Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
After 18 or so years of research on a Piet, and after taking my rather enterprisingson to Brodhead this year... he proclaimed he could buy one faster than Ican build one. Him starting his last year at home, I figured he had a point so I set out lookingfor one for us to fly while I build one.Sort of remembering that one was going to be for sale at Brodhead, and disappointedthat I didn't see it there (it was there, I just didn't know which one) Ifound by reading old posts that it was Dick Navratil's NX2RN (his first Piet,blue and yellow with an A-65). Turns it, it's the exact configuration I wantto build, except I'm sort of leaning towards a Model A. However, I've neverthought having an aviation engine was a bad thing in a plane. Also, having nolight civil aviation experience and having never owned a plane... thought theA-65 would be great!So, I call Dick, fly to MN, he graciously picks me up, drives me way out to theplane, I look it over (can't get a ride because Dick's biannual checkride isout of date) and REALLY like it! Here's my son's conditions. He wants a Piet, he didn't care about configuration,but was insistent I didn't buy a project! This plane was perfect. Tested but not old, solid as a rock, materials and workmanshipin the build perfectly documented and beyond question in my mind. SoI jump in it (it's the short fuse) and about cry. No way I can manipulate therudder.... I'm heartbroken. Dick says to taxi it around. I've never eventaxied a tailwheel plane in my LIFE! But, I decide to take him up on it. Itstarts on one pull, and with the steerable tailwheel I realize the pedals aren'ttoo bad. I pull the trigger and strike a deal!Now, second problem. Remember no projects? Not quite true, I AM the project.Not only havn't I not taxied a tailwheel, I've never flown one either! Goodnews, this plane is in MN. I right then start a month long stint in a hotel inSt Paul getting checked out a very similar plane... the venerable Airbus A-330...Ya, I went to MN late Sep to get checked out in two planes. One with a wingspanof the other's takeoff roll. Now, going to say this here. This is a great plane. But it's NOTHING comparedto the man who agreed to let me buy it. Dick insisted it be freshly annualled.He insisted on a few other nice things. He hauled my butt out to that airporta dozen or more times. He had me over for dinner. In the buy, he agreedto help me with the annual condition inspection if I bring it to Brodhead. Heagreed to letting me keep it in his hangar (possibly till next spring!) untilI can ferry it a thousand miles home. More than all of that, just one hellof a great guy. One might say I bought a good friend and got a free plane inthe deal, but friends like that can't be bought at any price. So, Dick helps me find a tailwheel instructor at Osceola (where the plane is) andpatiently waits around on a couple trips while I get an endorsement. Two ridesin a 180hp Super Decathalon (in the front seat) and I have an endorsement.YIKES. Took one more ride in the back seat of a 110hp BRAND NEW Champ. Uh,that thing had a moving map display with terrain alerting! It's better thanthe map in a $100 million dollar Airbus! Very gusty, feel better.... but still...yikes. Two days ago I run the Piet up and down the grass strip with the tail up... wow.First few tries I aborted way early in that process. But figured it out reasonablyquick. Yesterday Dick takes me up for a few landings. THAT HELPED aTON. So, under no pressure at all (it was a BEAUTIFUL day), the builder andmy son there watching, only a few hours after my type rating ride with the FAAin an Airbus A330, I flew the Piet!What a day. Nearly 20 years of waiting for that, I flew solo for the first timesince Mar 1, 1999 (and that was a A-4), my first light civil flight since Julyof 1982, I got to fly a Piet. I'm flying the Airbus to Barcelona tomorrow, so hope to get up next week to ferrythe Piet back. Going to be a fun few days for my son and I. I would be interested in recommendations for fuel and overnight stops between StPaul and Chatt TN if anyone knows that route well. Don't worry, this has completely increased my resolve to get cracking on my Piet.Not giving up on that at all. Besides, don't want to fight my son for timein the plane!Cheers,ToolsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
Pietenpol-List: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
RE: Pietenpol-List: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Congratulations on buying Dick's Pietenpol, and on finally learning how tofly a REAL airplane, one without a training wheel on the front.As for good stops along your trip, one place that is pretty much in a directline between Mineapolis and Chattanooga that I've landed is Mattoon,Illinois (MTO). They have a nice grass runway and a great restaurant on thefield (try their Elephant Ear sandwich).Slightly out of your way, but worth the deviation, is Poplar Grove, Illinois(C77). Two good grass runways there, along with the friendliest FBO(particularly to Pietenpol people) I've ever seen.Closer to Chattanooga, try Tullahoma, Tennessee (THA). They have a nice2900' grass runway in addition to two paved runways, and the StaggerwingMuseum is on the field. Self-Service Fuel. The Jack Daniels Distillery isonly 11 miles away, and the George Dickel Distillery is even closer.Good Luck!Jack PhillipsNX899JPSmith Mountain Lake, Virginia-----Original Message-----
