Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Richard Roller

Thanks so much for posting all these pictures. Fantastic!

Richard Roller

When Ken built N34KP he used the Superflite covering system, whichever version it was in the late 90's. I've been on their site and they also have a 2 part epoxy varnish. I'm not sure what Ken used to varnish the structure of his Piet. When I was removing the finish in the repair area (with a block ...

Richard Roller

I guess I should have mentioned the engine, it's a Ford model A.

Richard Roller

Hi all. While on my way to Brodhead this last summer for the fly in, N34KP was damaged. The tail wheel assembly was almost torn off the airplane. I've been working on repairing the damage these last few months. The damaged area is repaired now and it's time to recover the area. This is where I'm loo...

Richard Roller

Not sure which model you have in mind. The first thing that comes to mind is that they are very light. That could be a balance problem. The Piet that I fly, Ken Perkins N34KP, has the engine (256 lbs.) moved forward 7 inches from the original plans posistion. This is to allow for the "larger&qu...

Richard Roller

That is a standard J-3 exhaust system for a Continental engine. Something else is causing the burning on the gear vee. Mixture problem?

Richard Roller

For sale: new, never installed, one pair Cleveland wheels and brakes. Brakes come with axle torque plates. Master cylinders NOT included. Cleveland P/N 199-104. Wheels: 40-59B, Magnesium, 6:00 x 6 tube type. 1-1/2" axles. Rated at 1750 lbs. TSO-C26b. Used on Beech 19, 23, 24R, Skipper, Piper To...

Richard Roller

Hey everyone. I've had several people inquire about parts and prints done by Ken Perkins. When he died all his aircraft stuff was donated to VAA 16 in Gardner, Ks. I've been given a contact email if anyone wishes to ask about parts and prints.

Kevin Pratt
kpratt@centuryroofingkc.com

Richard Roller

Ken Perkins did the same thing to the leading edge of his wing. His has the Pietenpol airfoil.

Richard Roller

Another consideration. The weights you are referencing for the A-65 and the model A might not be accurate. I can say from weighing the Ford A in Ken Perkins Piet that the engine weight, for HIS engjne, was 256lbs., but that included oil, 2 gallons of water, and a wooden prop. The engine also has an ...

Richard Roller

IMG_0239.JPG I did the weight and balance for a local Piet in my area, Kansas City, Mo., by Virgil Chapman a long time builder. I believe it was his 4th project. His Piet is built to the plans with a steel tube fuselage, Cleveland 6:00 x 6 wheels and brakes, Vi Kapler three piece wing, die spring s...

Richard Roller

I use these goggles. They fit over my glasses and are comfortable. I did fly without for several years with no problems, but it was an odd feeling if I stuck my head out the side into the slipstream. I worried about losing my glasses. https://www.amazon.com/Halcyon-Vision-Goggles-Clear-Lenses/dp/B00...

Richard Roller

Ken Perkins routed the leading edge, between ribs.

Richard Roller

I'm looking for an operational EBC-102A elt. That's what is in Ken Perkins Piet. I'm not sure it's still good. I'd like to put the same back so I wouldn't have to change the mount.

Does anyone have one they might want to sell for a reasonable price?

Richard Roller

I have Ken's Piet.

Richard Roller

Thanks for posting the pictures. I've been brainstorming on a tube fuselage Piet for a while now and it's nice to see pictures of someone else's solutions to the various things I've been wondering about.

Richard Roller

Yes, I like the location of the compass also. I can't see the compass in the Piet I fly.

Richard Roller

Looks fine to me. Get that tri-plane!

Richard Roller

The snap ring goes in the hub after the nut is installed. It's what the nut pushes against when you remove the hub from the tapered shaft of the engine.

Richard Roller

Brian. Ken Perkins tig welded his horns. He made a copper heat sink to do the leading edges with rod. Then pulled the trailing edges together and fusion welded those edges. He used a technique that I was taught when I was still doing composite work on big a/c. I would weld my own thermo-couples. The...

Richard Roller

Brian. Generally when you get 4130 steel it comes in the "normalized" condition. Most information on bending is listed for this condition. I recently posted a chart for bending 4130 used on 737's. The main thing is using at least the minimum bend radius recommended and being careful of the...

Richard Roller

Clay. Not the best picture, but I'll take another the next time I get a chance.

Richard Roller

Clay. I believe that Ken made the instrument from an old International Harvester truck instrument cluster. He replaced the speedometer with a tach and it has an oil pressure gauge with a water temp. Oddly enough, recently, I was going to fly the Piet, when I started the engine the whole cluster fell...

Richard Roller

A rare 60° day in January.

Richard Roller

On the weight and balance aspect. When finishing Ken Perkin's piet it turned out to be tail heavy. Not wanting to tilt the wing back we moved the engine 7 inches forward by extending the mount. It's work well for over 18 years now. I also think it looks better.

Richard Roller

This is the info I used when working on certain large aircraft.

steel bend radius.pdf: (216.89 KiB) Downloaded 416 times

Richard Roller

Oscar. I'd have to agree with you on the glue subject. We don't have to comply with the military specs on glues. But we would be a little crazy not to consider the information available in the mil. specs. or from AC 43.13. Information from successful builders should, of course, be considered. I'm aw...

