Air Show Routine
With only 125 HP the Long EZ air show performance is a demonstration of physics. Converting potential energy for kinetic energy.
1) Starting 2500 above the ground at show right Smoke on 2 rolls on the down line Lon will accelerate to a speed of 200 MPH.
2) A 1000 foot diameter loop at show center.
3) Now climbing with a half roll to inverted flight, then pulling the nose of the airplane down this is called a reverse half Cuban eight Lon is using this maneuver to position the aircraft.
4) As the Long EZ passes show center, Lon will start a Cuban 8. The Cuban 8 looks like an 8 on its side.
5) With no airflow over its tail, how could it have air over its tail the Long EZ has no tail. The Long EZ will not do a hammerhead turn so Lon uses a modified wing over for a turnaround. This gives him an altitude gain of 500 feet at the top and shows the unique design of the Long EZ.
6) With a record of 4,800 miles non-stop, the Long EZ was designed for long range efficient flight not inverted flight. Here at show center is something you will probably never see again, A Long EZ flying inverted. Lon calls this the EZ ballistic inverted pass.
7) Once again repossessing the airplane for the next maneuver.
8) Barrel Roll. The barrel roll is a combination between a loop and a roll. You complete one loop while completing one roll at the same time. The flight path during a barrel roll has the shape of a horizontal corkscrew. Imagine a big barrel, with the airplanes wheels rolling along the inside of the barrel in a cork screw path.
9) Turning around.
10) Ballistic knife edge pass. Some airplanes will truly fly on their sides. The Long EZ will not. This knife edge pass is the same as throwing a rock in an arc. The plane will be dissipating energy as it goes up at the start of the pass and then it will start to fall as it crosses the top of the arc.
11) Turn around.
12) 90 degree turn away from show center followed by a 270 degree roll to the left. Recovering on the knife edge followed with a 90 degree turn to the right.
13) Photo pass and setup to land.
