Feb 2024 and I had a ‘visit’ to the hangar where my local chapter of the SAAA (Sport Aircraft people) had a look at the project. I gave a bit of a verbal summary as 20 or so of us did a walkaround.
Ian Drysdale, the secretary, did a great write up which is a good overview. I’ve reproduced it here (with a couple of very minor factual changes)
BUILDERS VISIT – DAVE BERENHOLTZ’s AROUND THE WORLD CANARD
After meeting at the Flight Deck for dinner, we all made the trek across the carpark for a builders visit to see Dave Berenholtz amazing “around the world” canard – VH-XEZ. Now 13.5 years & 14,700 hrs into the build – you can see where every minute of that time has gone – the small details are too numerous to list.
Dave’s plane is based on a Burt Rutan Long-EZ design, powered by a 390 cubic inch water cooled Superior “based” 4 cylinder engine with fuel injection. Dave has redundant alternators, ECU’s, fuel pumps and water pumps. Engine weight is 30-40lb heavier than a “standard” engine, but a penalty that he is happy to accept. Finding a place for the radiators and then getting a good airflow into them has been one of the major challenges. He is running a fixed prop.
Dave has 520+ litres of fuel on board, which will come in handy on the 2,100 nm (3,900 km) leg from Hawaii to LA. For the “over water” legs, Dave will be wearing his safety gear and has a life raft in the passenger seat area behind him.
The construction is fiberglass over a foam buck ( the foam stays inside ) with some metal structures (landing gear brackets). There is a metal “roll-bar” in the cockpit – Dave is very proud of this Titanium roll-bar, which saved 6 lbs.
Cruise will be 190-200 kts at flt level 180 – that’s 18,000 ft for we helicopter pilots who have never flown higher than 3,000 ft. Landing is at 70-80 kts. He has an “oxygen generator”, as opposed to oxygen bottles.
The cockpit is all Garmin – but with an old-style magnetic compass as back up. Dave has built his HF aerial into the wing – some builders resort to a “trailing wire” that has to be reeled in before landing.
The rudders are interesting – there are 2, one each on the tips of the main wing. One only is used for a left or right turn – then both can be used as a speed brake.
The paint job is very striking – a hand painted bird of prey mural on the nose – which looks good on the ground, it will look amazing when airborne. There will be under wing “pods” for extra luggage.
David Evans was watching via ZOOM with a keen interest and firing off poignant questions via Ian’s phone. i.e. – how does Dave keep water off the front wheel getting in to the air intake for the engine. Answer: He will be airborne before any water gets through the air filter. He also has “alternative air” should the air filter get blocked.
Of note – Dave B. purchased a canard aircraft of the same “type” and has been flying it for many years – including several very long “hops” – as preparation for his around the world flight.
Take-home quote of Dave’s presentation: “No modification goes unpunished”.
Thanks to Dave B. for letting us into his world of “around the world” flying – surely the most ambitious project of any Ch.21 member to date.
