I was going to rename the design & call it CZX-540 and still might, but I think ViperEze540 is appropriate for my modified Cozy Mark IV. My engine is bigger cubic inch wise than the venerated Dodge Viper engine, so it started there. That and I just like the name...maybe put a variation of the Viper type Logo on the seatbelts etc. It's adolescent I know but what the heck. Yea, The stock Cozy exhibits some pretty impressive performance #'s up to 11,000 feet and Chris Van Hoofs exploits to over 29,000 feet and still posting 100 ft/min on the VSI with an 200hp O360 is uniquely impressive. Now put a 280+hp IO540 power plant in that 850 pound aerodynamically optimized airframe, give it it's air/near frictionless environment....and that sounds to me like a real PERFORMANCE machine. That is why I am headed in that direction. Chris Esselstyn reports his injected and EI'ed 540's fuel burn at 10k ft is about 10.5 gph at 200 knots,(230mph) so the slick Rutan inspired composite airframe contributes to an outcome that is fuel friendly as well. See below for aerodynamic considerations on the Cozy/Longeze aircraft. We 540 powered Cozy drivers will gladly dispute Mooney's "fastest" non-turbo-normalized claims. Yea, I know they are touting turbo'd, not to mention our airframes are nothing the same...a 540 Cozy has them at a distinct disadvantage. Heck a 360 powered Cozy IV vs. a 360'd Mooney isn't fair to that high priced Mooney either. For that matter, a 400 grand Cirrus Sr-22 lags behind a Cozy.
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Hey. Who is this guy?
"That's me in the mirror, standing in the spotlight". as the song goes.................my name's Dennis. I'm a California boy. Most of my life spent on the Monterey Penninsula. In this photo, I am working on the bottom of the fuselage on the aft end of the plane, fiber-glassing a major cooling inlet called a NACA duct. More at work photos on later pages.
Me; I am just a regular guy. 5'11, 195-210# depending on the season. Used to be a body builder back in the mid eighties. Was in Construction as a subcontractor or contractor for over 20 years. Watched all that blow away in the downturn of '06-07-08. Now in Real Estate. Opportunities have allowed me to make some good investments for the long term. Have had a real design-oriented bend to my life all along. Love fine architecture and sexy automobiles. Owned a beautiful wide-body Porsche Slant-nose 911, that seemed as wide as it was long. Beautiful fassssst machine. I like FASSSSSST! It's kinda in the blood because now my oldest Son(Ryan) races his own Blown Mazda against BMW's in their racing group,(he was just on the Laguna Seca race course last year). My youngest Son(Matthew) who is 18 is taking an interest in racing now as well.
Never built anything with fiberglass before starting on this airplane. My Dad always said I could pretty much figure anything out, and was good with my hands.I am not particularly cerebral, but design-wise/line wise, I am pretty adept. I think he passed all of it down to me in his genes. I wish he was still on the planet, to see it take shape...he would've loved this! Maybe he's looking down at me shaking his head!?
I think the way the plans are structured, you learn as you progress from chapter to the next chapter, and that is the genius of it. Things start simple and then you are ready for more complex work with the skill foundation you have developed.
Dang, if I can do it...YOU can do it!
Me; I am just a regular guy. 5'11, 195-210# depending on the season. Used to be a body builder back in the mid eighties. Was in Construction as a subcontractor or contractor for over 20 years. Watched all that blow away in the downturn of '06-07-08. Now in Real Estate. Opportunities have allowed me to make some good investments for the long term. Have had a real design-oriented bend to my life all along. Love fine architecture and sexy automobiles. Owned a beautiful wide-body Porsche Slant-nose 911, that seemed as wide as it was long. Beautiful fassssst machine. I like FASSSSSST! It's kinda in the blood because now my oldest Son(Ryan) races his own Blown Mazda against BMW's in their racing group,(he was just on the Laguna Seca race course last year). My youngest Son(Matthew) who is 18 is taking an interest in racing now as well.
Never built anything with fiberglass before starting on this airplane. My Dad always said I could pretty much figure anything out, and was good with my hands.I am not particularly cerebral, but design-wise/line wise, I am pretty adept. I think he passed all of it down to me in his genes. I wish he was still on the planet, to see it take shape...he would've loved this! Maybe he's looking down at me shaking his head!?
I think the way the plans are structured, you learn as you progress from chapter to the next chapter, and that is the genius of it. Things start simple and then you are ready for more complex work with the skill foundation you have developed.
Dang, if I can do it...YOU can do it!
WAS CURRENT STATUS...see below.
This is what I have built so far (back in 2009)... I have been put on hold until I get another place to work on my plane.
I can't wait to get it to a larger workspace so that I can join the spar and wings and start my fuel strakes. I have been on the Salinas Airport hanger list seems like forever.
I can't wait to get it to a larger workspace so that I can join the spar and wings and start my fuel strakes. I have been on the Salinas Airport hanger list seems like forever.
NEW HANGER at KSNS! After moving to my new hangar...work is commencing again!
I am in my hanger now and aligning my Centersection Spar and Wings for match drilling. First I started on the hangar floor, and then realized I needed to get everything high enuf to get under the spar tip access holes to tighten the holesaw bit on the 1/4" pilot shaft. Then the dance of the seven veils commenced to get enverything on the 17.4 waterline and level incidence ad infinitum. Cookie flew over from Hollister to check everything and put the final approval on things before I started drilling. I am drilling now!!! Great milestone!!!!
Why post John Denvers LONG EZE here?
Simple. I loved his music and he loved flying. Many who know flying said John was a gifted pilot with incredible natural ability. After flying and owning MANY different aircraft...John fell in love with this LongEze Canard aircraft, bought it, and had it rush-painted to his liking. Everything was in a rush as far as his relationship with this airplane was concerned. If he had added fuel prior to his "last short hop" he would still be with us....but he wanted to get airborne without delay, and it seemed he had enough fuel for just "one more time around " of "touch-and-goes".Instead he lifted off to meet infinity. Incredible as it was, I was stopped at the Canyon Del Rey stoplight and watched a Long Eze take off overhead as I was headed home that day from work. I didn't know that was him until the accident was reported on the radio several minutes later as I was entering Carmel Valley from Laureles Grade.
One thought I have had, is to paint my bird in a similar stripe design to his, but using metallic shades of gray colors, as my small nod to a great entertainer, and fine flyer. May John ride his Eagles and Horses, in the sky and on the wind.
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One thought I have had, is to paint my bird in a similar stripe design to his, but using metallic shades of gray colors, as my small nod to a great entertainer, and fine flyer. May John ride his Eagles and Horses, in the sky and on the wind.
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ROOM IN THE BACKSEAT!
Hey, who says the back seats are "tight" in a plans-built Cozy MarkIV? This is proof that there is plenty of room for the right-sized passengers back there! And this just happens to be the beautiful wife of Cozy1200's Drew! Looking good GIB!
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Slicking up an already slippery airframe.
1. Well Faired Main gear is number one. Some designs are pressure recovery.
2. Main gear leg fairings that are oriented with the airflow and elongated properly. See Wayne Hicks site. GREAT stuff Wayne!
3. See the tufting proof that Jack Morrison did on his Blended Winglets. No drag buckets at that intersection anymore!
4. Lynn Erickson's boat tail exhaust design. Do a search on this in the forums. Very aero modification. I have more on this in my Engine Section. This is a photo of Lynn's work. Big speed increase from Lynn.
5. Not shown. Attention to cooling air for engine and cowling work with regards to air-pressure. You can screw everything up or not.
6. I will be rounding the fuselage, and this lessening of abrupt angles I hope will contribute to a more slippery airframe. The way I am doing this, may also allow me to install additional air-brakes beyond the stock belly brake to help slow the aircraft down. Very interesting idea that occurred to me while working with the side shapes and I hope to incorporate via electric actuation similar to the belly brake. Some like to slip this aircraft to slow it, but this braking would negate that, I believe. CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW................
2. Main gear leg fairings that are oriented with the airflow and elongated properly. See Wayne Hicks site. GREAT stuff Wayne!
3. See the tufting proof that Jack Morrison did on his Blended Winglets. No drag buckets at that intersection anymore!
4. Lynn Erickson's boat tail exhaust design. Do a search on this in the forums. Very aero modification. I have more on this in my Engine Section. This is a photo of Lynn's work. Big speed increase from Lynn.
5. Not shown. Attention to cooling air for engine and cowling work with regards to air-pressure. You can screw everything up or not.
6. I will be rounding the fuselage, and this lessening of abrupt angles I hope will contribute to a more slippery airframe. The way I am doing this, may also allow me to install additional air-brakes beyond the stock belly brake to help slow the aircraft down. Very interesting idea that occurred to me while working with the side shapes and I hope to incorporate via electric actuation similar to the belly brake. Some like to slip this aircraft to slow it, but this braking would negate that, I believe. CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW................