Rutan VariEze

1975

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Rutan VariEze

Burt Rutan set up the Rutan Aircraft Factory in 1974 and set about radically altering the format of home-build light aircraft by designing and building the Rutan VariEze. The revolutionary design of the VariEze belied its simplicity. It was initially powered by a pusher Volkswagen engine (but later a larger Avco Lycoming type), and the wing configuration was forward canards with a swept and wingletted main rear wing. The secret of the VariEze's endurance lay in extensive use of lightweight composite materials. It and the later Rutan LongEZ were built in many thousands and used to break endurance records, as would the later Rutan Voyager.

Robert Jackson "The Encyclopedia of Aircraft", 2004

External links

Rutan VariEze

Specification 
 CREW1
 PASSENGERS1
 ENGINE1 x 100hp Volkswagen automobile engine
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight263 kg580 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan6.80 m22 ft 4 in
  Length4.30 m14 ft 1 in
  Height1.50 m5 ft 11 in
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed290 km/h180 mph
  Range1127 km700 miles

Comments1-20 21-40
JeskaSavage, e-mail, 24.07.2011 03:04

Alan Summers, I have a set of plans for the varieze. I'm pretty sure they are complete.

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AJ, e-mail, 09.09.2020 JeskaSavage

Hey, are your plans in digital format on computer? I have some templates but they don't seem very precise :(

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alan summers, e-mail, 02.05.2011 08:56

am looking for a full set of plans for varieze,any help would be apreciated....thank you

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Mary J P, e-mail, 08.02.2011 01:43

The VariEze I mentioned in a previous post as being for sale is not going to be sold after all. An earlier Will was found that leaves the plane to the deceased's brother. Thank you.

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Leon Rausch, e-mail, 06.02.2011 06:28

Rick Kipp, Some answers to your question: The balance on this light plane is such that when parked without the weight of the pilot the center of gravity is behind the main gear. Lowering the nose puts this unloaded center of balance in fromt of the main gear, and it will rest on its nose.
JOHN BENNISON Please call me at 214 349-6024 for information on my exciting aircraft. I flew it some 1300 hours from coast to coast and to the eclipse of the sun in Mazatlan, Mexico, and to the Bahamas in a flight of nineteen vacationers. This is not a "wierd" airplane when you reflect that the Wright Brothers flew a Canard Pusher, and the winglets of the Varieze were the first of a production airplane. I have been spoiled as a Delta Airlines parent and no longer fly the beauty.
JOHN: I built and flew my Varieze for some 1300 hours at a pilot weight of 230 pounds. Initial flight testing was done with ten pounds of ballast in the nose to meet the weight and balance requirements. After testing that weight was removed and weight and balance was never a problem.
WARWICK, Landing speed: My approach speed usually bled down to 70 MPH, and the landing distance varied with the headwind. Never an excessive landing roll! The Varieze design never "mushes and drops the canard." If there is a stall of the canard I have found that a one-degree decrease in the angle of attack of the canard brought it back to an unstalled condition and the plane was flying again without seeing a stall of the main wing. I hope I have been a help to each of you. N40LR

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Rick Kipp, e-mail, 05.01.2011 08:26

Why are they always pictured with the nose on the turf? Surely they have a retractable front wheel. Please answer this for me. Thanks, Rick

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Conrad Driussi, e-mail, 15.11.2010 04:22

I bought the plans for VariEze in the early 1970's and was awarded S /N 15. I Quickly found out that I was allergic to the resin and sold my plans and S /N to a fellow worker.

I have often wondered how the foam /glass /resin and paint has weathered the weather - the nasty sun and those damn UV rays. It was quite a concern in the early days and Burt came up with some sturdier materials. Now 40 years later, I would like to know how they've held up.

Any info would be appreciated.

ceedee

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Mary J P, e-mail, 29.10.2010 16:00

I saw Burt Rutan fly his incredible planes at Mojave years ago. My brother in law built a VariEze in the 1970's. It is disassembled and in a San Diego storage unit now, but available for a quick sale for very reasonable price. (estate sale) No reasonable offer refused. (619) 347-4994

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Stu Kingman, e-mail, 23.09.2010 06:18

I built my VariEze when I was in high school in 1979. Flew it for several years, sold it, then bought it back again. Family grew, so sold it again. Wish I had kept it... I continued my flying (and retired) as a Captain with American Airlines on the MD-83 in 1998. Flew the B-727,MD-80, B-757,and the B-767. None flew as nicely as Rutan's VariEze. Excellent reading with "The Complete Guide to Rutan Aircraft" - 3rd Edition by Don and Julia Downey (ISBN: 0-8306-2420-1)

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Immen David, e-mail, 28.05.2021 Stu Kingman

Stu? How are you doing? Shoot me an email sometime!
David

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John, e-mail, 11.06.2010 02:19

What would be the maximum front seat weight the Varieze would accomidate for a pilot.

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Jon Bennison, e-mail, 15.05.2010 08:04

I would love to know where i could get one of these beautiful kit planes. They look wierd but i just love the speed and the whay it flies.
Please let me know the website.

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warwick, e-mail, 18.04.2010 07:12

I would love to know more about this plane like the aproach speed for landing. and landing distance. what is the slowest speed it can be flown straight and level before it mushes and drops the cannard. I have only flown slower planes with conventional high wing design. Where can I find out more??? thanks Warwick

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carlos, e-mail, 06.03.2010 23:55

I flew my VARIEZE from 1077-2001. T was the most fun airplane I ever had the joy of flying. I finally donated it to a international relief Org, and dont have any idea what
became of it after that

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Joe Person, e-mail, 17.07.2008 18:43

The VariEze does not utilize a 100 hp Volkswagen engine. The plans-built VariEze was "sized" around the 100 hp Continental O-200. Any Continental engine from 65 to 100 hp was suitable. The 108 hp Lycoming O-235 was authorized by Rutan, with certain limitations. Any other engine installation was not specified by Rutan.

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1-20 21-40

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