The Rutan Long-EZ is a two-seat canard pusher that Burt Rutan's Rutan Aircraft Factory designed for efficient, long-range flying. It was never sold as a factory kit. Builders bought plans and instructions, then sourced foam, fiberglass, epoxy, hardware and an engine themselves, so every Long-EZ on the market is an individual homebuilt aircraft. That changes what "cost to own" means: the price you pay depends mostly on how well a particular airplane was built.
Key Takeaways
- The Rutan Aircraft Factory ceased operation in 2004. KITPLANES says plans remain available in unused or partly used form from former builders, and about 700 Long-EZs are registered in the U.S.
- The design centers on a 115 hp Lycoming O-235. Larger Lycoming O-320 and O-360 engines were fitted by builders who wanted more performance.
- AOPA's Aircraft Guide lists a price range of $30,000 to $50,000, and the airplane carries 52 gallons of fuel.
- Condition matters more than the listed price: weight, delamination, fuel tank damage and undocumented engine changes are the main risks.
What the Long-EZ Is
KITPLANES describes the Long-EZ as designed around the Lycoming O-235 engine, with a longer, sleeker fuselage and larger wing than the VariEze. It is built with Rutan's moldless foam-core method: high-density foam is hot-wired to shape and covered in fiberglass and epoxy. The forward canard holds the nose up, trim drag is low, and the design is described as essentially stall and spin resistant.
Long-EZ figures (AOPA Aircraft Guide, IO-320 configuration, and KITPLANES)| Item | Figure |
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| Wingspan | 26 ft 1 in |
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| Length | 16 ft 10 in |
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| Height | 7 ft 10 in |
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| Wing area | 81.99 sq ft |
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| Fuel capacity | 52 gallons |
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| Cruise, AOPA guide, Lycoming IO-320 160 hp, 75 percent power | 184 mph |
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| Service ceiling, AOPA guide | 27,000 feet |
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| Range, AOPA guide | 1,746 nautical miles |
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| Cruise with the O-235, KITPLANES | 150 to 160 knots true airspeed |
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| Cruise with the O-320 or O-360, KITPLANES | upwards of 200 knots |
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| Climb, KITPLANES | about 1,500 fpm with small engines, 2,000 fpm or more with the bigger Lycomings |
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| Touchdown speed, KITPLANES | about 65 mph |
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KITPLANES says the 52 gallons let the airplane stay aloft as much as 10 hours. That works out to 5.2 gallons per hour at best, which is our arithmetic and a best case, not a typical figure. Actual fuel burn depends on the engine and power setting.
Getting One: Plans, Parts and Used Airplanes
The Rutan Aircraft Factory sold plans and instructions only, and a bill-of-materials package was offered by the major homebuilt supply houses. The company ceased operation in 2004. TERF Inc. has secured the rights to publish former RAF materials, and support comes from the Canard Owners and Builders Association, Squadron III and the Rutan Aircraft Flying Experience organization, according to KITPLANES.
Aircraft Spruce lists Long-EZ components rather than a kit. Items on its page include:
Long-EZ parts listed by Aircraft Spruce| Item | Price |
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| Wood kit | $354.18 |
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| Hardware kit | $696.04 |
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| Plumbing and conduits kit | $107.70 |
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| Miscellaneous items kit | $2,067.34 |
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| Exhaust system, with heat exchanger | $2,599.00 |
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| Exhaust system, without heat exchanger | $3,449.00 |
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The foam, cloth and epoxy are not included in those listings, and neither is the engine, propeller, instruments or paint. Anyone pricing a scratch build should add those from current quotes. For most people, buying a finished airplane is the practical route.
What to Check Before You Buy
KITPLANES' used-buying guide, drawing on advice from experienced canard builders, lists these checks:
- Empty weight. Excess weight cannot be fixed. An O-235 airplane should weigh about 850 pounds without a starter, and the adviser would not consider one at 1,000 pounds because it would be a single-seater most of the time. An O-320 airplane should weigh less than 1,050 pounds.
- Delamination. Look for rounded bulges in the finish that suggest fiberglass has separated from the foam core. Check the underside of both wings with the nose gear retracted to see that the exposed areas match.
- Sun damage and paint. No bare glass should be exposed to sunlight. Long-EZs are better off painted white or very pale yellow, because dark colors absorb heat that weakens a room-temperature-cured structure.
- Fuel tanks. Avoid any airplane that has been run on alcohol-based fuel, which attacks the tanks in the strakes. Look for blisters and soft lumps. Airplanes with the original two vent lines can vent fuel overboard if more than 15 gallons are in a tank while parked nose down.
- Controls. Check for looseness that could cause flutter, and confirm the logbook notes that the elevators were balanced.
- Canard airfoil. Original plans used the VariEze GU25-5(11)8 airfoil, which could pitch down in rain. Plans for a Roncz R1145MS canard arrived in 1985 and largely removed the trim change.
- Engine. Confirm any larger engine is documented in the logs and operating limitations. KITPLANES advises sticking with proven aircraft engines, and quotes a builder who says automotive conversions, including Mazda rotaries, cause four times as much trouble and are almost never successful.
What It Is Like to Fly and Own
KITPLANES calls Long-EZs wonderful cross-country machines that are somewhat snug on storage. It says they are not suited to short-field or unimproved strip operation, because of small tires, relatively high liftoff and touchdown speeds, and the risk of damage to the pusher propeller from debris. The nose gear is hand-cranked down for boarding, taking 8.6 turns, and the canopy latch is critical.
The airplane is experimental amateur-built, so the same rules apply as for any homebuilt. Under 14 CFR 91.319 you cannot carry persons or property for compensation or hire, and you must tell each person carried that the aircraft is experimental. A builder with a repairman certificate under 14 CFR 65.104 can do the condition inspection on an airplane they built. If you buy someone else's airplane, you need an appropriately certificated mechanic for inspections.
No reliable published figures exist for Long-EZ insurance, hangar or engine reserve, because each airplane differs. Get insurance quotes before you commit, since insurers weigh your experience and the airplane's build quality. For a similar kit-built comparison with published prices, see our Sling TSi cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Long-EZ cost?
AOPA's Aircraft Guide lists a price range of $30,000 to $50,000. Real prices vary widely because every Long-EZ is an individual homebuilt aircraft, so condition, weight and engine matter more than a typical price.
Can you still buy Long-EZ plans?
The Rutan Aircraft Factory ceased operation in 2004. KITPLANES says plans remain available in unused or partly used form from former builders, and TERF Inc. holds the rights to publish former RAF materials.
What engine does a Long-EZ use?
The design was built around a 115 hp Lycoming O-235. Some builders fit a Lycoming O-320 or O-360 for more performance, but the airplane needs attention to weight and balance with the larger engines.
How far can a Long-EZ fly?
It carries 52 gallons of fuel. KITPLANES says that can keep it aloft up to 10 hours, and AOPA's guide lists a range of 1,746 nautical miles for the IO-320 version.
Is a Long-EZ good for short or rough strips?
No. KITPLANES says its small tires, high liftoff and touchdown speeds and the risk of propeller damage from debris make it unsuited to short-field or unimproved strip use.
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