Flying Breezys

Breezy Builders Website

Here are a few pictures of some of our favorite completed and flying Breezys. If you would like to share your photos on this site please email them to us! GWRead@aol.com

Edy Schuetz flies in Switzerland!!!

Hi Gary

I did my first flight last yaer. So my airplane is finished as you can see at the pictures.

Please change my mail adress in the builders website to edy.schuetz@bzu.ch .

Many thanks and nice flights.

Sincerely

edy schuetz

switzerland

My Wankel Mazda 13B with 180 HP is perfekt to fly in the swiss alps!! But at a temperature of 12 °C it is not realy fun.

See Edy's construction photos on the "Breezys Under Construction" page.

Congratulations to Matt Hlavac on his completion of his beautiful Breezy!

(Go to "Breezys Under Construction" to examine the fantastic workmanship on this aircraft)

Here is Matt's report of the events leading up to and the test flight of Breezy N5150.

Breezy N5150 has flown!!!

This morning was the big event. The sequence leading upto this day started 4 years ago, but I will skip the nitty gritty and just give you a brief overview of the last few days of preparation, anticipation, fear and joy!!!!

On Dec.18 '05 the Breezy was inspected by one of our local FAA DAR (Federal Aviation Administration Designated Airworthiness Representative) and deemed to be "Airworthy". A few days pass, we (Christina, Bella and myself) travel to my sister's in Texas for Christmas and then back to San Diego on Dec. 26.

On Dec. 28 I have my BFR (Biennial Flight Review) with a local CFII in his 1946 Piper J3 Cub at Montgomery Field in San Diego. We do 10 take-off's and landings in one hour and have an all around good time flying his honest little machine. After an additional hour of verbal flight review I am signed-off for my BFR.

On Dec. 29 high speed taxi tests begin at Ramona Airport in northeast San Diego county. The first high speed run on runway 27 was just to feel for any strange vibrations or tendencies as I brought the Breezy up to 30 mph. All was solid. On the second high speed taxi test, I eased up the power to find where the nose wheel started to get light. This happened at 37 mph. Again, all was solid. On the third pass I was looking for my "un-stick" speed for the nose wheel, so I thought I would creep up on it by adding power slowly past 37 mph, at 40 mph I was in the AIR !!!!! ALL WHEELS !!!!! A quick mental flip from rolling on the ground to flying in the air was made, power was reduced, directional control was maintained and down came Breezy, Matt and all. I taxied back to the hangar to let the adrenalin dissipate from my veins. Later that same day, I completed 2 more high speed taxi tests to determine the "stick-down" force of my elevator. I knew up elevator was effective, I just wanted to be certain down elevator was also there. It was. Two high speed taxi runs at 41-42 mph with forward stick showed positive nose wheel on the ground.

On Dec. 30, I continued the high speed taxi tests and due to the 2 other planes in the pattern and 2 more inbound for landing I found the Control Tower operators to be a bit short with me and my requests to play around on their runway. They did oblige my requests for taxi tests, but the controller made it clear that I needed to "expedite". I did. The first run was just to get back in the groove and run the Breezy down the runway centerline at 37 mph. The second run I planed on picking the Breezy off terra-firma and fly down the length of the runway and check for any strange in-air tendencies. I added throttle, watched the airspeed pass 35 mph, looked down the runway centerline and lifted off. I stopped the climb at around 10' of altitude with forward stick and flew half the length of the runway and then reduced power and set the Breezy back down. She tracked well and again had no weird tendencies!!!!. Enough for today as traffic was getting heavier and the tower folks were busy.

On Dec. 31 (today) we started before the tower opened. Christina (wife) and Bella (daughter) were on site for pictures and celebration.

Time: 7:35 a.m. (tower opens at 8:00)

Temp: 50 degrees

Visibility: good, 10 to 15 miles, a few clouds broken, some morning haze

Wind: calm

The plan was to take the Breezy once around the pattern, land, check for oil leaks or anything else and celebrate!!! The plan worked!!!! Christina took some video with our little digital camera and one still shot of me tuning base to final.

Take off went well at 2/3 throttle, 2250 rpm, climb went well at the same power setting and 50 mph. I did not add full power as I was climbing nicely and having things nice, was nice. I turned cross-wind then down-wind in tight to the runway at a pattern altitude of 2400' , left the throttle at 2250 and nosed over for 60 mph, at the numbers (runway start point) I brought the power back to 1000 rpm (almost idle) and did my base-turn followed by my final-turn. Over the numbers at 60 mph, into ground effect float then landing !!!! ALL WENT WELL!!! You can hear the mains, left then right squeak onto the runway as I touch down in the video.

Just 39.8 hours left to fly-off for the Breezy's FAA requirement. Should be FUN!!!!