Congratulations on buying Dick's Pietenpol, and on finally learning how tofly a REAL airplane, one without a training wheel on the front.As for good stops along your trip, one place that is pretty much in a directline between Mineapolis and Chattanooga that I've landed is Mattoon,Illinois (MTO). They have a nice grass runway and a great restaurant on thefield (try their Elephant Ear sandwich).Slightly out of your way, but worth the deviation, is Poplar Grove, Illinois(C77). Two good grass runways there, along with the friendliest FBO(particularly to Pietenpol people) I've ever seen.Closer to Chattanooga, try Tullahoma, Tennessee (THA). They have a nice2900' grass runway in addition to two paved runways, and the StaggerwingMuseum is on the field. Self-Service Fuel. The Jack Daniels Distillery isonly 11 miles away, and the George Dickel Distillery is even closer.Good Luck!Jack PhillipsNX899JPSmith Mountain Lake, Virginia-----Original Message-----
Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: Ben Charvet
Tools,Nicely done! Let me know when you get it back home and I will drive up to see it.Congrats to you and your son.--------Semper Fi,Terry HandRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:13:49 -0400
Tools,Nicely done! Let me know when you get it back home and I will drive up to see it.Congrats to you and your son.--------Semper Fi,Terry HandRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:13:49 -0400
Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: Ben Charvet
No doubt having Dick's bird to reference while I build (hence the excitement aboutit being configured so closely to how I want to build) will be invaluable.As well as being more prepared to flying it. I agree, flying one I built isthe next big thrill in my flying world.I made a very serious omission in my initial writeup in that I forgot to mentionhow warm a welcome I got in MSP from both the EAA community and the Piet guysespecially. Dick was also super gracious in that he came and hauled my butt to the weekly meetingsin his hangar in Crystal, where the club Piet is being built. I got 75%done (thought I had one more visit.... dammit!) with mortising in the hingesin the horizontal stab/elevators. Lots of fun and great to get some hands onseveral nights.Was also treated to a ride way down to his EAA chapter's hangar and meeting everyonethere and a temporary pass to enter the SAC... Really a lot of great guys.Kinda funny, but being a former military pilot and lifelong aviation junky anyway,I've been to TONS of airshows, mostly big, and some small. Well, went toOsceola's yearly airshow (this year combined with a car show) and coincidentlyran into no less than six people I knew (all met within the previous week ortwo). I ran into two people I knew at Oshkosh two years ago, but that's it overthe last 30 or so years of airshows. VERY friendly and open folks.Thanks to everyone for making a month long stint in a hotel a VERY memorable andfun time (and I've got a number of these month and longer stints in hotels,ships and shacks in the dessert under my belt)!ToolsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:07:13 -0400
No doubt having Dick's bird to reference while I build (hence the excitement aboutit being configured so closely to how I want to build) will be invaluable.As well as being more prepared to flying it. I agree, flying one I built isthe next big thrill in my flying world.I made a very serious omission in my initial writeup in that I forgot to mentionhow warm a welcome I got in MSP from both the EAA community and the Piet guysespecially. Dick was also super gracious in that he came and hauled my butt to the weekly meetingsin his hangar in Crystal, where the club Piet is being built. I got 75%done (thought I had one more visit.... dammit!) with mortising in the hingesin the horizontal stab/elevators. Lots of fun and great to get some hands onseveral nights.Was also treated to a ride way down to his EAA chapter's hangar and meeting everyonethere and a temporary pass to enter the SAC... Really a lot of great guys.Kinda funny, but being a former military pilot and lifelong aviation junky anyway,I've been to TONS of airshows, mostly big, and some small. Well, went toOsceola's yearly airshow (this year combined with a car show) and coincidentlyran into no less than six people I knew (all met within the previous week ortwo). I ran into two people I knew at Oshkosh two years ago, but that's it overthe last 30 or so years of airshows. VERY friendly and open folks.Thanks to everyone for making a month long stint in a hotel a VERY memorable andfun time (and I've got a number of these month and longer stints in hotels,ships and shacks in the dessert under my belt)!ToolsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:07:13 -0400
Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: "K5YAC"
Was just informed that the Last Original flew today at the Brodhead airport. RebuiltCorvair fired on the first blade. They are going to try and post a videosoon.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Was just informed that the Last Original flew today at the Brodhead airport. RebuiltCorvair fired on the first blade. They are going to try and post a videosoon.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Pietenpol-List: Re: machined control horns?
