How Much Does A Rutan Long EZ Cost?

If you’re in the market for a unique and high-performing home-built airplane, the Long Easy might be just what you’re looking for. Designed by the legendary Burt Rutan, this plane is made almost entirely from fiberglass-wrapped foam and is known for its speed, range, and long runway requirements.

With two engine options, the Homing O235 and O320, the Long Easy can reach impressive speeds and has a range that varies depending on the engine. The purchase price and operating costs are relatively low, making it an attractive option for those looking for an affordable yet high-performing plane. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Long Easy, including its engine specifications, weight capacity, runway requirements, purchase and operating costs, insurance options, fuel consumption, comfort and accommodation, and final thoughts.

Key Takeaways

• The Long Easy is a unique and high-performing home-built airplane designed by Burt Rutan.
• With two engine options, the Homing O235 and O320, the Long Easy can reach impressive speeds and has a range that varies depending on the engine.
• The purchase price and operating costs are relatively low, making it an attractive option for those looking for an affordable yet high-performing plane.

The Long Easy Overview

If you’re looking for an unusual home-built airplane with great performance, the Long Easy is worth considering. Designed by Rutan and sold only as plans, the Long Easy is built by individuals from fiberglass wrapped foam. It’s a Canard and a pusher, which makes it pretty fast and very light. Most Longs are painted white to minimize heat from the sun, and it’s known for its long range.

The range varies depending on the engine, with the Homing O235 and O320 being the most common. The O320 is faster and climbs quicker, but it burns more fuel and shortens the runway requirements. The maximum takeoff weight is 1425 pounds, and the maximum landing weight is 1325 pounds, although some people fly overweight.

The Long Easy is inexpensive, but that doesn’t reflect its performance. Operating expenses are reasonable, and experimental retract isn’t a great way to fill out your insurance application, but the very low Hull value tips the tails back in your favor. Fuel burns range from five to nine gallons depending on the engine and power settings.

The Long Easy is drenched with character and style, but it’s not especially accommodating to big and tall pilots. Average-sized pilots will have no issue, but the rear seat should be reserved for the especially petite and young. Overall, the Long Easy is a standout in every category, mostly in good ways.

Engine Specifications

The Long Easy is powered by either a Homing O235 or O320 engine, with the latter being more common. The O320 engine provides faster speeds, climbs faster, and has a shorter runway requirement, but also burns 30 to 40 percent more fuel. The range of the Long Easy varies depending on the engine, but it is known to have a very long range. Fuel burn ranges from 5 to 9 gallons depending on the engine and power settings. The maximum takeoff weight is documented to be 1425 pounds, while the maximum landing weight is 1325 pounds. However, some pilots fly overweight, with documented cases of loading up to 2000 pounds, although this is rare. Despite this, there have been no reported cases of structural issues during flight.

Weight Capacity

When it comes to the weight capacity of the Long Easy, there are a few things to keep in mind. According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), the maximum takeoff weight is 1425 pounds, while the maximum landing weight is 1325 pounds. However, it’s worth noting that some pilots have been known to fly overweight, with documented cases of loading up to 2000 pounds. While this is rare, it’s not uncommon for pilots to fly with a weight of 1600-1700 pounds.

Despite this, there have been no reported cases of structural issues during flight. However, landing can be an issue when flying overweight, and takeoff roll is dramatically affected. It’s generally accepted that the Long Easy loves a long, smooth runway, and a bigger engine can help shorten the required length.

In terms of fuel burn, the Long Easy burns between 5-9 gallons depending on the engine and power settings. Operating expenses are quite reasonable, and experimental retract isn’t a great way to fill out your insurance application, but the very low hull value tips the tails back in your favor. One insurer mentioned they wouldn’t provide in-motion comprehensive insurance, only liability.

Overall, the Long Easy is an unusual home-built airplane that offers great performance and character at an affordable price. While it’s not especially accommodating to big and tall pilots, average-sized pilots will have no issue. However, the rear seat should be reserved for the especially petite and young.

Runway Requirements

When it comes to the Long Easy, a long, smooth runway is ideal for takeoff and landing. The length of the runway required can vary depending on the engine, with the most common engines being the Homing O235 and O320. The O320 engine is faster and climbs quicker, but also burns 30-40% more fuel.

The maximum takeoff weight for the Long Easy is 1425 pounds, with a maximum landing weight of 1325 pounds. While some pilots may fly overweight, it is generally accepted that staying within these weight limits is best for safety. Overloading can affect takeoff roll and landing, which can be dangerous.

Despite the importance of a long runway, one of the biggest draws of the Long Easy is its affordability. These planes are inexpensive to purchase and operate, making them a great option for pilots on a budget. Fuel consumption ranges from 5-9 gallons depending on the engine and power settings.

Overall, the Long Easy is a unique and exciting aircraft that offers great performance and style. While it may not be the most accommodating for larger pilots, average-sized pilots should have no issues. The rear seat is best reserved for smaller passengers.

Purchase and Operating Costs

If you’re considering purchasing a Long Easy, one of the biggest draws is the purchase price. These planes are relatively inexpensive, but that doesn’t reflect their performance at all. The reason for the low cost is simply because there isn’t a huge demand for such an unusual home-built airplane.

Operating expenses for a Long Easy are quite reasonable. Fuel burns range from five to nine gallons, depending on which engine you have and your power settings. The actual range of the plane varies quite a bit depending on the engine, with the most common being the Homing O235 and O320. The O320 is faster and climbs more quickly, but it also burns 30 to 40 percent more fuel than the O235.

