Pietenpol-List: It won't be long now

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 12:18 am

Original Posted By: "baileys"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: It won't be long nowDear Piet group,This weekend was a MAJOR step toward Low and slow flying for me. My father-in-law and I just became the very excited owners of a new Pietenpol AirCamper project. I say "new" because it has never flown. However, this airplane project was started way back in 1966 by a Mr. William Hewgley and G.C. Watermanin San Antonio TX. We bought it from Mr. Hewgley's son Richard here in the Waco TX area. This airplane is meticulously built, but not quite complete. Wings have been covered with ceconite thru penetration coat in 1982 and hangared since. Tail surfaces built and covered in early 70s with irish linen need recover. Fuselage is on gear with center section, controls, and 2 fuel tanks (ctrsection and nose) with no fabric. Evidently the airplane has been assembled atone time with all the controls hooked up. Then disassembled and stored. Items lacking are the engine, mount, cowling. instruments, fuel plumbing, windshield, brakes, fuselage fabric and tail fabric. The project came with a disassembled model A engine, but I have a 75hp continental I've been saving forthe Piet for years. Need to go thru mags and carburetor. We've already started going thru the entire airplane but finding few items to rework. Fuel tanksare not quite complete need to install fittings and add a sump section to the forward tank.We just trailered it home this afternoon and spent the entire evening tinkering. My 2 sons (ages 11 and 8) tore off the old rotten irish linen fabricoff the tail surfaces to find the wood to be like new....beautiful.This is a HUGE leap forward for me. I have been wishing for time to build my Piet for over 13 years. Basically spent all those years averaging about a rib per year. At that pace would never be airborn. So I am tickled to death now. I became convinced that this project was worthwhile when I slid one of myribs right up next to a center section rib to find them so close just as if they were built in the same jig. SO...anyway.....we are way PUMPED and plan to be airborne ASAP, estimate 6 months best case....1 year tops. I'll send pics soon. And we may have a modelA engine up for sale soon too...just need to see what we have here.Cheers...Terry Bowdenph (254) 715-4773fax (254) 853-3805________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 7:39 am

Original Posted By:
Terry, Sounds great. I have not started building yet, but now how the motor,the tail group wood, and the wood for the ribs. Take it easy, good luck, nowto get off my backside................Doug BlackburnDouglas Harley/Elizabeth BlackburnYucaipa CaliforniaInland Slope Rebels, Riverside Ca. http://inlandsloperebels.com----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 3:01 pm

Original Posted By: Jim Vydra
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: It won't be long nowI think you're a very lucky person...I, too, found a meticulously built Aircamper project which I am in the process of finishing up. I am in my eighthmonth of that effort. When you realize how many hours of craftsmanship you've bought for a few dollars, it's awsome. I guess my biggest surprise was the turnbuckles. I gave up trying to find "proper" turnbuckles on the surplus or usedmarket, so i bought them from A/C Spruce for over $400.00!!!!...Carl Vought________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 13:52:43 -0700 (PDT)

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Aug 04, 2003 9:55 pm

Original Posted By:
Congratulations Terry. Take it one job at a time and before you know it,you will have an airplane.Alex Sloan----- Original Message -----