Rutan VariEzes of New Zealand

The next type of 2 seater homebuilt to come along was the very different Burt Rutan designed VariEze.  The VariEze was a sensation at the EAA flyin at Oshkosh in 1975 because it was so different.  In the later 1970s it evoked feelings that Star Wars had come to Oshkosh.

Burt Rutan designed the VariEze using lessons he learned from has earlier canard design, the VariViggen (of which we have had one in New Zealand).  It could not be stalled because the canard lost lift while the main wings were still flying, resulting in the nose going down and the aircraft resuming normal flight.  The VariEze also pioneered moldless composite construction.  The foam for the wings was cut out by a hot wire tracing around inboard and outboard wing templates, and then a fibreglass outer skin was applied.  Burt Rutan only sold plans for the aircraft and by 1979 over 3,000 sets of plans had been sold.  However, due to lawsuits in the USA, the sale of plans was stopped in 1985.  The original VariEze was powered by a VW engine, but soon the Continental O-200 became the standard engine of choice.  Also, the original control system consisted solely of elevons on the canard, but his was later changed to elevators on the canard with small mid wing ailerons.

The VariEze is a small aircraft with a length of only 4.32 metres (14 feet 2 inches), a wingspan of 6.77 metres (22 feet 3 inches) and a wing area of only 53.6 square feet.  With a O-200 engine it cruises at 165 mph, and it has a stall speed of 55 mph.  It is designed for efficient long range cruising but at the expense of a relatively high stall speed and longer take off distances.

Our first VariEze was Gary Forlong's ZK-ZAP (c/n GRF-1) which he built at Rotorua.  It was first registered on 24/10/80 and it also first flew on the same date.  The above photo was taken at Rotorua by Greybeard on 25/10/80, where it can be seen that Gary Forlong was in the electronics business.  It was badly damaged on 1/11/80 at Kaikoura - it was a long way from home after only having been rgistered for 7 days.

However it was rebuilt as can be seen in the above photo taken at the 1992 AACA flyin at Tauranga.

It was sold to MD Scotter of Kaiapoi on 5/4/95.  It is photo'd above at Christchurch by Grey Beard on 1/12/95.

And finally on 10/9/96 it was sold to MD Vincent of Waikuku and later Christchurch.  It is photo'd above at Wigram by Blue Bus on 5/4/09.  It is still current.

Our second VariEze was ZK-EZE (c/n AACA/325) which was built by Robert Taylor of New Plymouth, and was first registered to him on 15/12/86.

It has led a quiet life, still being owned by Robert Taylor.  The above photos were taken in 1987 at New

Plymouth, the only time I have ever seen it.

And out third VariEze was ZK-NCD (c/n AACA/439).  ZK-NCD was built bt Charlie Downs of Gisborne, and it was first registered on 27/10/88.  The registration reflects Charlie's initials.  Charlie was a topdressing pilot at Gisborne.  He also used to do some instruction for the aero club at Wairoa, and he would fly there and back in ZK-NCD.  The above photo was taken by Greybeard at the 1994 AACA flyin at

Paraparaumu, on 19/2/94.

ZK-NCD was sold to A Monnox of Lyttleton on 13/11/99, and it is still current.  The above photo was

supplied by Flyernzl, from Trade Me.

Our fourth and so far final VariEze was an import/export.  ZK-PND (c/n 695) was originally N47LG and was owned by David Kilbourne of California from 12/9/85.  Dave and his wife Pam immigrated to New Zealand in 2003 and settled in Waihi Beach, and first registered ZK-PND (for Pam n Dave) on 12/1/04.  It

is photo'd above at the 2004 SAANZ flyin at Tauranga.

Dave flew ZK-PND widely around New Zealand.  It is photo'd here departing the 2009 Wings Over Wairarapa airshow at Masterton.  Sadly, Dave Kilbourne passed away and ownership of ZK-PND transferred to Pam Kilbourne on 1/2/11.  Finally, it was cancelled on 15/8/12 and exported,  to where I do not know.

The VariEze had a unique profile.  Above ZK-PND flies over Parakai.

We have also had 2 LongEzes registered in New Zealand, that I will post next.  It may well be that there is another VariEze or LongEze lurking out there still being constructed.