The VSKYLABS Rutan LongEZ Project
JetManHuss - VSKYLABS (c) 2026 All Rights Reserved
A highly Realistic Flight Performance and Handling Simulation
of the Rutan LongEZ Aircraft
Separate native products for X-PLANE 12 and X-PLANE 11, for your selection.
Development notice: The VSKYLABS Rutan LongEZ Project for X-Plane was developed with Mr. Burt Rutan's permission. However it is an independent VSKYLABS project which is not affiliated and/or endorsed with/by Mr. Burt Rutan. The project is based on the design of the Long-EZ (NR79RA) prototype.
Project Introduction:
The project is initially designed and engineered using the original 1980 'LONG-EZ Plans' and 'Pilot Operating Handbook' (N79RA). As a result, the VSKYLABS Rutan LongEZ Owner's manual is based on the real LongEZ owner's manual. The manual for the VSKYLABS LongEZ aircraft can be downloaded for free.
In version v5.0 (X-Plane 12), an additional variant was added: 'ER' (Extended Range) Variant, being an exciting tribute to one of the most famous homebuilt aircraft in history: Dick Rutan’s personally-built Long-EZ, 'Old Blue' (N169SH).
In 1997, Dick Rutan in his 'Old Blue', teamed his friend Mike Melvill in his Long-EZ (N26MS) and flew over 30,000 nautical miles east on the Spirit of EAA Friendship World Tour, often flying legs of over 14 hours.
The 'ER' variant in v5.0+ was engineered to capture the specific mission-profile of the legendary N169SH aircraft, focusing on the aircraft configuration which was required for true global endurance.
To support maximum endurance missions, the 'ER' variant features a high-capacity fuel infrastructure comprising additional aerodynamic wing-mounted slipper tanks, and a removable internal ferry bladder-tank located in the rear seat compartment. This multi-source system is incorporated into the Long-EZ fuel system with dedicated and detailed transfer pump logic, allowing the pilot to manage fuel weight and CG while significantly extending the aircraft's range for transcontinental operations.
The 'ER' variant pushes the Long-EZ into a new weight class, featuring a total fuel capacity of 139 gallons (approx. 834 lbs). This includes 52 gallons in the strakes, 38 gallons in the aerodynamic slipper tanks, and a 49-gallon internal ferry bladder. With a modified Max Gross Weight of 2,000 lbs, this setup is designed for the extreme endurance required to replicate 'Old Blue's' record-breaking mission profiles.
During the 1997 Spirit of EAA Friendship World Tour, Dick Rutan and Mike Melvill exceeded high altitude flying, up to 21,000 feet. Flying at 15,000 - 17,500 feet was often required for catching tail-winds, avoiding lower-level tropical turbulence, crossing demanding terrain and weather conditions.
To support operations up to FL170 - FL210, the 'ER' variant features the High-Elevation Respiratory Equipment system. This mission-spec system includes an authentic 680-liter AL-638 cylinder internally integrated into a fully functional, converted A-14 Diluter regulator, optimized for high-altitude endurance, where Oxygen is plausibly supplied via a virtual cannula.
Project Highlights:
- 3 variants included:
- Standard EZ (NR79RA) with fully equipped Analog cockpit.
- Standard EZ (NR79RA) with 2x7" G1000 bundle cockpit.
- Extended-Range EZ (N169SH) with fully equipped Analog cockpit.
- The core of the project is a highly-defined Long-EZ engineering and flight dynamics model with authentic aircraft performance and handling characteristics.
- All LongEZ unique aerodynamics and systems are being simulated: Authentic handling, LongEZ stall characteristics, aircraft performance, Speed brakes (belly + Rudder brakes), On-ground retractable nose-gear and more!
- Detailed high-altitude oxygen system ('ER' variant).
- Detailed fuel-transfer system ('ER' variant)
- Aeromatic propeller configuration is simulated in the Standard EZ models (fully automatic variable pitch propeller).
- Highly detailed and animated aircraft model.
- Immersive LongEZ VR experience! Highly detailed and functional 'VR-Ready' 3D cockpit environment.
- FMOD sounds engineered for enhanced flying experience, including high AoA buffeting, ground vibrations, wind noises and more!
- IFR capability (both analog and G1000 variants).
- Autopilot - Experimental/LSA grade autopilot is included in the analog cockpit variant, and fully-capable GA grade autopilot in the G1000 variant.
- Detailed POH Flight Manual and documentation.
- Autoupdater based on the SkunkCrafts autoupdater (XP12 only) - all updates are being pushed smoothly without the need to re-download the entire base package (base package will be updated every once in a while to minimize the gap).
