Search found 641 matches

by taildrags
Sun Jun 24, 2018 10:03 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Pre-building paperwork/registration/how to keep from doing anything illegal?
Replies: 2
Views: 2766

Re: Pre-building paperwork/registration/how to keep from doing anything illegal?

Caleb; you can build anything you want to in your backyard, as long as your building restrictions allow it. From the aviation side of things, you don't need any sort of license or permission to build an experimental amateur-built "homebuilt" airplane, or parts of it, anywhere you like. My ...
by taildrags
Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:06 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: The Jeepenpol is ready for another test flight
Replies: 4
Views: 4820

Re: The Jeepenpol is ready for another test flight

Kenny; please contact me offline, taildrags@hotmail.com , about getting some photos of your Jeepenpol. Thanks!
by taildrags
Fri Jun 22, 2018 10:06 am
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: f/s Pietenpol engine
Replies: 3
Views: 3290

Re: f/s Pietenpol engine

Dunno, but it looks like it was mounted to a Piet at some point in its life due to the bed-style engine mount and exhaust stacks. By the way, posters with something to sell on this board should note that there is a separate area for Classified Ads that may get you more attention than posting to the ...
by taildrags
Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:15 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Sitka Spruce
Replies: 4
Views: 4391

Re: Sitka Spruce

Unless you're clear over on the East coast and don't have a friend who is a trucker, you might try Edensaw Woods in Port Townsend, WA. Other builders have gotten spruce from them.

www.edensaw.com
by taildrags
Wed Jun 13, 2018 3:06 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Third Quarter BPA Newsletter
Replies: 1
Views: 2424

Re: Third Quarter BPA Newsletter

Gary's beautiful Air Camper made the cover. Nice-!
by taildrags
Mon Jun 04, 2018 4:09 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: West Coast Piet Fly-In
Replies: 0
Views: 5550

West Coast Piet Fly-In

Was the Frazier Lake event held this past weekend? Any pix or reports? My wife and I were out of the country the last 10 days.
by taildrags
Sun Jun 03, 2018 10:46 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Pietenpol Plans
Replies: 3
Views: 3667

Re: Pietenpol Plans

Mark; I'm just a ways down the road from you in Medford and I have a full set of plans if you have any questions or any difficulty interpreting the intent of the plans. Some of the materials called out in the plans have been superseded by more modern materials and methods, so unless you're striving ...
by taildrags
Sun May 20, 2018 9:57 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: ASI question
Replies: 3
Views: 3570

Re: ASI question

Ron: yes, absolutely... the instrument compares ram air pressure to static air pressure to come up with an airspeed indication, so the static port has to either be open to the cockpit or else have a tube run from it to a static port on the side of the fuselage. Check that brass plug again though: it...
by taildrags
Tue May 15, 2018 11:20 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Ken Perkins Piet
Replies: 17
Views: 11740

Re: Ken Perkins Piet

Steve; if you just look at the A engine, which was about 200 cu.in., had a compression ratio of 4.11:1, and was rated 40HP at 2200 RPM in the original setup, see if you think you can get it to make *three times* its rated power output without cranking it up too much higher than its rated speed, whic...
by taildrags
Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:17 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: strut cable adjusting?
Replies: 4
Views: 4144

Re: strut cable adjusting?

Ron; I'm surprised that nobody has replied to your question, because it's something that every airplane needs to have done and it's important to how the plane ends up flying and handling. I haven't had to adjust mine from scratch, only take the wings off and reinstall them a couple of times to move ...
by taildrags
Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:46 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Corvair Fuel Burn
Replies: 1
Views: 2275

Re: Corvair Fuel Burn

Most Corvairs will likely see 5-6 gal/hr fuel burn at cruise, but it depends on how the engine is operated.
by taildrags
Sun Apr 08, 2018 10:51 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: need tires
Replies: 2
Views: 3720

Re: need tires

Ron; can you clarify that a little? That tire size doesn't sound familiar to me. Taking a look at the first dozen of the smallest tires available from Aircraft Spruce, there are only a couple for 4" wheels and nothing like what you're looking for:
tires.JPG
by taildrags
Sat Apr 07, 2018 10:14 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Jury strut replacement
Replies: 2
Views: 2895

Re: Jury strut replacement

The jury struts on 41CC are made of steel tubing with the ends flattened and drilled for mounting. I think mine are 3/16" tubing. The whole intent is to create a rigid rectangle and the jury struts are in compression and aren't very long, so it would seem that 6061T6 would work. I'm sure others...
by taildrags
Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:56 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: prop question
Replies: 8
Views: 5906

Re: prop question

Ron: I must add the caution that you should NOT attempt to operate the aircraft in the air without a fully-functional and tested carburetor heat system. This is imperative with carbureted engines like the Continental A65, and I can attest to this by personal experience. Ground operations without car...
by taildrags
Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:29 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: prop question
Replies: 8
Views: 5906

Re: prop question

Ron; I'm ashamed to say that my new responsibilities as president of our company have left me with very little free time, so I have not sent out the carb heat box yet. It is still on the seat right next to me in my Ford Ranger. I just need to box it up and get it sent out!
by taildrags
Mon Apr 02, 2018 4:58 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: prop question
Replies: 8
Views: 5906

Re: prop question

Ron; I went through the logs and although I couldn't find anything indicating what the metal prop was that was on 41CC originally, a log book entry by the test pilot indicated that he was getting 2300 RPM static and that it should be more like 2100-2150 so if you're not even seeing 2000, you're low ...
by taildrags
Sun Apr 01, 2018 11:34 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: prop question
Replies: 8
Views: 5906

Re: prop question

Ron; my airplane, NX41CC, originally made its first flights and most of its test hours behind an A65-8 with a metal prop. I'll have to look through the original logs to see what pitch and diameter metal prop were on it, but it later flew with a wood prop that weighed somewhat less so there is a log ...
by taildrags
Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:22 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: Scout Project
Replies: 1
Views: 3756

Re: Scout Project

Area code 203 puts this project in Connecticut, so this would most likely be of interest to potential builders east of the Mississippi...
by taildrags
Mon Mar 19, 2018 10:17 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: carb heat box
Replies: 10
Views: 8086

Re: carb heat box

Ron; the distance from where I'm sitting typing this to the center of the Brodhead airport is 1,704 miles. At an average groundspeed of 60 MPH, that's about 30 flight hours each way. If I were to manage four legs of 2 hours apiece each day, it would take me about 4 days of flying to get there. Proba...
by taildrags
Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:19 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: carb heat box
Replies: 10
Views: 8086

Re: carb heat box

Ron; I would be happy to donate the carb heat box to the cause, just maybe $10 for me to box it up and send it out. Give me your info and I'll send it out to you. Note also that you can remove the tube that sticks out the bottom and just let it dump into the cowling if you don't want to make a hole ...
by taildrags
Mon Mar 12, 2018 4:25 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: carb heat box
Replies: 10
Views: 8086

Re: carb heat box

Ron; I have the heat box but need to hold it up to a Stromberg carb to make sure it's the right one. This one has the intake air 'dump tube' that sticks out the bottom to dump excess intake air when carb heat is applied. It works fine but is not new and has had some dents straightened out on it in t...
by taildrags
Wed Mar 07, 2018 9:28 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: carb heat box
Replies: 10
Views: 8086

Re: carb heat box

Ron; I may have one in my hangar but will have to look next time I'm out there.
by taildrags
Sat Mar 03, 2018 3:38 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Seeking Aileron Pulley Bracket Advice
Replies: 13
Views: 10751

Re: Seeking Aileron Pulley Bracket Advice

Brent; if the part is held up to the wood, you're right... it will not be possible to insert the bolts with the part assembled. However, if the bolts are inserted into the holes in the metal and they're not a tight fit, the part could then be moved into position and the bolts pushed through the hole...
by taildrags
Thu Mar 01, 2018 10:29 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Seeking Aileron Pulley Bracket Advice
Replies: 13
Views: 10751

Re: Seeking Aileron Pulley Bracket Advice

r1200GSDave- I have never built this bracket myself, so there isn't much that I can offer. However, seeing that the plans call for brazing the inner brackets to the main "U" pulley holder bracket, I have read about problems with brazing 4130 steel and cracks developing. If you are making y...
by taildrags
Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:34 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Mexican Air Camper in Texas - Help
Replies: 3
Views: 3704

Re: Mexican Air Camper in Texas - Help

There are some distinctives on this airplane that may make it easier to spot in a crowd. In the first place, the main landing gear attachment points make this out to be a Grega GN-1 Aircamper, not a Pietenpol Air Camper. Second, it's got the elevator bellcranks and cables outside the fuselage skin a...
by taildrags
Mon Feb 26, 2018 4:43 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: B carb needle jet size
Replies: 4
Views: 3695

Re: B carb needle jet size

By all means, please post the drawing of the needle and seat on this list. This question seems to have come up repeatedly.
by taildrags
Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:47 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Centre section flop
Replies: 18
Views: 14204

Re: Centre section flop

Steve; I'll have to take closer notice next time I'm out flying, but my flop does not have latches and I've never seen it budge from the full-down position in any flight configuration. Perhaps I was too busy flying the airplane in a stalled condition to care about looking up at the flop...? I'll see...
by taildrags
Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:11 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: CNC Pietenpol Ribs & More
Replies: 9
Views: 7072

Re: CNC Pietenpol Ribs & More

rmueller23, you have the airplane-building wisdom of the ages. Well said! You have just summarized why I have a partially-completed experimental airplane project in my hangar and it looks much the same as it did when I moved it from Oregon to Texas in 2002 and back from Texas to Oregon in 2011. Howe...
by taildrags
Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:57 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: C65 engine mount
Replies: 5
Views: 5875

Re: C65 engine mount

Steve; I am not a welder or a steel fabricator but in my opinion, if the four mounting points for the Champ or Cub mount don't closely match the horizontal and vertical dimensions and geometry of the Piet mounting points, the rework required to bring one into alignment with the other might not be mu...
by taildrags
Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:43 pm
Forum: Classified Ads
Topic: C65 engine mount
Replies: 5
Views: 5875

Re: C65 engine mount

John; do you know if this mount is fabricated in accordance with the supplemental drawing from the Pietenpol family?
by taildrags
Wed Feb 07, 2018 10:14 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Structural integrity
Replies: 2
Views: 3264

Re: Structural integrity

Stephen; If you build using the materials that are called for in the plans and if you employ best practices in the assembly, assuring yourself that you're mixing, applying, and curing your adhesives in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, that's about the best you can do to assure you...
by taildrags
Sun Jan 28, 2018 9:49 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Original PIetenpol Plans
Replies: 2
Views: 2782

Re: Original PIetenpol Plans

OK, not sure what exactly is being sought, but Doc Mosher has just about every variation of the Pietenpol plans that has been put out. Perhaps you're looking for the "lost" Orrin Hoopman plans? Check Doc's website, here: https://sites.google.com/site/docspietshop/catalog-of-pietenpol-plans...
by taildrags
Sun Jan 28, 2018 12:21 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Original PIetenpol Plans
Replies: 2
Views: 2782

Re: Original PIetenpol Plans

Those might be available through Doc Mosher. Let me look to see what I've got in my "collection" of stuff I've gotten from him.
by taildrags
Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:04 am
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: New Forum Registration
Replies: 5
Views: 5333

Re: New Forum Registration

Hello, DCB Family! If you don't mind letting the group know, where are you located? It's helpful to know if there are other builders and Piet owners near you.
by taildrags
Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:48 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: AmeriKing ELTs
Replies: 5
Views: 5327

Re: AmeriKing ELTs

My airplane, NX41CC, made an unplanned power-off landing into an unimproved south Texas brush country area where it struck encountered very rough terrain and a bad weld let go on one of the gear legs. Both gear legs failed, the nose dug in, and the airplane went over on its back. The airplane had a ...
by taildrags
Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:32 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: wing inspection holes and covers
Replies: 3
Views: 4090

Re: wing inspection holes and covers

I put up a few pictures of where my airplane has inspection covers on the wings, here: http://www.flysquirrel.net/piets/repairs/inspection.html I have a few others on the empennage, along with a removable rectangular metal cover on the underside of the aft fuselage right below the walking beam that ...
by taildrags
Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:22 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Pietenpol vertical wing strut support.
Replies: 12
Views: 10012

Re: Pietenpol vertical wing strut support.

