I met Bill at Sun 'n Fun a couple of weeks ago and had a chance to look at his EZFlap Handle. He had a little setup in his booth that you could sit down at and try the handle.

At first I was a little put off by it because, well, it won't add to the beauty of your airplane interior. But I tell you what, it would definitely take care of the flap handle position problem I have in the Maule!

My Maule is a 1980 and the flap handle laid flat on the floor. I just about bumped my head everytime I bent forward to add a notch. On short final the dash competely blocked my view when I tried to grab that final notch. Not a good thing!

I have added a new handle, that has about a 30 degree bend in it, and is reasonably inexpensive from Maule. That helped a lot but there is still a lot of bending to set flaps.

With the EZFlap there was no bending at all. The trigger pull was smooth and positive and there was no slop in the handle. It looked to be very well made and the welds were excellent and could hardly be noticed. Actually, it worked so well that it started to look better to me in the cockpit!

I understand that some folks from Maule were over to review the handle. Bill said he would let me know if Maule adopts it or it gets STC'd. That would make it easy to put one in my plane!

If you have the same problem as me, pulling on flaps in your plane, it might be worth your while to take a little closer look at this solution.

I am glad you like it and wrote a good review. I remember back when Bill first posted about it and I think I was the first to tell him I thought it was a great idea. I have 2 rods in my back and the majority of it fused so I have a major issue bending over to operate my flap handle in my 172. Sadly I haven't seen or tried his EZ-Flap yet but I have to give him credit for following through with the idea and not getting to offended by the nay-sayers that first responded to his mechanism.
Keith

The timing of this post was right on, I've been sitting on my EZ flap for a few months, and finally got it in when my 185 was in for an annual. So far I love it. I'm new to the 185 (150 hours or so) so changing my habits has not been a huge deal, I find it hugely valuable in getting off short without taking my eye off the runway, as well as cleaning things up after landing. The mechanism is smooth and the construction is excellent quality. I'm not a big user of trim but it does block the trim wheel a bit.

I'll have to post some pics of the plane as I have completed most of what I wanted to do to it. My skywagon has become the butt of jokes around here among the rugged traditionalists. Its got a 430, a 696, an Aspen PFD, an EI MVP-50, an alpha angle of attack, and now an EZ flap. The comment I hear again and again is "Why don't you just learn to fly the plane the way it was designed?" usually with a bit of good natured ribbing in there. What I've found though is that with all the bells and whistles I'm able to make the plane do exactly what I want and stay ahead of it. Its an awesome machine, gonna try to make it to caveman on saturday.

Brad

Is it STC'd for Stinsons? I was looking at the website yesterday and couldn't find any info about it

As Bill mentioned in another thread I met him at the Alaska show last weekend and checked out his product. It seems very well made, is bombproof and is not nearly as unattractive as I thought it would be from previous photos. I don't think I want it in my 170 but if I had a plane with a higher panel i would definitely reconsider.

Justine,
I hate to answer for Bill but I don't think he has it approved for the Stinson as of yet. Just send him an email at: [email protected].
He seems like a good guy and can answer your questions. As far as I know from folowing his progress, so far it covers Cessna and Pipers. I would guess he is working on other applications.
I bet he will chime in here at any time.
Good Luck,
Keith

As the first EZ Flap handle operator -I like it and helped (?) with it's development. Mine has the Prototype installed -I just wasn't happy with the black color . I think there may be a Stinson and Maule version coming(check with Bill Berle) to the STC/PMA .

Thank you all for taking the time to post on this. Each of you will be receiving your steak dinner and beer bribe as promised

Thanks specifically for all the positive "product reviews". The Skywagon and Super Cub people in Alaska last weekend were especially responsive to this, and I almost sold out my inventory. I guess a warm welcome from the folks who fly hard up there every day is the best advertising I can have. One guy bought one on Saturday, his dad installed it in his 180, they both loved it, and the dad called me yesterday to get one for himself. I think one of the Super Cub people will be using it in the STOL competition next weekend (I hope).

Bill Reid (182 STOLDriver) indeed flies the unpainted prototype serial number one, and was my first test pilot. It was Bill's old '56 182 I was sitting in (one fine day 5 years ago) when I had the original idea for this gadget.

There are currently several of these units going in Maules on field approvals. I will hopefully be working with Maule Air as mentioned.Also there has been one test-mounted in a Stinson 108, and it will work in that airplane just as well as the others.I will be glad to work with Justine and any other 108 folks who are interested.

Now we've all heard the stories about how tough field approvals are these days, but I will venture an educated guess that a field approval for this gizmo will be far far less troublesome than most. Here's why:

1) The FAA is famous for not liking field approvals based on Wal Mart sprinkler valves in the fuel system, or Chinese Grade 2 bolts holding the struts on your wing. This would be for already an FAA PMA airplane part, certified for use on a similar aircraft flap system.
2) It is 100% fail-safe in that it never interferes with normal operation of the flaps using the OEM flap control. They love that, and so they should.
3) It doesn't require any de-rigging or re-rigging, nor does it require any significant modification of the OEM aircraft or flap system. It can be removed quickly for under-panel avionics work or for any other reason. They love that, and your IA loves it too.
4) Field approvals will be strongly supported by the STC owner (me), and I will work directly with local FSDO and DER/DAR designees to insure a smooth ride.

So in the case of Justine's 108, or any of the Maules going in now (or a Husky, or a PA-12 / PA-14 upgraded with PA-18 flaps, etc.), it should be a much more do-able thing. There are a couple of PA-32's about to do this because that uses the same system as the (STC) PA-28.