Richard Roller

Ken Perkins water jetted the steel parts for several years. He made many sets of them. He would take a water jet course at the local community college (with the senior citizen discount) and cut out multiple sets. Before anyone asks, I don't have his drawings. He had them on USB drive and it wasn't f...

Richard Roller

Yes, Oscar, is is good to see the old bird fly again. I took it up again today to get back in the groove. A bouncy landing yesterday. Much better today. Piets are so much fun to fly.

Richard Roller

Great day everyone! Ken’s Piet, N34KP, has flown again! This morning I flew it across town from KIXD to K34, in Gardner, Ks. It ran like a fine watch, smooth. When I put the engine back together I tried a few different techniques, trying to dry up the oil leaks. So far, so good. The first time I’ve ...

Richard Roller

Oscar. I apologize for not answering your question about Ken's Piet front cockpit instruments. I missed it entirely. Yes, it does still have the two dice instrument that say "Flying is a gamble". It also still has the "navibird" installed. I did take out the toilet paper roll mov...

Richard Roller

Hey everyone. I finally have the paperwork straightened out on Ken Perkin's Piet. It's amazing how fast something can get done when you get hold of a FAA Fed that is interested in helping you. I will be finishing the condition inspection soon. Then I'll get it back in the air. Can't wait!

Richard Roller

Hi everyone. I'm home from the 2018 rain-in! A question: does anyone know about Doc Mosher? I didn't see him and wasn't able to find out anything about him. Any info out there?

Richard Roller

Oscar. The engine work is not an issue. It’s the engine that came out of the Piet. No change in the installation or the airframe. The issue is that sometime in the last few years as the Piet set on the ground the airworthiness certificate and operations limitations have disappeared. They were kept i...

Richard Roller

Hi everyone. It doesn't look like Ken's Piet is coming to Brodhead this year. The paperwork is still not straightened out and I can't see good enough yet. So I'll be driving, but I will be there.

Richard Roller

I agree with Terry on this subject. When I first started my tube Piet project I had to learn basic stress analysis, statics, so that I would feel good about what I was changing. I ran an analysis on the tube Piet that comes with the Pietenpol family drawings. Using standard category loads (FAR 23) I...

Richard Roller

I've been working on a long steel tube fuselage project for a few years, at least the drawing and weight and balance part of it. I'm not a big fan of sweeping the wing back, so I've been using a spreadsheet to check the balance as I go. I fly Ken Perkins Piet, short wood with a Ford model A, and we ...

Richard Roller

Ken's Piet ran this morning, the first time in 6 years. It started on the first pull with a hot mag. Minor oil leaks on the rear of the engine so far.

Richard Roller

Okay, I'll bite. What is it?

Richard Roller

Hey everyone. I remember, last year, that The Brodhead Chamber of Commerce had asked if anyone would interested in a shuttle service onto town. I don't know if it happened or not. I'm curious because I'm going to try to get Ken Perkins Piet to Brodhead this year. I have a place to stay in town but h...

Richard Roller

I wouldn't know if there would be enough demand for dual plug heads. Ken had talked, off and on, about doing that on his, but never did. I know he sold several drives for dual mags. I believe Ron Stoinoff has dual plugs on his Piet project.

Richard Roller

I just wanted to let everyone know what's up with Ken Perkins Piet. I've reassembled the engine and have it sitting on the mount. I still plan on flying the Piet to Brodhead this summer. There are paperwork issues and I may have eye surgery soon, but that is the plan.

Richard Roller

Some additional info. When Ken was first running his Piet he had some fuel supply problems. The solution was not in the jet size, but in fuel supply through the needle/seat combination. Ken initially drilled the seat to increase the flow. Then he had another problem in that the needle couldn't stop ...

Richard Roller

model b ford jet and needle valve.pdf: (1.07 MiB) Downloaded 362 times

A drawing Ken made for a needle and seat for a model B ford carb for use on a gravity system on a Pietenpol.

Richard Roller

Don, I just ran across your post on mag drives. I looked at the picture on the thread that was posted and it looks like the same drive used by Ken Perkins on his Piet with a model A. Ken made a "cup" that fits around a Continental o-470/io520 six cylinder engines mag drive cup. The cup hol...

Richard Roller

Ernest,
While working to get Ken Perkins engine back together for his Piet, I ran across a drawing he made of a needle and seat for gravity fed carburetors for model a Fords with a 'B' carb. If you haven't solved your problem yet I could scan the drawing for you and sent it your way.

Richard

Richard Roller

About 1:30 into this video you will see me landing in Ken's Piet. You can see the flop jumping up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFXw7ARl3dw

Richard Roller

The attachment IMG_4108.JPG is no longer available

The attachment IMG_4105.JPG is no longer available

The attachment IMG_4101.JPG is no longer available

I got a chance to take some pictures of Ken's Piet's flop.

Richard Roller

I'm sorry to report that Ken has passed away. He died Monday, the 18th of December after suffering a stroke the previous Sat. I know that Ken will be missed by many people in the Pietenpol Family. His expertise and his great sense of humor is a loss to the Piet family that can't be replaced. Richard...

Richard Roller

Rob, I was trying to estimate the size of the tongue on your trailing edge piece. 3/8" wide by 1/4" thick? Would you tell us?
Richard.

Search found 257 matches