Pietenpol-List: New fuel tank started

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Original Posted By: helspersew(at)aol.com
OK, now here's a topic that is going to generate some lively discussion!First off, I agree completely with Axel: get temperfoam, get the variousdensities to build up a custom cushion that is shaped to your backside,and don't spare any expense. If you don't plan to make long flights,then don't give it another thought- you could just put bare plywood down and be OK, or toss a cheapo throw pillow or stadium cushion in there andbe just fine. Just don't expect that to work if you'll be flying yourairplane cross-country. Definition of x-c in a Piet: anything more thana 0.5 hr. entry in your logbook.Front and rear seats are two entirely different topics.Rear seat is PIC's. If you will fly an hour or two at a time, it won'tmatter what you do for your seat. If you're a serious flyer, it will.Scout has a full-size seat cushion in the rear cockpit, naugahyde overfoam over plywood, and it's OK for puttering around the pattern but notfor anything over 30 minutes. I have put various types of cushions ontop of the seat for longer flights, everything from the Walmart cushionsfor bar stools to the flotation cushions from boats, and they all are OKfor shorter flights but not for hours at a time and not for x-c. Plus,when I put supplemental cushions in there, I raise my face into theairstream so I prefer not to do that so I can stay behind the windscreen. Myproblem is that I am a 150lb. guy and in the Piet, all my weight is onthe tailbones and there isn't anything there to cushion those two hard points.You have to get in the airplane and fly it x-c to see what will work foryou, but craft store cheapo foam stuff won't do it but you won't know untilyou go for a longer flight.Next point: back rests, front or back cockpits: you could have iron scrapsthere, or bananas- it doesn't matter because you'll never be sitting backfor very long. At least I don't find myself leaning back against the backrest for very long. And I've flown both front and rear cockpits for hoursat a time. In the back as PIC and in the front as navigator, with charts.Next point: the front seat. it's not very large. If you'll just be givingrides, your passengers won't know if they are on a soft cushion or a hardone, or if there is a cushion at all. They will be so psyched on the flightitself that they won't know what they sat on or anything else unless it hasto do with their experience out of the cockpit. If you build it to plans, thereisno cushion on the front seat. Kids won't care in the slightest.Final comment: the padding on the pilot's seat bottom is one of the mostimportant factors in how comfortable you will be flying your Piet forextended periods, and you won't know that until you fly it for an extendedperiod. Don't spend a lot of money on the first try, because chances are,the first time you fly an extended x-c you'll want to change it.After 2 hrs. in the air in Scout, I'm ready for a break and I have determinedthat after numerous extended flights. I need some Temperfoam but I'm willingto endure almost anything just so I can fly my airplane. There is nothingelse like it.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CC "Scout"Flying Squirrel N2069Z "Rocket"Medford, OR website at http://www.flysquirrel.net ________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: New fuel tank started

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Original Posted By: Michael Perez
Well, I am in Poplar Grove for 1-1/2 weeks, working on my beloved Piet 24/7. I have decided to start over and fabricate a new fuel tank. The first one was all individual panels, no baffles, butt- welded at the edges, and to quote those fateful words of Jack Phillips, from a post a few months ago, "plan for it to fail". ....It split open twice already even after I had the repairs done by professional welders. I have educated myself better on fuel tank design and I hope this new one will be better. I have incorporated bends whenever possible and included many areas of "geometry" to stiffen the areas especially adjacent to the edge welds. Here are a few photos.Dan HelsperSitting in McDonalds at Belvidere IL since I have no TV or Internet here anymore. ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:39:32 -0700 (PDT)

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Original Posted By: helspersew(at)aol.com
"Forget the intrusion good people"Tackling another problem when I am here. I can finally re-assemble my axle with the new bungee cords. Here is a photo of the "dams" that have been added in order to keep the cords from getting pinched in amongst the various parts down there. I think it must have been a function of my particular landing gear, the last bungees only lasted about 10 flight hours. Dan HelsperPoplar Grove, IL________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Bungee cord "dams"

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Original Posted By: santiago morete

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Original Posted By: Jim Boyer
Michael,I will be in Holmes County for a few days next month. Are you close to that area?I would like to stop by and see your project.John--------JohnRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:28:43 +0000 (UTC)

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Original Posted By: aircamperace(at)yahoo.com
Finally=2C I've gotten a start on the wings. My almost 6 year old son and I will be working on it together - should be fun if I can keep him interested and following directions. He's stoked about going to Brodhead this year and seeing real planes that have wings like the ones he's building.Here's a shot of it last night after I shaped the rear spar.. I couldn't resist stringing the ribs up and getting an idea of how space I'll lose in my shop.Tom B. ________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank Finished

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Original Posted By: Ken Bickers
I have a little ways to go but I may take you up on that offer when ready. It did look really nice, and a good size too.Sent from my iPhoneOn Mar 29, 2012, at 7:39 AM, Michael Perez wrote:> Ryan, I don't have plans, really, I had some scratches on paper, but that is long gone. What I do have is my original poster board template.> > I more then likely will have a fuel system video which will have all the tank pictures/video that I have on fuel tank fabrication. However, if you would like to know more now, or anytime, I can help you. I'd be happy to share with you what I can.> > Michael Perez> Karetaker Aero> www.karetakeraero.com> > > ============================================================================================================================================> ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:27:55 -0600Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: a wing is beginning to take shape

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Original Posted By: Michael Groah

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Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
I am learning a lot about this tank stuff, mostly as I go along making mistakes. I have to make my major panel over again. I apparently got to zealous with my groove-forming tool (rivet gun) and work-hardened it and formed a crack. Started to weld the crack shut then just decided to discard it and start over. Drat!! I am going to design a plastic insert for the flow-forming tool to do the work this time instead of the steel one I used.As soon as I get time I will post a complete detailed explanation with photos of my saga. But I am having more fun than a barrel of monkeys playing around with this stuff!Dan HelsperPoplar Grove, IL________________________________________________________________________________

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Original Posted By: helspersew(at)aol.com
ark - 1C9 (www.frazierlake.com) -It's a grass strip near Hollister California.- =0A(If flying in, beware of the parallel water runway.- 23W/5W)=0A=0A=0AMike Groah________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: RE: New fuel tank started