Engineering:RLU-1 Breezy

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Short description: American homebuilt aircraft
RLU-1 Breezy
Breezy Homebuilt.jpg
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer RLU
Designer Charles Roloff, Carl Unger, and Bob Liposky
First flight August 7, 1964
Number built About 1000[1]

The RLU-1 Breezy is a homebuilt aircraft known for its "no cockpit" high wing pusher configuration. It is designed to seat the pilot and passenger with a maximum unobstructed view.[2][3]

Design and development

Designed and built by Charles Roloff, Robert Liposky and Carl Unger, the original Breezy used a modified set of Piper PA-12 wings. Wings from the Piper PA-14, Piper PA-18, Piper J-3, Piper J-4, Piper J-5, or Cessna 172[4] can also be used on the design.[2] It first flew on August 7, 1964.[5]

Operational history

RLU-1 Breezy
Amphibious Breezy

Designer and pilot Carl Unger flew thousands of passengers for free in his Breezy prototype. The aircraft is now part of the EAA AirVenture Museum collection.[6]

At the 2014 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh there was a series of special events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the design, including a fly-in of Breezys.[1]

Variants

Dawes Breezy
Variant with amphibious floats[7]

Specifications (Breezy)

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 3
  • Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft (10 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
  • Wing area: 165 sq ft (15.3 m2)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Continental C-90 , 90 hp (67 kW)
  • Range: 120 nmi (140 mi, 230 km)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Grady, Mary (30 April 2014). "Breezy Pilots To Converge At Oshkosh". AVweb. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Breezy-Pilots-To-Converge-At-Oshkosh221939-1.html. Retrieved 3 May 2014. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83. Jane's Publishing Company. London. 1983. ISBN:0-7106-0748-2
  3. "Breezy from Aircraft Spruce". http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/breezy.php. Retrieved 4 August 2011. 
  4. Air Trails: 16. Winter 1971. 
  5. Eyre, David C. (May 8, 2019). "Roloff Breezy Model RLU-1". https://aeropedia.com.au/content/roloff-breezy-model-rlu-1/. 
  6. Dick Cavenaugh. Just about – But Not Quite. 
  7. Airventure Today: p. 12. 27 July 2014. 
  • Taylor, John W. R.. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83. Jane's Publishing Company. London. 1983. ISBN:0-7106-0748-2

External links