Experimental retract isn’t a great way to fill out your insurance application, but the very low hull value tips the tails back in your favor. One insurer we spoke to said that they wouldn’t provide in-motion comprehensive insurance, only liability. However, EA AAA insurance said that they would.

The maximum takeoff weight for the Long Easy is 1425 pounds, and the maximum landing weight is 1325 pounds. While it’s generally accepted that some folks fly overweight, it’s important to note that the POH specifies these weights. Loading up to 2000 pounds is rare, but 1600 or 1700 pounds is not unheard of. Despite this, there are no reported cases of structural issues during flight. However, landing is the most likely issue with flying overweight, and the takeoff roll is dramatically affected for the Long Easy.

All in all, the Long Easy is a unique and affordable home-built airplane with great performance. While it may not be especially accommodating to big and tall pilots, average size pilots will have no issue flying it. The rear seat, however, should be reserved for the especially petite and young.

Insurance Options

When it comes to insuring your Long Easy, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, due to the fact that the Long Easy is a home-built airplane, it may not be eligible for traditional aircraft insurance. Some insurers may only offer liability coverage, while others may not offer in-motion comprehensive insurance at all.

Additionally, the low Hull value of the Long Easy can work in your favor when it comes to insurance costs. However, it’s important to note that experimental retract may not be the best way to fill out your insurance application.

Fuel burn for the Long Easy varies depending on the engine, with an average of five to nine gallons per hour. Operating expenses are generally reasonable, and the purchase price of the Long Easy is relatively low.

Overall, while insurance options for the Long Easy may be limited, the low Hull value and reasonable operating expenses make it an attractive option for those looking to own an unusual and high-performing home-built airplane.

Fuel Consumption

The fuel consumption of the Long Easy varies depending on the engine. The two most common engines used are the Homing O235 and O320. The O320 is faster than the O235 by about 10 to 20 percent but burns 30 to 40 percent more fuel. The O320 also has a faster climb rate. The fuel burn rate ranges from 5 to 9 gallons per hour depending on the engine and power settings.

It’s worth noting that the Long Easy is a home-built airplane and as such, the maximum takeoff and landing weights can be customized. While the POH states that the maximum takeoff weight is 1425 pounds and the maximum landing weight is 1325 pounds, some pilots have flown overweight. However, it’s important to keep in mind that flying overweight can affect the takeoff roll and landing, and can be risky.

Despite the differences in fuel consumption between the two engines, operating expenses for the Long Easy are quite reasonable. Experimental retract isn’t the best way to fill out your insurance application, but the low hull value does help keep insurance costs down.

Overall, the Long Easy is an affordable and unique home-built airplane with great performance and range. While it may not be the most accommodating to larger pilots, it’s a great option for those who appreciate character and style in their aircraft.

Comfort and Accommodation

The Long Easy is a unique home-built airplane that offers great performance and style. While it may not be the most accommodating aircraft, average-sized pilots should have no issues flying it. The rear seat, however, is better suited for smaller individuals.

The Long Easy is made almost entirely from fiberglass wrapped foam, which keeps it light and durable. Most Longs are painted white to minimize heat from the sun, which helps to maintain a comfortable cabin temperature.

One of the biggest draws of the Long Easy is its inexpensive purchase price. Despite its unique design and great performance, there isn’t a huge demand for this unusual home-built airplane. Operating expenses are also quite reasonable, making it an affordable option for pilots.

The Long Easy has a maximum takeoff weight of 1425 pounds and a maximum landing weight of 1325 pounds. While some individuals fly overweight, it’s generally accepted that the recommended weight limits should be followed to avoid issues during takeoff and landing.

Fuel burns range from five to nine gallons depending on the engine and power settings. The range of the Long Easy varies depending on the engine, with the most common engines being the Homing O235 and O320.

Overall, the Long Easy is a great option for pilots who appreciate unique design and great performance. While it may not be the most accommodating aircraft, it offers a comfortable cabin and reasonable operating expenses.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for an unusual home-built airplane with great performance, the Long Easy is a standout in every category. It’s a bird Rutan design sold only as plans, which means everyone was scratch built by individuals. The Long Easy is made almost entirely from fiberglass wrapped foam and is a Canard pusher that’s pretty fast, very light, and has very, very long range.

The range actually varies quite a bit depending on the engine, of which there are two that power most Longs, like Homing o235 and o320. Both 320 is about 10 to 20 percent faster and burns 30 to 40 percent more fuel. It also climbs quite a bit faster, but probably the most important difference with the 320 is how much it shortens the runway requirements.

One of the biggest draws of the Long Easy is the purchase price. These planes are inexpensive, but that is not a reflection of performance at all. There just isn’t a huge demand for such an unusual home-built airplane. Operating expenses are quite reasonable, and experimental retract isn’t a great way to fill out your insurance application, but the very low Hull value tips the Tails back in your favor.

Fuel burns from five to nine gallons depending on which engine in your power settings. The Long Easy is drenched with character and style, while it’s not especially accommodating to the big and tall, average size Pilots will have no issue. The rear seat, however, should be reserved for the especially petite and young.

All in all, the Long Easy is a fantastic airplane. It’s weird and drenched with character, but that’s something you’ll appreciate in an airplane. If you’re able to close the canopy with you inside, you’ll love it even more.