what the heck is this

[insert_name]

So I was at the airport and I saw this plane. What is it and why is it like this?

[cantab]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_Quickie

Designed by Burt Rutan who somewhat specialises in unusual configurations and is the man behind SpaceShipOne. The tandem wing layout means both wings generate lift, in contrast to a conventional layout where the tailplane often generates downforce thus requiring excess lift from the main wing. And the wheels in the wings save the mass of separate landing gear.

EDIT: Actually the picture is a two-seater variant, the QAC Quickie Q200 (see the side), with a much more powerful engine that the original Rutan design and some other minor tweaks.

Edited February 8, 2016 by cantab

[Bill Phil]

I think it's supposed to be a biplane, but avoiding the issues of having wing over wing.

[insert_name]

somehow created 2 threads, merge please

[Spaceception]

52 minutes ago, insert_name said:

somehow created 2 threads, merge please

Did you report it? That's what I do.

[Vanamonde]

Threads merged. 

And rule of thumb: if it looks bizarre but flies, it's probably a Rutan. 

[Shpaget]

I'm guessing here, but that thing, with its short wingspan, looks like it's quite nimble and responsive in flight. Might be fun to fly it.

Reading the wiki on the one seater variant, apparently it set the record for Time to climb to 3000 m (9,840 ft) at 18 min 5 sec, which sounded rather modest, until I realized that the max takeoff mass is 220 kg (that includes the pilot!!!), and that the engine is a tiny 18 HP thingy.
Also, with the fuel consumption of 3,3 l/100km (85 mpg) it has a range of almost 1000 km!

The more I read about it the more I like that little thing. Too bad I'd never dare to fly that. The propeller gets awfully close to the ground when landing.

Also, for the Burt Rutan fans, this is an even weirder design. Scaled Composites Proteus
Strangely beautiful, though.

[kunok]

4 hours ago, Shpaget said:

Also, with the fuel consumption of 3,3 l/100km (85 mpg) it has a range of almost 1000 km!

That's pretty impressive, more if you look that it's using an old engine that doesn't look very efficient.

Can we make a recompilation of extremely efficient personal aircraft like this? I'm very curious, wikipedia and other sources usually don't have consumption figures.

[RizzoTheRat]

8 hours ago, Vanamonde said:

And rule of thumb: if it looks bizarre but flies, it's probably a Rutan. 

Pretty much sums it up

 

The guy's designed some outlandish stuff but it works well.

Edited February 8, 2016 by RizzoTheRat