Quickie Q1

Rutan Quickie Q1: The Space-Age Efficiency Master

The Quickie Q1 is one of the most distinctive aircraft ever flown, looking more like a spaceship from Star Wars than a homebuilt plane. Designed by the legendary Burt Rutan, it was created to prove that high speed and futuristic looks could be achieved with a simple industrial engine. It is a masterpiece of composite construction and aerodynamic daring.

Why Is It a Legend?

• Radical Aerodynamics: It features a “tandem wing” design (canard) where the lift is shared between two wings. The main landing gear is uniquely located at the tips of the front wing.

• Unbelievable Efficiency: It was marketed as achieving “100 miles per gallon” at 100 mph. It turned a humble 18-horsepower engine into a high-speed cruiser.

• Composite Revolution: It helped popularize “moldless” composite construction. Builders carved foam cores and covered them with fiberglass and epoxy, allowing for smooth, complex curves without expensive molds.

• Bang for the Buck: It offered the speed of a Cessna 150 for the fuel cost of a moped and the build cost of a used motorcycle.

Performance and Key Numbers
The Quickie is famous for being a “hot rod” powered by a lawnmower engine. It isn’t a bush plane, but as a personal cross-country machine, its numbers are mind-boggling.

General Specifications:

• Crew: 1 pilot

• Wingspan (Rear): 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)

• Length: 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m)

• Wing Area: 53 sq ft (4.9 m²)

• Empty Weight: 240 – 260 lbs (109 – 118 kg)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 480 – 520 lbs (217 – 236 kg)

• Useful Load: Approx. 240 lbs (109 kg)

• Typical Engine Power: 18 – 22 hp (Onan industrial engine)

Performance:

• Glide Ratio: Approx. 14:1 (very clean aerodynamics)

• Cruise Speed: 115 – 125 mph (185 – 201 km/h)

• Stall Speed: 53 mph (85 km/h)

• Rate of Climb: 350 – 420 ft/min (1.8 – 2.1 m/s)

• Takeoff Distance: 600 – 800 ft (180 – 245 m) on pavement

• Fuel Consumption: 1 – 1.5 gallons per hour (3.8 – 5.7 L/h)

• Range: Approx. 550 miles (885 km)

In short, the Rutan Quickie Q1 is the perfect choice if you want to turn heads at every airport, love working with fiberglass, and want to fly faster than highway traffic on the budget of a college student.