Blue Yonder EZ Flyer

{{Short description|Canadian ultralight aircraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use Canadian English|date=August 2021}} {{redirect|EZ Flyer|the removable hard drive|SyQuest EZFlyer}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = EZ Flyer | logo = | logo_size = | image = BlueYonderEZFlyerREZ0002.png | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Homebuilt aircraft|Kit plane]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Canada]] | manufacturer = [[Blue Yonder Aviation]] | design_group = | designer = Wayne Winters | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = [[Flight school]]s<br />Private owners | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 64 (2011) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = October 1991 | retired = | first_flight = October 1991 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = [[Blue Yonder Merlin|Merlin]] | variants = [[Blue Yonder Twin Engine EZ Flyer|Twin Engine EZ Flyer]] | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Blue Yonder EZ Flyer''' is a [[Canada|Canadian]]-designed-and-built, tandem two-seat, open cockpit, [[pusher configuration]], recreational and training aircraft provided as a completed aircraft or in kit form by [[Blue Yonder Aviation]].<ref name="COPA1">Hunt, Adam: ''Pilot Report: EZ Flyer'', [[Canadian Owners and Pilots Association|COPA]] Flight publication, page C-1, May 2001</ref><ref name="BY1">{{cite web|url = http://www.ezflyer.com/page6BYA.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912103816/http://www.ezflyer.com/page6BYA.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2007-09-12|title = EZ Flyer|accessdate = 2009-02-28|last = Winters|first = Wayne|date = n.d.}}</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-19. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 46. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition'', pages 97 and 127. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref>

It can be constructed in Canada as a [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Basic ultra-light aeroplane|basic ultra-light]], an [[Ultralight aircraft (Canada)#Advanced ultra-light aeroplane|advanced ultra-light]] or [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur-built aircraft]].<ref name="COPA1" />

==Development== The EZ Flyer was the first aircraft design of Wayne Winters of [[Indus, Alberta]]. In 1991 Winters set out to design a high performance kit plane that he intended to produce commercially. While considering the design parameters of that proposed aircraft he saw a picture of a [[Breezy (Aircraft)|Breezy homebuilt]] and decided instead to design a smaller and lighter aircraft inspired by the Breezy instead. Winter's own past experience flying [[Ultraflight Lazair]]s provided the motivation for the design of a slow, easy to handle aircraft with an open cockpit.<ref name="COPA1" />

Winters designed a new open lattice, "N" girder [[fuselage]] constructed from [[41xx steel|4130 steel tube]] along with a new tail to be fitted with wings from the [[Blue Yonder Merlin|Merlin EZ]]. The aircraft retained the Junker's ailerons of the Merlin along with the Clark "Y" airfoil that produces docile handling characteristics. The wing also features the Merlin's leading edge "D" cell construction, with foam ribs. The prototype has two seats in [[tandem]] and is powered by a [[Rotax 503]] two stroke engine of {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Cliche" /><ref name="IncompleteGuide">{{cite web|url = http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|accessdate = 2009-02-28|last = Lednicer|first = David|date = October 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080515232025/http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html|archive-date = 2008-05-15|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="Pond">{{cite web|url = http://www.ezflyer.com/page20BYA.html|title = Flying the E-Z Flyer|accessdate = 2009-02-28|last = Pond|first = Wally|date = July 1995|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081119074425/http://www.ezflyer.com/page20BYA.html|archivedate = 2008-11-19}}</ref><ref name="Campbell">{{cite web|url = http://www.ezflyer.com/page19BYA.html|title = Back to basics|accessdate = 2009-02-28|last = Campbell|first = Jim|date = October 1995|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081119074437/http://www.ezflyer.com/page19BYA.html|archivedate = 2008-11-19}}</ref>

The first prototype of the new design flew in October 1991 and was initially unnamed. Winters allowed several pilots to fly the new design and all remarked on its docile handling, its suitability as a trainer and the ease with which pilots mastered it. As a result, Winters initially named it ''Easy Flyer'' and later ''EZ Flyer'' (pronounced in the American way as "Eezee Flier").<ref name="COPA1" /><ref name="Cliche" />

The EZ Flyer can be equipped with a variety of powerplants, all mounted in pusher configuration:<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="BY2">{{cite web|url = http://www.ezflyer.com/page17BYA.html|title = Complete Kits|accessdate = 2009-02-28|last = Winters|first = Wayne|date = n.d.|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090214145306/http://ezflyer.com/page17BYA.html|archivedate = 2009-02-14}}</ref>

*[[Rotax 503]] {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} *[[Rotax 582]] {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} *[[Rotax 912]] {{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} *[[Rotax 912|Rotax 912S]] {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}

==Operational history== The prototype proved robust and easy for students to learn to fly on and has been used since new as a trainer at the Blue Yonder Ultralight Flight School. By May 2001 the prototype had 2500 hours accumulated in student training and showed little signs of wear. Over 30 aircraft have been built for private owners and other flight schools.<ref name="COPA1" />

In November 2016 there were eight EZ Flyers registered in Canada and eight in the USA.<ref name="TCCAR">{{cite web|url = http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7cEZFLYER%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7c%7c&m=%7c%7c|title = Canadian Civil Aircraft Register|accessdate = 7 November 2016|last = [[Transport Canada]]|date=7 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="FAA">{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=EZ+FLYER&PageNo=1|title = FAA Registry Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 7 November 2016|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|authorlink = |date = 7 November 2016|archive-date = 8 November 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133219/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=EZ+FLYER&PageNo=1|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Operators== * [[Blue Yonder Aviation]] – flight school

==Specifications (Rotax 582) ==

{{Aircraft specs |prime units? = imp |ref=Blue Yonder website<ref name="BY1" /> |crew=one |capacity=one passenger |length ft= 21 |length m=6.4 |span ft=31 |span m=9.5 |height ft=7 |height m=2.1 |wing area sqft= 176 |wing area sqm= 16.4 |airfoil=[[Clark Y]]<ref name="IncompleteGuide" /> |empty weight lb= 495 |empty weight kg= 224 |gross weight lb= 1200 |gross weight kg= 544 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 582]] |eng1 type= fixed pitch |eng1 number=1 |eng1 hp= 64 |eng1 kw=48 |max speed mph= 100 |max speed kmh=162 |cruise speed mph= 70 |cruise speed kmh=113 |stall speed mph= 38 |stall speed kmh= 62 |range nmi= 380 |range km=615 |ceiling ft= 12,000 |ceiling m= 3660 |power/mass=18.75 lb/hp (0.09 kW/kg) |avionics=*none }}

==See also== {{Portal|Aviation}} {{aircontent |see also=

*[[Blue Yonder Merlin]] |related= |similar aircraft= *[[RLU-1 Breezy]] *[[Harper Lil Breezy]] *[[Mathews Petit Breezy]] |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Blue Yonder EZ Flyer}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090222062859/http://ezflyer.com/ Blue Yonder Aviation]

[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]] [[Category:Parasol-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Blue Yonder aircraft|EZ Flyer]] [[Category:1990s Canadian ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]