Rutan Aircraft Factory Long-Ez

Single Piston

The Rutan Long-EZ is a revolutionary homebuilt aircraft designed by Burt Rutan in the late 1970s that fundamentally changed amateur aviation. With its distinctive canard configuration, pusher propeller, and sleek composite construction, the Long-EZ became one of the most successful kit aircraft ever created, with over 700 completed worldwide. The design emerged from Rutan's VariEze but stretched the fuselage to accommodate two people in tandem with remarkable comfort for cross-country flight, earning the "Long" prefix and "EZ" for ease of construction and flying. What made the Long-EZ genuinely groundbreaking was its combination of efficiency and performance that rivaled certified aircraft costing ten times as much. Cruising at 160-180 knots on a modest 100-118 horsepower Lycoming engine, the aircraft achieved fuel burns as low as 4-5 gallons per hour, giving it a range exceeding 1,500 nautical miles. The canard configuration made the aircraft virtually stall-proof in normal flight, as the forward wing stalls first, automatically lowering the nose. This inherent safety feature, combined with excellent visibility and responsive handling, made it a favorite among builder-pilots seeking both adventure and efficiency. The Long-EZ's construction used moldless composite techniques that Rutan pioneered, allowing builders to create smooth, aerodynamic shapes from fiberglass, foam, and epoxy in their garages. While the plans-built approach required 1,500-2,000 hours of work, the result was an aircraft that could operate from short runways, climb at 1,200 feet per minute, and reach altitudes above 20,000 feet. Many Long-EZs have logged thousands of hours on cross-country adventures, with some completing round-the-world flights. Though plans sales ended in the 1980s, the active fleet remains a testament to the design's enduring appeal and Rutan's genius for practical, efficient aircraft. SkyMeter has tracked 15 flights across 9 airframes and 9 operators, with distinct routes observed.