Original Posted By: Warren Shoun
O.K., Gang,I have read consistent comments about the Piet having poor aileron response.I know that sealing the gaps is an improvement, but has anyone explored theidea of adding a smidgin of area to the ailerons...say 20 per cent, by makingthe chord of the aileron about fourteen inches, instead of eleven and one halfinches. Or, how about extending the aileron one additional rib inboard? Or,is this a non-issue...don't spoil a good thing and all that. Just wonderin'.Keep Pietin' along!Don Cooley________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re:Piet Ailerons
Pietenpol-List: Re: Piet Ailerons
Original Posted By: William Conway
Have flown in a couple of Piets. From my limited experience, there reallyisa significant improvement with the gap seal. The important point of the seal isnot drag reduction. The real issue is keeping the air flow on the side of thewing it belongs on. If you can properly seal the hinge point, the upper air flowgoes over the aileron without disruption of air being sucked up thru the gap, andit really does work quite adequately at these ferocious speeds we are looking athere. Rather than spend any creative time in redesign, I would suggest you lookcarefully at how to build it so the airflow stays where it belongs.Regards,Warren________________________________________________________________________________
Have flown in a couple of Piets. From my limited experience, there reallyisa significant improvement with the gap seal. The important point of the seal isnot drag reduction. The real issue is keeping the air flow on the side of thewing it belongs on. If you can properly seal the hinge point, the upper air flowgoes over the aileron without disruption of air being sucked up thru the gap, andit really does work quite adequately at these ferocious speeds we are looking athere. Rather than spend any creative time in redesign, I would suggest you lookcarefully at how to build it so the airflow stays where it belongs.Regards,Warren________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Piet Ailerons
Original Posted By: Michael Brusilow
I used piano hinges on my plane. I think the response is fine. I canmake 30 degree turn just by thinking about it with almost no controlinput.>>> Warren Shoun 11/02 10:25 PM >>> Have flown in a couple of Piets. From my limited experience, therereally isa significant improvement with the gap seal. The important point of theseal isnot drag reduction. The real issue is keeping the air flow on the side ofthewing it belongs on. If you can properly seal the hinge point, the upperair flowgoes over the aileron without disruption of air being sucked up thru thegap, andit really does work quite adequately at these ferocious speeds we arelooking athere. Rather than spend any creative time in redesign, I would suggest youlookcarefully at how to build it so the airflow stays where it belongs.Regards,Warren________________________________________________________________________________
I used piano hinges on my plane. I think the response is fine. I canmake 30 degree turn just by thinking about it with almost no controlinput.>>> Warren Shoun 11/02 10:25 PM >>> Have flown in a couple of Piets. From my limited experience, therereally isa significant improvement with the gap seal. The important point of theseal isnot drag reduction. The real issue is keeping the air flow on the side ofthewing it belongs on. If you can properly seal the hinge point, the upperair flowgoes over the aileron without disruption of air being sucked up thru thegap, andit really does work quite adequately at these ferocious speeds we arelooking athere. Rather than spend any creative time in redesign, I would suggest youlookcarefully at how to build it so the airflow stays where it belongs.Regards,Warren________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Re:Piet Ailerons
Original Posted By: ADonJr(at)aol.com
Don,I'll reiterate what a lot of people have already told you:Don't change the design of the ailerons. Just make sure the gap is sealed either with tape or by using a pianohinge.I have flown four different Pietenpols (including my ownfor nearly 700 hours) and all have needed sealed ailerongaps. Without gap seals, aileron response is poor anda loss of lift was apparent when flying with one aileron unsealed (I definitely don't recommend this experiment because it was a bit scary). Gap seals provide aileronresponse comparable to, or even better than, that of pro-duction lightplanes---especially if care is exercised to mini-mize control system friction through the use of ball bearingpulleys, proper cable tension, etc. Good luck with your project.Graham Hansen ________________________________________________________________________________
Don,I'll reiterate what a lot of people have already told you:Don't change the design of the ailerons. Just make sure the gap is sealed either with tape or by using a pianohinge.I have flown four different Pietenpols (including my ownfor nearly 700 hours) and all have needed sealed ailerongaps. Without gap seals, aileron response is poor anda loss of lift was apparent when flying with one aileron unsealed (I definitely don't recommend this experiment because it was a bit scary). Gap seals provide aileronresponse comparable to, or even better than, that of pro-duction lightplanes---especially if care is exercised to mini-mize control system friction through the use of ball bearingpulleys, proper cable tension, etc. Good luck with your project.Graham Hansen ________________________________________________________________________________