<snip>

 The Long EZ prototype has (and has always had) a low compression
Lyc O-235 C2C.   It never outperformed Dick's 160 hp bird except in
range.  ("Pass everything but a gas station"). Actually, if they go high
enough, the big motor birds to OK on range,too.

 The LE Vne is 190 kts, IIRC, and some folks are exceeding that.  If you
stay in the 220 mph range you'll be about at Vne.  Gotta let you know it

gets

REALLY stable yet REALLY responsive to the controls at that speed.
Bump the stick to check for flutter and you rattle your eyeballs.  Vne
testing was about the hairiest part of the flight test program.

Note my initial comment - "A lot of "eyeball engineering" will work just
fine up
to about 150, perhaps 200 mph. When you start looking 300 mph in the

face,

the rules are changing and the laws of physics are extremely nasty."

I do try to be a voice of reason without putting too much of a damper on

the

fun people are having experimenting.  We need to make sure we have
T/Os and landings in a 1:1 ratio while developing interesting new

things.

Ya'll be careful out there!

Bill Freeman
Long EZ builder & pilot
BSME, MSME
EAA Technical Counselor

 Bill,

Thanks for correcting me on the O-235/O-200 thing. The comment I was
referring to was made by Dick Rutan in Canard Pusher 28. Dick stated that
Burt's Long out ran his on the first flight. Perhaps his prop was wrong, who
knows. The comment I made was based on an incomplete memory of Dick's
statement.

I agree completely with you Bill. When you start to go fast, failures tend
to be catastrophic and the margin for error is much less. Nasty things like
flutter start to become an issue over 200 mph. I would love to sit down and
discuss this issue with people who have experience with this airframe. As an
engineer who is perfectly aware that my soft, pink, mortal rear is in this
contraption, you can bet that much more than eyeball engineering will be
done. That is one reason that I was reluctant to post the internal cowl
layout, but Paul dared me. I couldn't let it escalate to the dreaded double
(red) dog double dare. (sorry Paul, couldn't resist) Bill, I would love for
you to critique and look at any design Ideas I have. One thing I have
learned is that it is best to have as many sets of experienced eyes on
something as possible.

Monty

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