 1976

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Rutan VariEze}}

{{Scaled Composites}}

[[Category:1970s United States sport aircraft]]
[[Category:Canard aircraft]]
[[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]]
[[Category:Rutan aircraft|VariEze]]
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1975]]

Rutan VariEze - Revision history

imported>Tuulispiä: false information removed about record ( it was Gery Herzler 1984 who made the record ).