- VSKYLABS 'Cockpit Builder Layer' (v5.0+): Assign all aircraft switches, knobs, and interactions via a dedicated X-Plane 12 assignment layer.
Aircraft Design Notes
The VSKYLABS Rutan LongEZ Project aircraft design includes several improvements ("mods") which have been developed/adopted as the aircraft got mature. The following mods are included in the VSKYLABS Rutan LongEZ Project aircraft:
The 'High performance rudder mod': The initial design featured short rudders design, but soon after the first Long-EZ took flight, a few modifications were already underway to improve its design, including the extended rudders.
The 'Roncz canard mod': The original canard design of the LongEZ used the Glasgow University GU25-5(11)8 airfoil. The GU canard caused premature boundary layer transition under rain condition. The 'Roncz canard' which was designed by John Roncz used the Roncz R1145MS airfoil, and was developed in response to that problem, nicknamed "rain canards").
Aeromatic propeller configuration: The Aeromatic propeller is a variable pitch propeller having the same effect of a 'constant speed' propeller, except the fact that it is not using any governor, cockpit levers or special crankshafts. The propeller modulates itself based on airspeed other dynamic forces (fully automatic). Replicating the exact configuration for pitch change for the Aeromatic propeller was a fascinating development aspect. Its performance bringing the VSKYLABS LongEZ to highly match its real-world performance graphs.
Landing/Taxi lights: Installing landing lights is a mod made by many EZ owners/builders. There are several options, including using the landing gears fairing. I've decided to cut a small compartment into the upper section of the nose cone. This place is allowing good angle settings for the landing/taxi lights and quite common in real-world LongEZ's.
Two-sets of Air-Brakes: The LongEZ is equipped with a belly-positioned air-brake which can be extracted during flight. In addition to that, an experimental configuration of Rudder-brakes is implemented in the VSKYLABS LongEZ. The pedals mechanism is allowing the use of differential rudder input, using the toe-brakes simultaneously. In this case, each rudder surface will be deployed "out", as if it is being used as a rudder...turning into a dual-rudder speed-brake. The rudder-brakes can be used in-flight, intuitively and accurately with the use of simple leg-work. This new feature is of course practical for pilots who are using rudder-pedals with toe-brakes hardware.
The Rutan Long-EZ aircraft - Additional Information
The Rutan LongEZ is a high performance home built aircraft, designed by the aerospace legend Burt Rutan back in the 80's. Its compact external size results in superb performance and economy using low horsepower engines.
It features advanced aerodynamics and structure to provide good utility, economy, comfort, simplicity and flight safety. The aircraft uses one of two proven certified aircraft engines, the continental O-200/100 hp and the Lycoming O-235/115 hp (the VSKYLABS Rutan LongEZ is featuring the 115 hp engine).
It has an alternator powered electrical system and equipped with an electric engine starter. It’s cockpit layout is designed to compliment pilot work load with throttle, mixture, carburetor heat, pitch trim/landing controls on the left side console and a side stick controller on the right console. Seating provides correct armrest, lumbar, thigh and headrest support allowing “recliner chair” comfort which are typically not to be found in conventional aircraft seats. This configurations allows long, fatigue free flights.
The Long-EZ aircraft pioneered the use of the NASA developed winglet system which consists of an upper and lower cambered surface at each wing tip. These are designed to offset the wingtip vortex and reduce induced drag. The Long-EZ’s use of one way rudders in each winglet, makes use of the winglet camber to tailor the rudder forces. This results in low forces at low speeds where rudders are used, and higher forces at higher speeds where rudders are not needed.
Long-EZ interesting and useful resources
Disclaimer: VSKYLABS is not affiliated with any of the following web pages/people/organizations and is not responsible for the content within these sites.
BurtRutan.com:
- Burt Rutan's web pages - contains interesting articles, 'must read' PDF documents etc...: http://burtrutan.com
Burt Rutan Wikipedia page:
- The Aerospace Legend Burt Rutan Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Rutan
Rutan Long-EZ Wikipedia page:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_Long-EZ
ez.org - A community of Rutan canard aircraft enthusiasts:
- Includes Forum, articles, links, various downloads (drawings, POH plans etc...): http://www.ez.org/
Long-EZ building blogs: Very interesting blogs showing the process of building a Long-EZ aircraft.
Pilot's Operating Handbook
Based on the Long-EZ First Edition May 1980 – Originally written and published by Rutan Aircraft Factory, Inc. Modified and published by VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations (Permission was granted)
More pictures here
