Original Posted By: rdecosta(at)autoeurope.com (Richard DeCosta)
Just a story to share here:I took my piet to Idaho (210 miles) for a family reunion three weeks ago.Had a great time and gave rides all day long. I didn't leave myself enoughdaylight to get home (weather looked bad anyway) and so I had to leave myplane there. I figured I could come back up the next week and get it.Well, one week turned to two and two to three.... Anyway I finally got afriend to fly me back to Burley (BYI) in his RV-6A. What a beautifulaircraft. Anyway after getting upsidown a couple of times en route, wearrived after 1:10 in the air. I realized that I left home without mygoggles, thought I was hosed, but my brother in law had a spare pair Iborrowed and off I flew. 3.5 hours and one fuel stop later I arrived home!It was a blast, but quite an eye opener. I didn't save any time in the pietover driving, but it was a better view!I went flying agian today and discovered something cool about the piet. Idon't have any trim in my airplane except for throttle. I was playingaround after our discussion on downthrust, just to verify what I said aboutpitch changes and power settings. I found that sweet spot by adjusting thethrottle, and verified that I could let go of the stick and fly level. Ikept my feet on the rudders for directional control and discovered that itwould hold altitude just fine. Then I tried it. I put both hands straightout either side of the cockpit! Look maw! No hands! The nose pitched upand I began to climb. I expected the nose to drop however and grabbed thestick again. With my new found knowledge I leveled off and tried again.Sure enough I could make the plane climb by sticking my hands and arms out.Hum. What could do the reverse... I tried all kinds of different handpositions then realized something. I hadn't tried the entry flop. I gaveit a nudge, and the nose dipped! So here I was flying around thecountry-side flapping like a bird, going up and down without touching thestick! What a rush! (What a nut!) So I figure I can control pitch, whatabout roll? One arm didn't do much, but both arms and as much leaning toone side as I could do produced enough drag to bank the plane! Cool! Thinkof all the time I could have saved by omiting the control stick and cables!This went on for 20 minutes and I came down with yet another new lesson inopen cockpit flight.. Not to mention that silly grin again.Steve E. 69 hours and having fun....________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Fun Flying
Pietenpol-List: Re: Fun Flying
Original Posted By: "Warren D. Shoun"
That's the kinda 'fun flying' I looking forward to.... When I'm flying and inahurry I take a commercial flight... When I'm flying and trying to enjoy it Ilike'slow and low'..... and there isn't any better way than in opencockpit....Greg Yotzsteve(at)byu.edu wrote:> Just a story to share here:> ................> This went on for 20 minutes and I came down with yet another new lesson in> open cockpit flight.. Not to mention that silly grin again.>> Steve E. 69 hours and having fun....________________________________________________________________________________
That's the kinda 'fun flying' I looking forward to.... When I'm flying and inahurry I take a commercial flight... When I'm flying and trying to enjoy it Ilike'slow and low'..... and there isn't any better way than in opencockpit....Greg Yotzsteve(at)byu.edu wrote:> Just a story to share here:> ................> This went on for 20 minutes and I came down with yet another new lesson in> open cockpit flight.. Not to mention that silly grin again.>> Steve E. 69 hours and having fun....________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Fun Flying
Original Posted By: Patcoolnet(at)aol.com
Great story Steve! Had a grizzled old instructor who taught me how to fly my Luscombe with thethrottle and the doors, and how to use the doors as airbrakes for really shortlandings!________________________________________________________________________________
Great story Steve! Had a grizzled old instructor who taught me how to fly my Luscombe with thethrottle and the doors, and how to use the doors as airbrakes for really shortlandings!________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Fun Flying
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
SteveE. wrote: So here I was flying around the>country-side flapping like a bird, going up and down without touchingthe stick! What a rush! (What a nut!) So I figure I can control pitch,what>about roll? One arm didn't do much, but both arms and as much leaningto one side as I could do produced enough drag to bank the plane! Cool! SteveE ! Great story in fun and aerodynamics ! Afterplaying with thissame 'flight configuration' I found that I could wave at people on theground and safely circle their house with both armswaving outside !The Pietenpol is a wonderful design. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
SteveE. wrote: So here I was flying around the>country-side flapping like a bird, going up and down without touchingthe stick! What a rush! (What a nut!) So I figure I can control pitch,what>about roll? One arm didn't do much, but both arms and as much leaningto one side as I could do produced enough drag to bank the plane! Cool! SteveE ! Great story in fun and aerodynamics ! Afterplaying with thissame 'flight configuration' I found that I could wave at people on theground and safely circle their house with both armswaving outside !The Pietenpol is a wonderful design. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________