Pietenpol-List: Pietenpol lift struts and center section geometry...

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Gene Rambo"
Gene,Regarding the use of J-3 Cub rear struts for all four lift strutson a Pietenpol, I recall a nice Pietenpol built during the late1960's that used J-3 rear struts exclusively. It had a 3-piece wing and jury struts and, if I remember correctly, it was builtby two fellows somewhere in the New England states. One of them visited Edmonton, Alberta and I met him at our EAAChapter meeting. I cannot recall his name, but there is a pre-cedent for this arrangement. A flight report by one of its buil-ders (not the one I met) stated that it had been looped andspun (Ugh!). Typically, front lift struts are of a larger section than the rear ones and J-3 rear strut size may be on the slight side for thefront struts of a Piet. Perhaps Jack Phillips could check this for you. Just because it has been done doesn't necessarilymean that there is a sufficient margin of safety.My Piet uses Aeronca front strut material (very close to the J-3size and shape) for the front struts and Taylorcraft rear strutmaterial for the rear struts. The center section struts are made from Aeronca rear strut material which is too heavy for this ap-plication. I used what was available and what I could afford atthe time. A compromise which added weight, I guess. But myairplane is solid with no hint of being flimsy, possibly becauseof the stiffer rig with jury struts (not mounted at the midpoint ofthe lift strut length). Nevertheless, at 630 lbs. empty, it still isn't exceptionally heavy.Thanks to Jack Phillips for investigating the incidence changewhen the wing is moved aft for balance. I suspected that any change would be small, but was too lazy to figure it out. I guessthe problem bothered Jack more than it bothered me becausehe took the trouble to investigate it. Now I can relax! Another ex-ample of why this list is so valuable to all of us through the shar-ing of information.Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN) in chilly Camrose, Alberta.________________________________________________________________________________

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Gene Rambo"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Pietenpol lift struts and center section geometry...In a message dated 3/11/02 11:19:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, grhans@cable-lynx.net writes:>Sounds like you made the right decision along the way in building.Mind telling us what you did to keep the empty weight this low ?-dennis the Menace________________________________________________________________________________