Not to put too fine a point on what Steve wrote, "bending in compression" in this case may more clearly be termed "buckling", which may make it clearer since we're all familiar with things that buckle under a load (like my knees). Most wing lift struts are quite slender (a struct...
by taildrags
Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:14 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Corrosion Treating the Inside of the Cabanes and Diagonals
Replies: 4
Views: 4647

Re: Corrosion Treating the Inside of the Cabanes and Diagonals

FWIW, epoxy will generally not adhere to anything with wax in it. Just sayin' in case you think about getting the linseed oil near anything you're going to try to epoxy. Also a reminder that if you're going to lay up fiberglass or epoxy something with threads in it that you don't want to have clogge...
by taildrags
Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:20 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Covering the turtle deck
Replies: 4
Views: 4106

Re: Covering the turtle deck

John: more information, this time from somebody that knows what they're doing (an A&P friend of mine). He raises the excellent point that the basic rule is that you should follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of the covering system that you're going to use (Poly-Fiber, Stewart Systems,...
by taildrags
Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:46 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Covering the turtle deck
Replies: 4
Views: 4106

Re: Covering the turtle deck

John; my Piet certainly doesn't have rib stitching on the turtledeck, and from what I can tell from the pictures when it was being covered, there is nothing but Poly-Tak cement between the wood and the fabric on the turtledeck strakes. I can't imagine why it would be needed back there.
by taildrags
Sat Jan 06, 2018 11:42 am
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Pilot requirements
Replies: 6
Views: 6435

Re: Pilot requirements

I'm not an instructor so I can't answer your question definitively, but the Air Camper fits into the Light Sport aircraft category and as such, you could operate one (solo only) with a student pilot certificate, a valid medical, and a tailwheel endorsement. You could also operate an Air Camper (dual...
by taildrags
Sat Jan 06, 2018 11:27 am
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Centre section flop
Replies: 18
Views: 14204

Re: Centre section flop

If you do incorporate magnetic latches in the flop, just don't install your magnetic compass anywhere near it and make sure you swing your compass after you get everything set in place so you can adjust for any deviation that might result. You'd be surprised how sensitive the compass is.
by taildrags
Mon Jan 01, 2018 10:35 pm
Forum: Photo Section
Topic: Sky Scout Historical Photos.
Replies: 8
Views: 10680

Re: Sky Scout Historical Photos.

That Vega engine made its peak torque right around the 2400 RPM range and wouldn't have been any heavier than a Ford A engine. That would have made it a great candidate for the Sky Scout or Air Camper. I wonder how it performed for Forrest?
by taildrags
Mon Jan 01, 2018 10:30 pm
Forum: Photo Section
Topic: Sky Scout Historical Photos.
Replies: 8
Views: 10680

Re: Sky Scout Historical Photos.

Yes! It's a Chevy Vega alright! There's that distributor...
vega.JPG
by taildrags
Sun Dec 31, 2017 5:31 pm
Forum: Photo Section
Topic: Sky Scout Historical Photos.
Replies: 8
Views: 10680

Re: Sky Scout Historical Photos.

Ditto... I hadn't seen some of those Sky Scout pictures either! I'm assuming the one with the clamshell-style cowling is a Ford Escort engine, but is it? Distinctive positioning of the distributor.
by taildrags
Mon Dec 25, 2017 11:55 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Hinges
Replies: 4
Views: 4464

Re: Hinges

Several builders who have bought the rough-cast hinge parts from me for turning into finished parts have asked for ideas on how to set up a jig for drilling the pivot pin holes in the parts, so I made a sketch that I hope will help. Although my jig isn't like what I've sketched, it doesn't have to b...
by taildrags
Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:36 pm
Forum: Photo Section
Topic: Have Wing Stand, Will Travel....
Replies: 7
Views: 8438

Re: Have Wing Stand, Will Travel....

Yes please... details! Will you be bringing the stand back to Louisiana or is it a one-way trip?
by taildrags
Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:49 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Looking for Pietenpol Information
Replies: 2
Views: 2924

Re: Looking for Pietenpol Information

I have been in touch with Mr. Harrington about Pietenpols. Long history of building things... race cars, restorations, boats, you name it. Quite common among Pietenpol enthusiasts, most of whom seem to have little hesitancy in learning new skills and making things themselves.
by taildrags
Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:05 pm
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Looking for Pietenpol Information
Replies: 2
Views: 2924

Re: Looking for Pietenpol Information

This fellow is only 55 miles north of the Mecca of West Coast Piet aviators... Frazier Lake Airpark. I think he's come to the right place.
by taildrags
Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:53 am
Forum: Pietenpol Builders Forum
Topic: Spar
Replies: 13
Views: 12797

Re: Spar

Terry; yes, depending on which information one references, at a high angle of attack and positive G loading, the main spar carries anywhere from 84% to as much as 95% of the load. Your aft spar is fine.