Intro questions

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Jamie
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:39 pm

Intro questions

Post by Jamie »

Hello!
Yet another tire kicking questioner ,

While searching online, I haven't been able to find Information on how long it actually takes people to build a piet. I usually find something someone starting it then life getting in the way and 10 years later finishing. How long did it take you?


I'm considering ordering the plans, and the aircraftspruce kit from, well aircraft spruce.

My concerns are though that I'm not the greatest at carpentry. And I've never built a plane, and I'm working in a small space (12x 16 shed) in town. How difficult is it to make jigs and interpert and follow the plans?
Earl Brown
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:24 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by Earl Brown »

Hi Jamie

I have heard of projects being completed in as little as a year, but I think 5 is about average build time.
Lots of other things do get in the way during the project!

There is no really complicated woodworking in the plane, (some of the welding is more complicated than the wood work)
it was designed so anyone with basic skills could build it.
Most people start with the tail surfaces or the ribs. Those projects don't take a lot of money for materials or space to build.
A 12' x 16' shed is going to get tight when you get to the wings and the fuselage though!

The plans are not CAD drawings, they were drawn in the 1930s and are actually pretty good and easy to follow, but may take some extra
study if you are used to modern plans. They do have some errors, but after 90 years of people building from the plans, the errors are well
known as well as solutions for them.
Jamie
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:39 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by Jamie »

Thanks for the reply,

Can the wings be made to be "easily " removeable for trailering ?
Earl Brown
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Nov 04, 2019 12:24 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by Earl Brown »

The plane wasn’t designed for trailering.
On the 3 piece wing, the outer wing panels are removable, but it’s not a simple project and not one you are going to want to be doing before and after each flight.
PoconoJohn
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:07 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by PoconoJohn »

Welcome Jamie!

Check out builder websites showing photos. Earl is building a Pietenpol of Rolex quality. His site is here: https://myalbum.com/album/Qr9ZpfXe8M22

Other builders may not follow the plans (not necessarily a bad thing). They may not follow best practices. So, use caution looking at other builders.

Oh, definitely have books from Uncle Tony. Here's the complete set: https://www.eaa.org/Shop/ProductCatalog ... opicID=941 At the very least, buy Sportplane Construction Techniques and The Sportplane Builder.

And you'll need this book: https://www.eaa.org/Shop/ProductCatalog ... opicID=941

The plans require caution. Measurements are wrong in places (fuselage length and tail height for example). Parts are missing in places. Typos. There's a lot of problem solving to be done as you'll have to figure out how to make certain pieces. The builders before you can help. Read through the forums. Use the search feature and start with ribs; see what questions have already been asked.

I consider the plans more of a suggestion. At some point, a measurement will be whatever you need to make the part and make it fit.

Start with ribs (already a decision to make..use full size template or the plots from plans and draw it yourself). Next the tail section; vertical stabilizer is a good start there.

The more tools you have, the easier it'll be. The tools I use the most are the bandsaw, drill press, belt sander and a heavy duty vise. I have a router & table which has been indispensable for tail section pieces. For the metal parts, I use a metal cutting bandsaw and bench grinder. I hire a welder. A scroll saw comes in handy at times. A small rotary tool (like Dremel) is sometimes useful. I have a floor mounted metal bender which helps. You'll need a solid work bench and a nice table for constructing parts. Lot's of clamps of various types and sizes. You'll need good drill bits. For metal holes, you'll want a size a tad small and then a reamer.

Sites to visit:

http://westcoastpiet.com/pictures.htm
https://www.pietenpolaircraftcompany.co ... nstruction
https://myalbum.com/album/bNQLRUSE6foQ
https://imageevent.com/hatz/piet - my site. I'm building a Timex :)
https://www.scottyspietenpol.com/
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/category. ... category=0
http://pietenpol.cpc-world.com/
http://mypiet.com/pietenpolproject/flightcontrols.php
http://forums.matronics.com/viewforum.php?f=7

Membership at https://www.pietenpols.org/

Some video here may interest you: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtg0vE ... /playlists

Hope that helps.

John C
Jamie
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:39 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by Jamie »

Thanks!
User avatar
taildrags
Posts: 637
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:39 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by taildrags »

Jamie; My airplane has the 3-piece wing and I've had the wing panels on and off several times. It's not something that can be done without two or three people working together (unless you have slings and stands and a lot of patience) and it's not something that is quick and easy, even if you do it right. We've figured out that the most important tools for the job (besides combination wrenches and sockets) are a handful of different lengths and diameters of Phillips screwdrivers for each person because whoever is closest to a fitting can quickly and easily slip a screwdriver into the mating fittings without them having to exactly line up and with plenty of 'wiggle room' to let you go fit up the next one once you've got one loosely pinned in place. Once everything is "screwdriver'd", then it's just a matter of going from fitting to fitting and replacing each screwdriver with the correct hardware and once they're all in place, final-tightening and inspecting everything. Then once the wings are bolted and braced, the aileron control cables get reconnected and rigged and the pitot line is reconnected. Once you're happy with the control cable rigging and everything is safetied and inspected, the wing root covers and inspection cover plates go back on. It's not a trivial exercise and can take a couple of hours if you only have one helper or you don't have all the right tools on hand.

The easiest thing to do is put a pillow or pad on the ground out where the wingtip can rest on it, then concentrate on getting the two wing attach fittings screwdriver'd or loosely bolted at the wing root. Tthe wingtip can then be held up while two people fit the struts into place. Once you do it a time or two, it gets easier but it's never going to be something like race car drivers pulling in to get a tire change in 30 seconds ;o)

The second time we removed and reinstalled the wings, we didn't slack off the wing strut X-brace wire turnbuckles to see if they would go back into place when reinstalled without having to adjust the cable tension. They did, but we had safety wire on hand in case we needed to un-safety the turnbuckles and re-safety them after tensioning to a low 'twang'. Not a dull 'thunk' or a high "twing'... just a comfortable 'twang' or 'bung' note. The wing removal makes construction in a small shop easier and it's the only way to trailer the airplane on the highway, but it's certainly not for every flight.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
Air Camper NX41CC, A75 power
PoconoJohn
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:07 pm

Re: Intro questions

Post by PoconoJohn »

I was seriously considering the single wing (room no issue) until someone mentioned the issue of retrieving a grounded plane from a field. In other words, with an emergency, if the plane can't fly out, I'll have to take it apart, so the three piece is the way to go. That sold me.

John C
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