Original Posted By: grhans(at)freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Steve,That tail wheel really gets abused. I didn't realize how much till Istarted flying with one. If you can get some time in a cub that would begreat. The lack of forward vis. bothered me more than the differece fromthe conventional gear. How much flying time do you have?Craig________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Pietenpol-List: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: clawler
Huge landmark passed last tuesday as I recieved the Airworthinesscertificate for my Air Camper.The process was a real eyeopener because it lasted almost 3 hours. Iwas able to correct all the squaks on siteSince Tuesday I have been taxi testing and have found that there areanother batch of things that have to bechanged. I didn't like the tailwheel setup, and in fact bent the Aframe on my third startup. I have rebuilt it andincluded the cross member this time. subsequent taxi test show this tobe much improved. I also added a 3" fisheye mirror so I could se behind me withought untold gyrations of bodyand taxi direction. I had to tighten thetailwheel cables and level the wings with a spacer on the LG crossstrut. I also found that starting the engine withouta primer on cool mornings causes blood blisters thrown out backs, soremuscles and lots of frustration. On the warmer~70 degree afternoons it is a one to two blade affair.Another newbie hand propping tip:Always have your tail tied down before you attempt a start! LessonLearned! ( after tailwheel jumped the chocks)First flights I hope to commence after I get a tailwheel checkout.Steve E.________________________________________________________________________________
Huge landmark passed last tuesday as I recieved the Airworthinesscertificate for my Air Camper.The process was a real eyeopener because it lasted almost 3 hours. Iwas able to correct all the squaks on siteSince Tuesday I have been taxi testing and have found that there areanother batch of things that have to bechanged. I didn't like the tailwheel setup, and in fact bent the Aframe on my third startup. I have rebuilt it andincluded the cross member this time. subsequent taxi test show this tobe much improved. I also added a 3" fisheye mirror so I could se behind me withought untold gyrations of bodyand taxi direction. I had to tighten thetailwheel cables and level the wings with a spacer on the LG crossstrut. I also found that starting the engine withouta primer on cool mornings causes blood blisters thrown out backs, soremuscles and lots of frustration. On the warmer~70 degree afternoons it is a one to two blade affair.Another newbie hand propping tip:Always have your tail tied down before you attempt a start! LessonLearned! ( after tailwheel jumped the chocks)First flights I hope to commence after I get a tailwheel checkout.Steve E.________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: Wkoucky(at)aol.com
Congratulations Steve E.!I too had problems with the tailwheel A-frame bending and cured it byreinforcing the tubes from the apex where the spring rests. This was done by inserting a tube about 7 inches long in each of the two tubes leadingto the apex of the vee.You mentioned getting a tailwheel checkout before making the firstflights. I would strongly recommend getting thoroughly familiar withsomething like a Piper J-3 or Aeronca Champion to the point of beingcomfortable flying from the rear seat where the view ahead is restrictedand one has to look out to the side about 45 degrees off from straightahead in order to judge height, etc. Please don't get in a hurry to flyit and pick your conditions (preferably a grass runway or field headeddirectly into the wind) carefully. And don't let anyone persuade or pressure you into flying it until you are satisfied that you and the airplane are ready.Having test flown (first flights) a Druine Turbulent, two Pietenpols(including my own Piet), my Sperry Messenger Repro. and my Wag Aero"Wag-a-bond", I have pumped enough adrenalin to realize that one mustnot rush into this type of operation. Have done lots of test flyingof light a/c and helicopters over the years where the flying charac-teristics were known and basically testing was to check function andrigging, etc. Testing a homebuilt adds another dimension to this pro-cedure.If you hate surprises as much as I do, please take your time and havean uneventful (but thrilling, nonetheless) first flight. As they used to say in the old days:Happy landings!Graham Hansen ________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations Steve E.!I too had problems with the tailwheel A-frame bending and cured it byreinforcing the tubes from the apex where the spring rests. This was done by inserting a tube about 7 inches long in each of the two tubes leadingto the apex of the vee.You mentioned getting a tailwheel checkout before making the firstflights. I would strongly recommend getting thoroughly familiar withsomething like a Piper J-3 or Aeronca Champion to the point of beingcomfortable flying from the rear seat where the view ahead is restrictedand one has to look out to the side about 45 degrees off from straightahead in order to judge height, etc. Please don't get in a hurry to flyit and pick your conditions (preferably a grass runway or field headeddirectly into the wind) carefully. And don't let anyone persuade or pressure you into flying it until you are satisfied that you and the airplane are ready.Having test flown (first flights) a Druine Turbulent, two Pietenpols(including my own Piet), my Sperry Messenger Repro. and my Wag Aero"Wag-a-bond", I have pumped enough adrenalin to realize that one mustnot rush into this type of operation. Have done lots of test flyingof light a/c and helicopters over the years where the flying charac-teristics were known and basically testing was to check function andrigging, etc. Testing a homebuilt adds another dimension to this pro-cedure.If you hate surprises as much as I do, please take your time and havean uneventful (but thrilling, nonetheless) first flight. As they used to say in the old days:Happy landings!Graham Hansen ________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Another newbie hand propping tip:Always have your tail tied down before you attempt a start! LessonLearned! ( after tailwheel jumped the chocks)First flights I hope to commence after I get a tailwheel checkout.Steve E.----- End Included Message -----You learn fast Steve.Everybody's probably heard of that FAA film of the Cessna 140 that goeswild with the pilot's panic stricken wife aboard when he tries to hand bombit.Well here's a better one. This story is absolutely 100% true. I was not a witness but was there for the aftermath:At the little airport just north of Toronto, Ont. where I used to hangout about 1978 (King City airport) there were these 5 guys that owned a beautifully restored Champ. One of the partners went flying and came to thepumps after to fill up. When he tried to start it up he just switched themags on and walked around and started to flip the A65 through. He must'a primed it too much or something because it wouldn't start. He switched offthe mags and opened the throttle wide and pulled the engine through backwardsto clear it out. He went around and switched the mags back on. Guess whathe forgot?He has to dive out of the way of the wide open A65, tries to grab the tail,which knocks him down, and then has to stand and watch his airplane headoff for - yup - the wild blue. It crosses the runway with the tail up andlifts off - the empty CG on a Champ being just about the same as the CGwith the pilot aboard - in a gently climbing circle. It circled the airport,climbing to an apex about half way around and then descendingas the bank slowly steepend. It came down not very far from the startingpoint in a wing down spiral and cartwheeled itself into a ball. It justcleared the roof of the Okanagan Helicopters hangar and just missed ourclub house when it hit the ground. There was a freeway right next to theairport also. Strangely, the incident only got a 3-inch-column mention in theToronto Star the next day, buried in the back of the paper.Needless to say the other partners were not impressed by the guy's carelessness.I have hand bombed lots of airplanes and I would NEVER do it with an unoccupiedairplane without tying the tail or some part of the structure. Standing behind the propeller to do it isn't good enough either in my opinion. Evenif the throttle is closed, engines have been known to backfire and blow outthe throttle plate, which lets the engine run wide open (that actually happenedto a Stearman once).John K________________________________________________________________________________
Another newbie hand propping tip:Always have your tail tied down before you attempt a start! LessonLearned! ( after tailwheel jumped the chocks)First flights I hope to commence after I get a tailwheel checkout.Steve E.----- End Included Message -----You learn fast Steve.Everybody's probably heard of that FAA film of the Cessna 140 that goeswild with the pilot's panic stricken wife aboard when he tries to hand bombit.Well here's a better one. This story is absolutely 100% true. I was not a witness but was there for the aftermath:At the little airport just north of Toronto, Ont. where I used to hangout about 1978 (King City airport) there were these 5 guys that owned a beautifully restored Champ. One of the partners went flying and came to thepumps after to fill up. When he tried to start it up he just switched themags on and walked around and started to flip the A65 through. He must'a primed it too much or something because it wouldn't start. He switched offthe mags and opened the throttle wide and pulled the engine through backwardsto clear it out. He went around and switched the mags back on. Guess whathe forgot?He has to dive out of the way of the wide open A65, tries to grab the tail,which knocks him down, and then has to stand and watch his airplane headoff for - yup - the wild blue. It crosses the runway with the tail up andlifts off - the empty CG on a Champ being just about the same as the CGwith the pilot aboard - in a gently climbing circle. It circled the airport,climbing to an apex about half way around and then descendingas the bank slowly steepend. It came down not very far from the startingpoint in a wing down spiral and cartwheeled itself into a ball. It justcleared the roof of the Okanagan Helicopters hangar and just missed ourclub house when it hit the ground. There was a freeway right next to theairport also. Strangely, the incident only got a 3-inch-column mention in theToronto Star the next day, buried in the back of the paper.Needless to say the other partners were not impressed by the guy's carelessness.I have hand bombed lots of airplanes and I would NEVER do it with an unoccupiedairplane without tying the tail or some part of the structure. Standing behind the propeller to do it isn't good enough either in my opinion. Evenif the throttle is closed, engines have been known to backfire and blow outthe throttle plate, which lets the engine run wide open (that actually happenedto a Stearman once).John K________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
