Original Posted By: TXTdragger(at)aol.com
Questions for the group:1. Curious if anyone has experience with both Model A and Continental 65 performance and could compare and contrast, 2. If anyone has experience with Ron Kelley Model A engines - he's aModel A engine builder outside of Dallas and builds "updated" A's for reliability and horsepower (around 70HP). Talked with him once and he sounds very knowledgeable - has done a lot of research and dyno testing on carb/head/plug combos - would like to know if anyone is flying behind one? 2. Anyone have an e-mail address for Tom Nolan? Thanks, Clay SpurgeonSan Antonio________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Engine choice, Tom Nolan
Pietenpol-List: Re: Engine choice, Tom Nolan
Original Posted By: Gordon Brimhall
>Questions for the group:>>1. Curious if anyone has experience with both Model A and Continental >65 performance and could compare and contrast, >Clay- I have tried both and let me just say that both are a total blast andyou should have one of each. Now for the differences......The Cont. Piets controls feel totally different- much more responsive dueto the higher cruising speed. An average guess might say the Fords cruiseabout 55-65 and the Continentals about 65-75 mph. These are generalnumbers......unless you are an engine wizard like Lowell Frank or Wil Graffwho can get 70 hp from a Model A. The Fords are very nostalgic and sound sweet...but be prepared tohave the radiator on a hot summer day pour lots of hot air right in theface of your passenger....and the exhaust stacks are right in line withyour nose so if you lean out the left side you get a nice dose of carbonmonoxide. Then again on a winter flight in the North the seat of choiceis passenger, Model A. On a hot day with a Ford you'll be restricted to carrying lighterpassengersdepending on your field length, obstructions , elevation, density altitude. The Continental will let you go with 2 adults on just about any day below 85 For so. The visibility restriction of the radiator is, I think, over-rated. If youhavea passenger in the front of a Cont. you still can't see squat ahead so no big difference there. When landing most any taildragger from the backseat you'll mostly be using peripheral vision anyway. Whatever you decide just try to build a light as possible. You can modifythings here and there slightly, but there is no need to add weight anywhere.A heavy Piet will just dissapoint you in the long run.Mike C. Questions for the group:1. Curious if anyone has experience with both Model A and Continental65 performance and could compare and contrast, Clay- I have tried both and let me just say that both are atotal blast andyou should have one of each. Now for the differences......The Cont. Piets controls feel totally different- much moreresponsive dueto the higher cruising speed. An average guess might say the Fordscruiseabout 55-65 and the Continentals about 65-75 mph. These aregeneralnumbers......unless you are an engine wizard like Lowell Frank or WilGraffwho can get 70 hp from a Model A. The Fords are very nostalgic and soundsweet...but be prepared tohave the radiator on a hot summer day pour lots of hot air right intheface of your passenger....and the exhaust stacks are right in linewithyour nose so if you lean out the left side you get a nice dose ofcarbonmonoxide. Then again on a winter flight in the North the seatof choiceis passenger, Model A. On a hot day with a Ford you'll be restricted tocarrying lighter passengersdepending on your field length, obstructions , elevation, densityaltitude. The Continental will let you go with 2 adults on just about any daybelow 85 F or so. The visibility restriction of the radiator is, I think, over-rated.If you havea passenger in the front of a Cont. you still can't see squat ahead sono big difference there. When landing most any taildragger from thebackseat you'll mostly be using peripheral vision anyway. Whatever you decide just try to build a light as possible. You canmodifythings here and there slightly, but there is no need to add weightanywhere.A heavy Piet will just dissapoint you in the long run.Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
>Questions for the group:>>1. Curious if anyone has experience with both Model A and Continental >65 performance and could compare and contrast, >Clay- I have tried both and let me just say that both are a total blast andyou should have one of each. Now for the differences......The Cont. Piets controls feel totally different- much more responsive dueto the higher cruising speed. An average guess might say the Fords cruiseabout 55-65 and the Continentals about 65-75 mph. These are generalnumbers......unless you are an engine wizard like Lowell Frank or Wil Graffwho can get 70 hp from a Model A. The Fords are very nostalgic and sound sweet...but be prepared tohave the radiator on a hot summer day pour lots of hot air right in theface of your passenger....and the exhaust stacks are right in line withyour nose so if you lean out the left side you get a nice dose of carbonmonoxide. Then again on a winter flight in the North the seat of choiceis passenger, Model A. On a hot day with a Ford you'll be restricted to carrying lighterpassengersdepending on your field length, obstructions , elevation, density altitude. The Continental will let you go with 2 adults on just about any day below 85 For so. The visibility restriction of the radiator is, I think, over-rated. If youhavea passenger in the front of a Cont. you still can't see squat ahead so no big difference there. When landing most any taildragger from the backseat you'll mostly be using peripheral vision anyway. Whatever you decide just try to build a light as possible. You can modifythings here and there slightly, but there is no need to add weight anywhere.A heavy Piet will just dissapoint you in the long run.Mike C. Questions for the group:1. Curious if anyone has experience with both Model A and Continental65 performance and could compare and contrast, Clay- I have tried both and let me just say that both are atotal blast andyou should have one of each. Now for the differences......The Cont. Piets controls feel totally different- much moreresponsive dueto the higher cruising speed. An average guess might say the Fordscruiseabout 55-65 and the Continentals about 65-75 mph. These aregeneralnumbers......unless you are an engine wizard like Lowell Frank or WilGraffwho can get 70 hp from a Model A. The Fords are very nostalgic and soundsweet...but be prepared tohave the radiator on a hot summer day pour lots of hot air right intheface of your passenger....and the exhaust stacks are right in linewithyour nose so if you lean out the left side you get a nice dose ofcarbonmonoxide. Then again on a winter flight in the North the seatof choiceis passenger, Model A. On a hot day with a Ford you'll be restricted tocarrying lighter passengersdepending on your field length, obstructions , elevation, densityaltitude. The Continental will let you go with 2 adults on just about any daybelow 85 F or so. The visibility restriction of the radiator is, I think, over-rated.If you havea passenger in the front of a Cont. you still can't see squat ahead sono big difference there. When landing most any taildragger from thebackseat you'll mostly be using peripheral vision anyway. Whatever you decide just try to build a light as possible. You canmodifythings here and there slightly, but there is no need to add weightanywhere.A heavy Piet will just dissapoint you in the long run.Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Engine choice, Tom Nolan
Original Posted By: Clay Spurgeon
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