Thank you all who have supported me in this effort, with my highest regard to my wife Christina, daughter Bella and constant hangar companions, Chewy and Ripley. The Breezy took 3000+ hours to build over a 4 year period.

Matt

What do you mean mom says its time to come home?!

Breezy N78LL, current owner Rex Niver Tulsa OK Owned for 6 years. Originally built
in a tech school in Summerset KY.

George Read's first Breezy was completed in 1976. It was modified incorporating a 6' center section and a Lycoming 0-290, 125 HP engine. It flew very well with three full size occupants. Painted white with green trim, Touche' Turtle was aptly named.

Breezy Biplane N28GR

George Read's second Breezy was modified as a biplane. The Breezy Biplane has a wingspan of 36 feet. Built using Aeronca wings it is a big airplane! Powered with a Lycoming 125 HP engine it will take off and land on a dime and will carry anyone or thing that you can put on it. This aircraft has been flown from Florida to Indiana and another trip from Florida to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. George had the enjoyment of not only building this aircraft originally but then restoring it 20 years later.

0-360 Biplane Breezy!

Gary Frierson currently owns the Breezy Biplane. He and George Read have installed a Lycoming 0-360, 180 HP on it. Man does it jump off the ground now!

Breezy Biplane at Sun n Fun '04

Gary Freierson flew his Breezy Biplane to Sun n Fun 2004 to participate in the Breezy Builders BBQ.

Arne Zimmerman has been flying Breezy's for 26 years. He has built and flown several and is currently flying this one he completed in 1998. This bird is outfitted with smoke system. What a hoot, as if he needed to be noticed!

Arnie is a very active Breezy pilot and has flown over 800 young eagles in the last 10 years! He and his Breezy can be seen at Oshkosh on the flight line giving rides.

"Here is a photo of my dad flying his Breezy over Ranger, Texas. I was the band director there in 1979 and Mom and Dad came to visit, along with relatives from Birmingham, flying their Breezy. (Charlie and Sue Shivers) I was sitting in the front seat of the Shivers Breezy when I took this shot." Ben Scarborough

"My dad bought it from a guy in Sinton, Texas. I think it was 1977, maybe 1978. In 1980 it blew a jug on takeoff and landed in a big cedar tree. My older brother, cut down the tree! There was very little damage, until it hit the ground!

The wings were smashed. (170 wings) We drove to Brimingham and bought the wings you see in the photos. Charlie Shivers had found them for us. Charlie came back with us and spent about a week in the dead of winter - outside in our backyard and horse barn- welding up the damage and changing out the wings.

Before he left, we were in the air again and Charlie had all 3 of us current with checkrides. All it cost us was room and board - what a deal! The plane flew much better with the old 170 wing, but it still flies great.

Later, my dad and I swapped out the engine for the one on my up-side-down 150. He sold it when his respiratory disease made it difficult to fly in the wind. He bought a 152 and almost completely lost interest in flying because it was just not the same. Nothing flies like a Breezy!"

---Ben

Ben's "new" Breezy!!

Ben and his sister Julia enjoy their Breezy (N2011L) immensely!

Marlin Scarbourgh and Charlie Shivers flying low!

Miscellaneous Breezy's

A pretty blue Breezy in a pretty blue sky....what could be better?

A very pristine yellow Breezy.

One thing neat about taking photos of Breezy's at fly ins.....you get some nice shots of aircraft (and tents) parked behind them as well!

Here are some some pictures of my Breezy. I had to buy it from another. I bought plans several years ago, but couldn't get started and I didn't trust my welding. When this one became available, I bought it. I haven't given up on the desire to build one though. This on was built by an individual in California in 1970-71. I feel it is very well built and has almost every option I would have put on one if I were to have built it. It truely brings back my love for flying. This, I'm sure you know. Thanks for building this website. Mark McLaughlin in McKinney, Texas

Mark McLaughlin having some Texas Breezy fun!

Here is a picture of N2434, based at Gundy's (O38) in Owasso, Oklahoma (surburb of Tulsa).

Airplane has Harley wheels, removable rearseat controls, 150 HP Lycoming O-320 and fuselage is stretched 8 inches up front for geater comfort for our longer-legged pilots. 1500 pounds gross weight.

Owned by Wind In Your Face LLC.

Originally built in 1971 in Little Rock by R.V Stewart and E.E. Anderson. Many owners since then. We have had it since 1995!

Bob Ferguson

Picture of Apollo Astronaut Frank Borman with Bob Ferguson on Breezy at Claremore, Oklahoma during airshow for Make-A-Wish, 2003. Breezy was built in Beggs, Oklahoma in 1976 and still flys in the Tulsa area from Gundy's (O38). One of three Breezys active in Tulsa.