>flights. I would strongly recommend getting thoroughly familiar with>something like a Piper J-3 or Aeronca Champion Second's to the congratulations for Steve E. And also for the wise wordsfrom Graham Hansen. Frank Pavliga only let me fly his Piet after Ihad a full year flying our Champ. Graham is exactly right- Back seatof a Cub or Champ on grass is the way to go. Pavement should betackled after you have grass mastered. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
>flights. I would strongly recommend getting thoroughly familiar with>something like a Piper J-3 or Aeronca Champion Second's to the congratulations for Steve E. And also for the wise wordsfrom Graham Hansen. Frank Pavliga only let me fly his Piet after Ihad a full year flying our Champ. Graham is exactly right- Back seatof a Cub or Champ on grass is the way to go. Pavement should betackled after you have grass mastered. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: rdecosta(at)autoeurope.com (Richard DeCosta)
Can you please give me more details on the FAA inspection so I know what tolook for when it is time for me in 2+ years?Thanks Ken-________________________________________________________________________________
Can you please give me more details on the FAA inspection so I know what tolook for when it is time for me in 2+ years?Thanks Ken-________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: jimsury(at)fbtc.net (Jim Sury)
I second the motion most heartily! > Can you please give me more details on the FAA inspection so I know what to> look for when it is time for me in 2+ years?> > Thanks Ken> > > -> > > Web Developer, http://www.autoeurope.comHomepage: http://www.wrld.com/w3builder__________ ... __________
I second the motion most heartily! > Can you please give me more details on the FAA inspection so I know what to> look for when it is time for me in 2+ years?> > Thanks Ken> > > -> > > Web Developer, http://www.autoeurope.comHomepage: http://www.wrld.com/w3builder__________ ... __________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: "Alan A. Laudani"
Ken,I just went through the FAA inspection deal about a year ago. It wasreally not big deal. I had taken lots of photo's and just glued them ina spiral notebook with the notes I kept as I went along. Stuff aboutwhen and what I ordered and the hours I worked on the project. I have afriend that is a A & P so I noted when he checked things for me. The EAAtech counselor is a better idea though if you can find one. Theinspector I used was not FAA. He is a self employed "designatedairworthness inspector" is the term I think. Anyway he spent very littletime looking at the airplane and records I kept. He spent lots of timechecking the weight and balance info. I think these guy's have a goodidea about our workmanship the first 5 min. If you follow Tony B. booksyou will not have any trouble.Craig________________________________________________________________________________
Ken,I just went through the FAA inspection deal about a year ago. It wasreally not big deal. I had taken lots of photo's and just glued them ina spiral notebook with the notes I kept as I went along. Stuff aboutwhen and what I ordered and the hours I worked on the project. I have afriend that is a A & P so I noted when he checked things for me. The EAAtech counselor is a better idea though if you can find one. Theinspector I used was not FAA. He is a self employed "designatedairworthness inspector" is the term I think. Anyway he spent very littletime looking at the airplane and records I kept. He spent lots of timechecking the weight and balance info. I think these guy's have a goodidea about our workmanship the first 5 min. If you follow Tony B. booksyou will not have any trouble.Craig________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: Dick Dery
Congrats for the AWC! Now...Flight testing!!!As a seasoned hand propper, (my Varieze rolled away from me--1/2 mile!), I can't emphasize safety enough! 1. Always have a helper at the controls, preferably on thebrakes. The helper should be checked out and in direct sight and incommunicationwith you. Work out hand signals and explain your wording beforehand.Rehearse thelitany of starting. 2. Have a checklist for starting. Include flooded engines. Rehearse. 3. Treat your engine and prop like a loaded weapon! 4. Chock your mains, tie down the tail. Return to 1. My Piet will have a special tail hook and parking brakes. It will allowme to tie the tail to a tiedown or fencepost. After I am strapped into the pilot'sseat and ready totaxi, I will release the tail hook from the cockpit and taxi away. A shortloop ofnylon rope will be left behind. Why a Piet when I have a EZ? Different mission and another planeexperience to master!>Huge landmark passed last tuesday as I recieved the Airworthiness>certificate for my Air Camper.>>The process was a real eyeopener because it lasted almost 3 hours. I>was able to correct all the squaks on site>Since Tuesday I have been taxi testing and have found that there are>another batch of things that have to be>changed. I didn't like the tailwheel setup, and in fact bent the A>frame on my third startup. I have rebuilt it and>included the cross member this time. subsequent taxi test show this to>be much improved. I also added a 3" fish>eye mirror so I could se behind me withought untold gyrations of body>and taxi direction. I had to tighten the>tailwheel cables and level the wings with a spacer on the LG cross>strut. I also found that starting the engine without>a primer on cool mornings causes blood blisters thrown out backs, sore>muscles and lots of frustration. On the warmer>~70 degree afternoons it is a one to two blade affair.>>Another newbie hand propping tip:>>Always have your tail tied down before you attempt a start! Lesson>Learned! ( after tailwheel jumped the chocks)>>First flights I hope to commence after I get a tailwheel checkout.>>Steve E.>>________________________________________________________________________________