Original Posted By: "K5YAC"
What a story! Good luck with your new bird, and your project.--------Mark ChouinardWings, Center Section and Empannage framed up - Working on FuselageRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: machined control horns?
What a story! Good luck with your new bird, and your project.--------Mark ChouinardWings, Center Section and Empannage framed up - Working on FuselageRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: machined control horns?
Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: "aerocarjake"
I am ONE of the people that have made them, but I've decided not to use them. Primarily because they would require some welding that would later be coveredby fabric... in other words, not easily inspectable. They turned out lookingnice, but that wasn't the point really. Take my word for it and fabricate a set according to plans. They really are easyand very strong. And yes, lighter to boot. --------Mark ChouinardWings, Center Section and Empannage framed up - Working on FuselageRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
I am ONE of the people that have made them, but I've decided not to use them. Primarily because they would require some welding that would later be coveredby fabric... in other words, not easily inspectable. They turned out lookingnice, but that wasn't the point really. Take my word for it and fabricate a set according to plans. They really are easyand very strong. And yes, lighter to boot. --------Mark ChouinardWings, Center Section and Empannage framed up - Working on FuselageRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: "tools"
Thanks MikeI'm reaaly going to miss that Pietenpol, it's going to be tough not hearing that put put. Now I'll listen to that Rotec instead.Dick N.----- Original Message -----
Thanks MikeI'm reaaly going to miss that Pietenpol, it's going to be tough not hearing that put put. Now I'll listen to that Rotec instead.Dick N.----- Original Message -----
Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Original Posted By: "Dale McCleskey"
I think I've posted this reply before, but here's what I did onScout when re-rigging the struts and wings. I set up the winggeometry the way I wanted it (washout and dihedral), then tensionedthe strut X-brace cables to where they were nice and snug but not tight enough to worry me. How's that for scientific? I thenused a simple cable tensiometer from the local marine supplyhouse (sailboats) to make sure all the cable tensions were about equal.You can do the same by twanging to see if they sound the same.Same thing for the tail brace cables. You should note that allthe cables pull against one another to hold the assembly in rigidgeometric relationship to one another and that's all. If youover-tension them, you begin to distort things or pre-load themin ways that are not intended. The essence of geometric andstructural bracing is to prevent things from getting started ina direction that you don't want them to go, because once theyget started in that direction, things become (as we engineerssay) "asymptotic" or "divergent". So you're not trying totighten your suspenders so tight that you jam your chin intoyour crotch, so to speak... you're just trying to hold them inplace so that everything stays in proper geometric relationshipto everything else.This is a case where enough is just right, but more is not alwaysbetter and not enough can be disastrous. And remember thatBernard Pietenpol did not own a computer or a calculator andthat he died of natural causes after flying numerousexperimental aircraft of his own design, as a test pilot ofeach of them. May we emulate him, and enjoy life as a result.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CC "Scout"Flying Squirrel N2069Z "Rocket"Medford, OR website at http://www.flysquirrel.net ________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
I think I've posted this reply before, but here's what I did onScout when re-rigging the struts and wings. I set up the winggeometry the way I wanted it (washout and dihedral), then tensionedthe strut X-brace cables to where they were nice and snug but not tight enough to worry me. How's that for scientific? I thenused a simple cable tensiometer from the local marine supplyhouse (sailboats) to make sure all the cable tensions were about equal.You can do the same by twanging to see if they sound the same.Same thing for the tail brace cables. You should note that allthe cables pull against one another to hold the assembly in rigidgeometric relationship to one another and that's all. If youover-tension them, you begin to distort things or pre-load themin ways that are not intended. The essence of geometric andstructural bracing is to prevent things from getting started ina direction that you don't want them to go, because once theyget started in that direction, things become (as we engineerssay) "asymptotic" or "divergent". So you're not trying totighten your suspenders so tight that you jam your chin intoyour crotch, so to speak... you're just trying to hold them inplace so that everything stays in proper geometric relationshipto everything else.This is a case where enough is just right, but more is not alwaysbetter and not enough can be disastrous. And remember thatBernard Pietenpol did not own a computer or a calculator andthat he died of natural causes after flying numerousexperimental aircraft of his own design, as a test pilot ofeach of them. May we emulate him, and enjoy life as a result.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CC "Scout"Flying Squirrel N2069Z "Rocket"Medford, OR website at http://www.flysquirrel.net ________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.