Ron Cross and Terry Capps

Cross/ Capps Breezy N125RT

Cross/ Capps Breezy "cockpit"

Ron Cross and Terry Capp's Breezy incorporates a modified control system and center instrument stack, a Lycoming 0-290-G 125h.p., J-3 wings and modified tail section, 23 gallon center fuel tank, Hegy 68" x 43" wood prop, 6 x 6 cleveland wheels and brakes. Empty weight is 1062 pounds.

Terrorist alert raised to Red in Pell City!....or, What the best dressed Breezy pilots wear for winter flying!

Ron Cross and Terry Capps Breezy

Cross/ Capps Breezy "Panel"

You could almost get an instrument ticket with this set up!

Wally Weishaar's pretty white Breezy.

"The logs indicate that it was built about 1970. The first log entry is of a taxi test. The builders were Earl Tomblingson of E.Alton, Ill. and Lanny Joe Leathers of Wood River, Ill. The wings are metalized Cessna 120 wings. The original engine was a cont 85. It was replaced with a cont O-200 100hp in 1980.

The builders must not of been very impressed with it for they sold it in June of 1970 with 52 hrs on the plane. The logs show a long 2 day, 17.5 flt hr. journey to Hamilton Tx. The plane has been in Texas ever since."

"The breezy got a whole new look in 1990 (refer to picture above)sporting nav lights, strobe, com radio, intercom and a x-ponder w/mode c!! It got back to basics about 1998."

Gary Wilshire and crew

Gary Wilshire's Breezy

Gary Wilshire recently sold this Breezy (N79WL) after a 2 1/2 year love affair with it. This particular plane was put together in 2000, so it is a low time bird. It has a Lycoming O290, 135 HP for power. It has dual flight controls (sticks) and Cleveland wheels and brakes. The logs show the wings from a J-5. and the fabric is Ceconite.

Bill Dixon's Breezy in warm weather

Happy New Year Gary,

Not exactly Breezy weather here in Michigan...5 below zero this morning...the old Chevy groaned for a bit but came through for me anyway!!!

Good news, I have finally sold all of my parts from the project Breezy. I thank you very much for posting it all for so long on your site. I guess this means you can remove the ad from the site if you wish. By the way, I did get lots of interest from your readers.

Bad news, I may need to sell my flying Breezy soon. I'll know for sure in a week or so. I just bought half interest in a beautiful 1958 C-182 and am going to need some gas money for the hog on wings.

Also, I am sending you pix of my Breezy finally for I have just learned how to do such things (stupid simple).

Bill

UPDATE!!! The gang in Pell City AL now own Bill's nice Breezy....that makes 3 in their contingent!

Dear Sir,
Just got back from the aerodrome after 1.2hrs in/on our Breezy, VH-BLO.
Good to see someone has finally got a Breezy website up and running. At last
I can talk to people who can understand what I’m babbling about!

My friend, Jim Williams, and I have recently completed our Breezy and have
it up and flying. I came into the project at about the halfway point and saw
it through to completion (four years later!). The first flight (unofficial)
was the 17th December 2003 at 0702hr, 3hrs 33min short of the Wright
brother’s 100th anniversary (it would be interesting to know how many other
aircraft had their first flight on that day). It was flown by an instructor
friend, Steve Curtis, for three hops along the runway in each direction. He
later did one complete circuit on a cold morning but had his goggles fog up
halfway around and had to almost guess where the runway was!

Since then I have done all the flying up to eleven hours, including a forced
landing through a wire farm fence when the prop split at 1200ft agl. My wife
was not impressed!

I would be interested to hear what sort of figures you get out of your
Breezy. Our’s is powered by a Continental 0-200 with a 70”x42” wooden prop
but we can only 2300rpm static and 2400rpm max. in flight for a cruise speed
of about 55kts.

So long for now,
Richard Shennan,
Camden
Australia

Norris Warner has just begun flying his Breezy, N35XX. It has a C-90, starter & generator, Piper airfoil, and weights 878 lbs. empty.

Breezy Pilot Bill Keller

"My Breezy made its first flight on June 20, 2004. The N # is N59BL. The aircraft is scratch built with Cessna 150 wings and powered by a Lycoming O360-A4K (180HP). You never can have too much horsepower. The weather this summer has been pretty miserable in the mid-atlantic so I've only been able to put about 20 hours on it."

"Empty weight is 1010 lbs, it flies hands off, I have electric trim, and it fairly leaps off the ground. I don't know the top speed because I pull the throttle back once airborne, (if I wanted to go fast I would've built something else) and landings happen so fast that I've never looked at airspeed but I expect that it stalls at the same speed as a C150."