FUSELAGE

The Long EZ

FUSELAGE

The journey to Oshkosh begins with the first layup.

Construction begins with the completion of the fuselage bulkheads, here the F22 bulkhead is visible. The canard will attach to this bulkhead. Behind it are the instrument panel, front seat back, rear seat back, and firewall. In front of this photo, is the F28 doubler bulkhead. Note: the fuselage is upside down in this photo.

These are the fuselage sides after cure. The circle depression on the right side is made for the stick to have room for left/right travel. If you look close, you will notice I measured wrong and put the depression too far forward and had to make a new depression in the right location.

After making sure the fuselage sides and bulkheads are square, they are glassed together using epoxy, then clamps hold everything in place and allowed to cure. The fuselage is still upsidedown.

Foam is then added to complete the nose. The prototype had a short stubby nose, many people add a longer nose section. I added blocks of foam to the forward of nose gear bulkhead, and then started sanding. The plans say to add foam and then "sand until its shape pleases you"

This is the nose gear retract cover. The starter relay and master relay have been added. The positive lead power bus is on the left side of the nose box and the wiring is just starting to be added. The battery will fit in that square space to the right.

The bulkheads, fuselage sides and fuselage bottom have all been fitted together and the fuselage is turned right side up. Notice the triangular shaped pilot's headrest is also complete.

I sanded until its shape "pleased me" The nose wheel was added, and on December 17, 2001 the girl was flipped over and for the first time stood on her own three legs. It was then wheeled out in the driveway for the neighbors to walk over and say "hey, is this going to be a real airplane or what?"

Six year old McLane logging some PIC garage time.

I finally outgrew my garage and the fuselage was placed onto a car carrier and moved to the CCF, (Canard Construction Facility), which is a workshop near the house. You will notice a rotary engine mounted. This was later removed to simplify construction.

Fuselage page 2