1964 Roloff/Unger RLU-1 Breezy - N59Y
Location: Homebuilts
Charley Roloff, Carl Unger, and Bob Liposky designed and constructed the Breezy in 1964. An instant success from the beginning, the Breezy made its first appearance at the EAA fly-in convention at Rockford, Illinois, in 1965. The new airplane created a sensation by giving rides from morning until night, with people always clamoring for more. For the designers, the Breezy clearly met its design criteria — a simple and fun airplane.
The Breezy used a set of Piper PA-12 wings and a factory new Continental C-90-8 engine with a special pusher crank. The original propeller was still being used after 800 hours and the engine was on only its second set of spark plugs. With an empty weight of 698 pounds, the prototype consistently out-performed other Breezys. Carl did much of the welding on the airplane himself. The 10-gallon fuel tank, which Carl also built, lasted the entire time the Breezy was flying.
Carl flew the Breezy at fly-in demonstrations and recreationally for 25 years. Many thousands of people took rides with Carl in the Breezy, including an FAA Administrator Sen. Barry Goldwater, actor Cliff Robertson, and an entire Concorde crew. People loved flying in the Breezy because it was elemental and safe and the flight provided a thrill unmatched by any other experience.
The Breezy was one of the most universally recognized aircraft to emerge from the EAA movement. Charley’s design and Carl’s construction proved to create a very popular airplane with EAA members. After 25 years, Carl decided to donate his prototype Breezy to the EAA Aviation Museum. In October 1990, Carl flew the famous red and white Breezy to Oshkosh and touched down for the last time on the runway at EAA’s Pioneer Airport.
Length: 22 feet, 6 inches
Wingspan: 33 feet
Empty Weight: 698 pounds
Gross Weight: 1,500 pounds
Seats: 2-3
Maximum Speed: 105 mph
Cruise Speed: 65-75 mph
Range: 250 miles
Powerplant: Continental C-90-8
Horsepower: 90 hp