Anyway, thanks again to all of you for the positive reviews. And Keith (WW Hunter), I remember vividly that you were the very first one to say something nice here. Thank you sincerely. Send me your address, N number and airplane serial number. I'll send you one of these gadgets, put it in your airplane, fly with it for a week, and then decide if you want to buy it. I'll honor the early discount price I offered, as a small token of thanks for helping me keep my chin up last year during the "piss on the new guy" festival. If you aren't 100% in love with it, send it back with no hard feelings.

Thank you for the info!

EZ, how tall is your extension? How much difference on center from the stock flap handle to your extended one?

I was just peeking at that this morning..

Lots more information here:
www.ezflaphandle.com

Or, find the link to the installation manuals. Might be helpful.
http://www.ezflaphandle.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=8


- Joseph

VFRsim wrote:I was just peeking at that this morning..

Lots more information here:
http://www.ezflaphandle.com

Or, find the link to the installation manuals. Might be helpful.
http://www.ezflaphandle.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=8


- Joseph

I checked and didn't find any dimensions.


I'm curious about the Piper model, Bill. 18, I think it was.

As the original "crash test dummy " of the EZflap and writer of the review of the EZFlap in November 2009 Cessna Pilots Association Magazine. Manual flaps are the way to go no mater the manufacture of your particular airplane. I think Bill Berle has STC/PMA for 95% of all the aircraft with manual flaps. Of the 500 of EZflap devices delivered I think Bill told me he had 2 units returned. I make this statement > "IF you have Manual flaps -this product will improve your safety " also I think all the STOL competition winners in Valdez have this and use it.

I'm experimental, no stc required. Just curious about the length between the stock handle and the ez flap. I'd be interested in giving it a shot if it's not too long.

CamTom12 wrote:I'm experimental, no stc required. Just curious about the length between the stock handle and the ez flap. I'd be interested in giving it a shot if it's not too long.

Thank you guys once again for all the kind words and positive reviews, over the course of 6 years now. Means a lot to this career airport bum.

I'll try to answer everything in one post here:

I would love to have sold 500 units, but I've only sold just short of 300. There have been less than 10 returns (for any reason) and only 3 or 4 because the aircraft owner felt that (my aggressive) sales claims about the product itself were not accurate. The reasons for the other returns included a few owners that could not safely install the unit because of other conflicting equipment mounted in the cabin (Forest Service Super Cub with additional radios and electronics, etc.), one guy whose wife threatened to divorce him if he didn't get rid of the whole airplane, and one guy who exercised the refund guarantee just before he sold the airplane for financial reasons.

The original EZ Flap unit (Cessna 100, Cherokee family, Beech Sport-Musketeer family) puts the new auxiliary grip about 11 inches above the original aircraft's flap handle.

The "Style 18" EZ Flap unit (PA-18/20/22, Maule, Stinson) puts the new auxiliary grip just about 8 inches above the original aircraft's flap handle.

The Cessna version features the auxiliary grip facing rearward, and the shorter version has the grip facing forward. This is necessary; a lot of time, measurements and testing showed the geometry and seat heights, flap handle throw, avoidance of interference with the seat cushions, etc. required two different versions. The product will NOT work correctly (or safely) when installed in the wrong airplane... there is a legitimate reason for the two different styles.

CamTom, regardless of whether the unit is for an STC-PMA installation or an experimental, you have a 100% money back guarantee. Return it to me at any time undamaged for a full refund.

We should briefly discuss your particular installation... so far I have no idea what type or configuration airplane you want to try this in. EXP Super Cub replica...Bearhawk...Cyclone 185 replica...Maule built up out of wrecked parts??? Basically, let me know what type of airplane you have, I might need a measurement or photo, but I can figure it out pretty quick.

More importantly, if it turns out you need a specific custom length unit for an experimental installation.... no problem.

EDIT: I just looked up your profile and see you have an experimental Pacer. Does your airplane have a "stock" design flap control and "stock" design seats?

EZ,
I'm unsure, I've never been in another Pacer. At the end of the month when I see my plane again I'll snap a photo for you and let you know what height range I think might work.

My flap handle is angled up a few degrees in the center of the lever, that might be the only "non stock" aspect about the interior.

I have very high regards for Bill. If he could be just a bit more brief with his posts. Hay Zane, an new revenue source. Free posting for the first 200 words. then 10 cents a word after that.

Tim

qmdv wrote:I have very high regards for Bill. If he could be just a bit more brief with his posts. Hay Zane, an new revenue source. Free posting for the first 200 words. then 10 cents a word after that.

Tim

I'm with Bill--look at the word count of some of my posts! I worked part-time for a bank many years ago, and one of my jobs was to review all of the loans over $100,000 to be sure the bank was secured by adequate collateral, and then write an opinion to be placed in that file. I was thorough--and one day my boss called me in and said, "You do realize that we're not paying you by the word, don't you?"

Cary

Cary wrote:

qmdv wrote:I have very high regards for Bill. If he could be just a bit more brief with his posts. Hay Zane, an new revenue source. Free posting for the first 200 words. then 10 cents a word after that.

Tim

I'm with Bill--look at the word count of some of my posts! I worked part-time for a bank many years ago, and one of my jobs was to review all of the loans over $100,000 to be sure the bank was secured by adequate collateral, and then write an opinion to be placed in that file. I was thorough--and one day my boss called me in and said, "You do realize that we're not paying you by the word, don't you?"

Cary

Sum Up

Tim

Bill, would love to have one on the Bearhawk if we can figure out the geometries. You and I looked mine over pretty close when we were in Austin NV a few years ago, if you recall. We didn't come up with anything then but I would like to try again.