Congrats for the AWC! Now...Flight testing!!!As a seasoned hand propper, (my Varieze rolled away from me--1/2 mile!), I can't emphasize safety enough! 1. Always have a helper at the controls, preferably on thebrakes. The helper should be checked out and in direct sight and incommunicationwith you. Work out hand signals and explain your wording beforehand.Rehearse thelitany of starting. 2. Have a checklist for starting. Include flooded engines. Rehearse. 3. Treat your engine and prop like a loaded weapon! 4. Chock your mains, tie down the tail. Return to 1. My Piet will have a special tail hook and parking brakes. It will allowme to tie the tail to a tiedown or fencepost. After I am strapped into the pilot'sseat and ready totaxi, I will release the tail hook from the cockpit and taxi away. A shortloop ofnylon rope will be left behind. Why a Piet when I have a EZ? Different mission and another planeexperience to master!>Huge landmark passed last tuesday as I recieved the Airworthiness>certificate for my Air Camper.>>The process was a real eyeopener because it lasted almost 3 hours. I>was able to correct all the squaks on site>Since Tuesday I have been taxi testing and have found that there are>another batch of things that have to be>changed. I didn't like the tailwheel setup, and in fact bent the A>frame on my third startup. I have rebuilt it and>included the cross member this time. subsequent taxi test show this to>be much improved. I also added a 3" fish>eye mirror so I could se behind me withought untold gyrations of body>and taxi direction. I had to tighten the>tailwheel cables and level the wings with a spacer on the LG cross>strut. I also found that starting the engine without>a primer on cool mornings causes blood blisters thrown out backs, sore>muscles and lots of frustration. On the warmer>~70 degree afternoons it is a one to two blade affair.>>Another newbie hand propping tip:>>Always have your tail tied down before you attempt a start! Lesson>Learned! ( after tailwheel jumped the chocks)>>First flights I hope to commence after I get a tailwheel checkout.>>Steve E.>>________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By:> "Alan A. Laudani"
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By: "McNarry, John"
> > A thought about hand starting, and a reference to the DH Moths again. > The early moths had the mag switches on the outside of the cowling > between the cockpits. Either pilot could reach them as well as ground > crew. If hand proping from the rear of the prop. You could switch off > quickley with out scrambling to reach into the pit. I plan to mount > my switches there.> > J McThe only problem is water can get in the switches when it is wet andcause problems. Anyway if an engine fires up at a high throttle settingwhen hand bombing forget about getting anywhere near the mag switches ifit isn't tied down. You'll be too busy trying to save yourself and ifyou are behind the propeller you will probably get knocked down before youcan reach them.On the subject of hand bombing it is important to use the word "contact" instead of the commonly used "switch on" so that "switch on" and "switchoff" don't get confused. That can cause exciting moments as well.The best way to tie an airplane like a Piet for starting is to simply attacha rope to one cabane, around a fence post or through a tie-down ring, and forward to the other cabane. You can then untie, reel in, and stow the rope while in the cockpit.John K________________________________________________________________________________
> > A thought about hand starting, and a reference to the DH Moths again. > The early moths had the mag switches on the outside of the cowling > between the cockpits. Either pilot could reach them as well as ground > crew. If hand proping from the rear of the prop. You could switch off > quickley with out scrambling to reach into the pit. I plan to mount > my switches there.> > J McThe only problem is water can get in the switches when it is wet andcause problems. Anyway if an engine fires up at a high throttle settingwhen hand bombing forget about getting anywhere near the mag switches ifit isn't tied down. You'll be too busy trying to save yourself and ifyou are behind the propeller you will probably get knocked down before youcan reach them.On the subject of hand bombing it is important to use the word "contact" instead of the commonly used "switch on" so that "switch on" and "switchoff" don't get confused. That can cause exciting moments as well.The best way to tie an airplane like a Piet for starting is to simply attacha rope to one cabane, around a fence post or through a tie-down ring, and forward to the other cabane. You can then untie, reel in, and stow the rope while in the cockpit.John K________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Pietenpol NX7229R Gains Airworthiness Certificate
Original Posted By:> jkahn(at)picasso.dehavilland.ca (John Kahn)