I just received my notification from the web master (Thank you Rick!) that my application to participate on this web site has been approved. I’ve also received an email from Renee at Aircraft Spruce indicating what is required to procure the Cozy Info pack. This is the official kickoff then!
-----Original
Message-----
From: info@aircraftspruce.com [mailto:info@aircraftspruce.com]
Sent:
To:
Subject: Re: Cozy Info Pack....
The info pack is $10.00, please send your method of
payment and I will proocess your order ASAP.
Regards,
Renee
From: Israel Briggs
<israel.briggs.nq89@statefarm.com>
Date:
To: "'info@aircraftspruce.com'"
<info@aircraftspruce.com>
Subject: Cozy Info Pack....
Good
afternoon,
I'm
interested in learning more about the Cozy and would like the information pack.
I received this email address from the web site: http://www.cozyaircraft.com/.
Please let me know what you require in order to send me the package.
Thank
you and have a great day!
Izzy
In the early 80’s my father built a VariEze. So this effort is somewhat to carry on the legacy I suppose. Someday maybe my daughter will build the first Canard Re-Entry homebuilt.
Today is not the actual first day of interest in this production of course. I’ve thought about it for years then about 6 months ago I purchased a set of Cozy plans from an abandoned Cozy project off of eBay. They came in a big blue nylon carrying case that looked like something you might take to an Art class. Inside were two large tan covered banded documents that included the core aircraft plans. Additionally there were a number of newsletters that had various topics from suppliers to construction techniques. My friend Mike Bean and I looked over the plans and talked, or perhaps more accurately, dreamed about what it would be like to build then fly one of these.
My father, being very safety conscience would like me to consider the Jabiru line of products for a kit built. (http://jabiru.net.au/) His belief is that it has a slower landing speed and requires less fabrication time. I’ve looked at the plane and think it’s a good looking machine. I’m still considering it and at the very least looking at it’s certified engine. The Jabiru 5100 puts out comparable horsepower to the O-360. The Jabiru puts out 175 @ cruse and the smaller O-360’s put out 180 HP. The weight is also less as the Jabiru weighs in at 257 lbs on the ramp and the O360 weight at 270 dry. As another possible benefit, the 8 cylinder engine may run smoother than a 4 cylinder. But I acknowledge I need to do a lot more homework on this.
As for the configuration I’ve been thinking about, I would like to be as safe as technology will allow. After looking around, I found a LongEze that included a ballistic chute at the NOAA. http://www.noaa.inel.gov/Capabilities/longEZ/brs.asp. Among my many questions is “How can the chute be safely deployed without getting tangled up in a wind milling prop? So to avoid having to do some radical attitude maneuver or create some custom camshaft break for the engine I might install the engine with a constant speed prop that I could feather to a stop in the case of an emergency. With the reduced power and increased weight I’m quite sure I would lose a seat or two in the aircraft, but I think the safety margin may be worth it. I will have to be careful with the CG though.
Anyway, those are all questions I can answer later. For now, my pre-building learning begins. I’m finishing my last semester in college so I’m really hoping to get into the project deep this May. For now, I’m still in study mode. I think I’ll start a comprehensive review the plans I have, order the official plans in May and start a Microsoft Project plan to get some mental framework around all the tasks running around in my head.
What a cool thing to do.