Alternative Woods

[Tim]

I’m sure it’s come up before but I was wondering what kind of history Piets have with woods other than spruce in the airframe, preferably while keeping the dimension callouts from the drawings. I have no intention to build from trash, I’m just sort of in that research phase where I’m looking at all available options.

I tried searching the forum with no real luck so of this has all been gone through before and someone wants to point me in the right direction that would be good too.

[PoconoJohn]

You have to familiarize yourself with Chapter 1 here (FAA AC 43.13-1B): https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/med ... w-chg1.pdf

John C

[Tim]

It’s true that I’m due to brush up on 43.13 again but in my defence I’ve been using it off and on all year for other wood projects.

I was more curious about Pietenpol-specific examples. What’s out there, what’s gone well, what’s been regretted. That sort of thing.

[taildrags]

Douglas fir has been used in quite a few Piets, NX41CC included. Weighs just a tad more than spruce, is just a tad stronger than spruce in some respects, doesn't work quite as nicely as spruce sometimes, but is FAR easier to find and at less cost.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR

[Richard Roller]

Gary Boothe used poplar on his fuselage and, I believe, the wing, except for the spars, which are Douglas fir.
My Piet, N34KP, is Douglas fir. I've been doing the repairs, post crash, in Spruce.

34KP's original empty weight (weighted with Model A engine, prop, oil, water) was 656 lbs.

[taildrags]

N41CC, weighed with 3 qts of oil, prop, and its Cont A75 engine, no electrics and no starter, was 636 lbs. This is very close to what Mike Cuy's Piet weighs as well. They can be built light.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR