Is the Long-EZ the SHTF plane

If the SHTF a plane would be handy, but it would have to have certain characteristics like speed fuel efficiency, range, etc. easy to fly, and maintain. There are some pretty interesting planes out these days, so I was thinking which would be the best sort of aviation vehicle to have when the SHTF. I thought that the electric engine Hang Gliders were a great innovation, but it is a toss-up to my way of thinking. This one could carry two people or one and some gear. But the range makes this personal vehicle a plane that could do the miles like over a thousand nautical miles in the tanks. This means you sort of looking at a personal small plane that could do the world with some route planning. It would be interesting to hear some other thoughts on the matter.

Here we have a bit more info from Mogo who says the range is two thousand miles

Best SHTF plane is something with tundra tires, a very short rollout and takeoff run, good useful load and runs on automotive gas.

a reply to: anonentity

In a post EMP scenario an electric anything would be useless.

I’ve been in a long EZ before, from the back seat. Gave me the creeps when all I could see is sky and wing, the visibility sucks big time from a passenger point of view. The only time I could see the ground was in a bank.

The SHTF aircraft IMO is like one of the posters above said. I’ll take a SuperCub with big tires, extended tanks, and belly pod, crammed with survival gear. Then fly out to the back country aka off the grid areas anyday.

a reply to: 38181

Super Cub or any variation thereof would be good... but I'd also take a Bearhawk outfitted as you suggested as a "survival plane" too!
Bearhawks

Long EZs or any of those "fast glass" planes are too limited as to where they can land/take off. They need longer, smoother runways, which aren't always available.

It's easier to work on a Cub-like thing, too.

You're wrong in thinking that a fixed wing aircraft would be useful in a SHTF situation. What you want is a small helicopter. It can land in a clearing instead of needing 1 thousand feet of runway.

With 700 registered, 114 lost in accidents including 44 fatalities it looks like the Long-EZ could bring about a shtf scenario. Think you be far better off with ultra lightweight Challenger 11. Much slower, less range, but far more agile for landing in places where most planes cannot as demonstrated in the following video.

here

a reply to: glend




That's bad in anyone's book. But getting fuel in an SHTF situation could be a problem as well, it's looking more like Hang gliders.

a reply to: anonentity

I think a electrified cargo bicycle is a better bet. That can be charged with folding solar panels. My Yuba Mundo for instance can carry additional 440 pound of cargo and weight of rider. Yet it also very practical as everyday transport. I ride mine 16 miles day to and from work. I already charge it by solar so I am not reliant on communities infrastructure.

Any aircraft flying around in a SHTF wasteland would receive endless gunfire from the ground. Just for target practice or good ol fun.

a reply to: wavelength

If we are comparing Bearhawks to supercubs, then I’d rather find a beaver or 185. The bearhawk is too homebuilt for my taste, not to include the the plastic composite weird Long EZ.

Ive been to the Comp Air factory to look at buying one… no thanks. It’d rather surf the ocean waves in the Titan submarine in a backyard blow-up kiddy pool.

a reply to: glend

Many of those crashes can be attributed to people flying them outside of their design envelope.

a reply to: JIMC5499

For sure. I was only reading about the long-eze a few days ago. The aircraft was suppose to provide increased levels of safety during stall. The first canard stalling first which gently brings down the nose. However, for unidentified reasons, it was later discovered that if both canards stalled it resulted in an unrecoverable stall. Its possible that many pilots ignored stall conditions thinking there was no risk.

a reply to: glend

When you think that the old two strokes ran on methanol and castor oil. You could substitute olive oil and ethanol. But ethynol needs sugar. But you can distill the methanol out of wood. A lack of fuel and oil would have to be taken into account. But a battery-powered bike is only as good as long as the batteries last.

a reply to: 38181

Hah, I got my seaplane rating in a 180, always wanted to fly a 185 but never got to one. Have you looked into the Maules? Those are factory built, specs a lot like the Bearhawk. Very good planes, used in Alaska a lot, also makes a great float bird.

Not a fan of comp airs or anything composite, glad you didn't get one. I stopped myself from buying a Glasair some years back for similar reasons.

Frankly, homebuilts are only as good as the builder (for better or for worse); some are built better than the factory, but others are not built much better than the Titan (shudder). Unfortunately, a lot of the time you don't know what you're getting into. I've seen a few homebuilts with very questionable features (a brake fluid reservoir made from an old mouthwash style bottle mounted in the cockpit?! Gasp!).

If I had the time and the money, I'd build a Bearhawk myself.

Since we're playing the SHTF game--fuel burn is also a concern. Fuel would be scarce in a bad situation, so we'll want something that doesn't take much maintenance, doesn't burn much oil, and doesn't burn much fuel. I guess that rules out the Beaver. Those radials are thirsty critters.

To the guy that suggested helicopter: it sounds good on paper but I wouldn't; way too many things to go wrong and require service. Not as efficient or reliable either. You're not going to have helicopter A&P mechanics everywhere in a disaster scenario. A STOL aircraft (Short Takeoff and Landing) would be a better bet.



ETA: humorous story regarding composite homebuilts: I was looking at another composite aircraft (a Glasair competitor) around that same time I was eyeballing Glasairs. The people selling the kits for the plane were boasting cheerfully about how they could just saw the fuselages in half for shipping and bond 'em back up together once they got off the truck.

I nodded politely and found my way elsewhere.

a reply to: anonentity

Yes possible, but increased difficulty also increases chances of failure. I'd be more inclined look at cheaper trailable yachts than planes for shtf scenario. At least that gives possibility of leaving country if need be.

Note that batteries made with lifepo4 technology are good for at least 2000-4000 recharges. Even cheaper Lithium-Ion may be good for up to to 2000 recharge cycles if you only charge them up to 80% of their capacity. Lets say a 36V 30AH is good for 60 miles. 1000 recharges equate to 60,000 miles. If you have a 300 watt fold-able solar panel. It would take 3 hours of full sunlight to recharge to 80% capacity. You ride 2 hours in morning, charge with bank in midday sun for few hours, then ride 2 hours in afternoon etc. If sun isn't available legs do the work.

a reply to: glend

Yes, I am in the trailerable yacht camp.A twenty five footer. It has a simple 8hp two-stroke in a well, the spec is a liter an hour at seven knots. But it would do seven knots under sail in moderate conditions.I managed to fix a couple of hundred-watt solar panels, going into a couple of batteries with approx. Two hundred amp hours storage with an inverter. So I can run most of the stuff in the house and workshop with an extension cable if the power goes out. The onboard freezer is about thirty liters and use nothing when it is cooled down.I also got a load of spare diodes because it is those that burn out long before the panels. It has a fin keel which when lowered gets bolted down, so you don't need a dingy.
The trouble with planes are they are a bit high-tech and dependent on products which would be hard to get in a full shutdown.

a reply to: anonentity

Sounds great. Thing is, many have put all their resources, shifting to outback farms etc, into something that never eventuated in the timeframe they expected. So its much better to use available resources for today's enjoyment that can also be used in emergency situations if need be. You have transport, with available food (fishing) and power. If I be you, I'd be happy with that.

a reply to: glend

It was a fairly cheap option if you do not mind doing the work, and getting cheaper as the toys are getting sold off or abandoned. Plus it is a novel spare bedroom for visitors etc so it ticks a few boxes.

a reply to: anonentity

Just looking up trailer sailers in australia. Yes many requiring work. You planted a seed in my head!