Rutan Long-EZ

Rutan Aircraft Factory · United States · first flew 1979 · light aircraft

The Rutan Long-EZ is a canard-configured homebuilt aircraft designed by Burt Rutan of the Rutan Aircraft Factory, featuring a pusher propeller and composite construction. It offers exceptional range and efficiency for its class.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × piston, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Pusher propeller at rear of fuselage
T — Tail	No tailplane

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Canard pusher homebuilt with distinctive forward fins
Swept main wing with winglets and no conventional tail
Pusher propeller at rear of fuselage

Unmistakable canard pusher configuration with swept main wings, prominent winglets, and a forward canard surface; no conventional empennage.

Specifications

The Rutan Long-EZ has a length of 5.12 m (17 ft).
It has a wingspan of 7.96 m (26 ft).
Its maximum speed is 298 km/h (185 mph).
Typical crew: 1 pilot, 1 passenger.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1979 as an evolution of the VariEze, the Long-EZ became one of the most popular homebuilt designs ever, with thousands of sets of plans sold. Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager flew a modified Long-EZ on a record-setting flight before their Voyager circumnavigation.

Variants

The Long-EZ itself is a plans-built design; individual builders produce their own aircraft with minor variations, and several derivative designs such as the Cozy and Berkut have been produced.

Where you'll see it

Flown by private owners worldwide, the Long-EZ remains popular in the homebuilt community decades after its introduction.

Related aircraft

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