Pietenpol-List: Off topic but very worthwhile

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Ted Brousseau"
MISS CHAMPION TO ARRIVE AT EAA FRIDAY Miss Champion at the 1986 EAA Fly-In and Convention. September 8, 2005 - An exceptionally rare aircraft originally slated to appearat EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2005 will arrive at EAA headquarters on Friday,September 9, then fly for one last time late next week after it's reassembled.Miss Champion, a Pitcairn PCA-2 autogiro built in 1931, is being transportedfrom Trenton-Robbinsville Airport, New Jersey, to Oshkosh where it will be donatedto the EAA AirVenture Museum collection. Owner Stephen Pitcairn, son of the designer Harold Pitcairn, originally plannedto fly Miss Champion from New Jersey to Oshkosh for the 2005 convention,then donate the historic rotorcraft. But a family situation occurred three weeksbefore the convention and he had to cancel. Instead, he and his five-person crew will travel to Oshkosh on Tuesday, September13, spend 2-3 days putting Miss Champion back together at EAA's WeeksHangar, then make a short, ceremonial last flight to historic Pioneer Airport.(The PCA-2's flight characteristics were once described as "hopping off theground like a giant grasshopper.") The PCA-2 (NC 11609) will join two other aircraft Pitcairn donated to EAA:A beautifully restored Pitcairn Mailwing and the world's only remaining exampleof a PA-39 autogiro. They'll reside in the structure also donated by Pitcairn-thePitcairn Aviation Hangar. "We feel fortunate and grateful that Steve considers our facilities an appropriatefinal destination for this important aviation artifact," said EAA AirVentureMuseum Director Adam Smith. Miss Champion, the first commercially licensed autogiro in the U.S., waspurchased new in 1931 by the Champion Spark Plug Co. She led that year's FordNational Air Tour, and in September 1932 set an altitude record of 21,500 feet.The aircraft "retired" to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, but waslater sold to a private New Jersey museum. Steve Pitcairn acquired it in theearly 1980s. "Because of my association with the EAA, with the Pitcairn Hangar and theMailwing, as well as another autogiro, I decided to donate it to EAA," he said."It seemed to be the logical place for (Miss Champion) to go." Harold Pitcairn built the first PCA-2 in 1930 through a licensing agreementwith Spanish aviation pioneer Juan de la Cierva, inventor of the autogiro.PCA-2 stands for Pitcairn Cierva Autogiro, Model 2. A total of 20 were built. Like an airplane, an autogiro's propeller provides thrust to pull the planethrough the air. Meanwhile, a rotor spins to provide lift similar to a helicopter.Unlike a helicopter, though, the rotor blades are not powered; they simplyauto-rotate as the aircraft moves through the air. The PCA-2 is a big aircraft,with a rotor diameter of 45 feet, and a 420-hp Wright R-975-E2 engine.Maximum weight is 3,000 pounds. Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro Miss Champion a.. Wing Span: 30 feet b.. Rotor Diameter: 45 feet c.. Length: 23 feet, 1 inch d.. Height: 13 feet e.. Weight, Empty: 2,030 pounds f.. Weight, Gross: 3,000 pounds g.. Cruising Speed: 98 mph h.. Max Speed: 118 mph i.. Rate of Climb: 800 fpm j.. Service Ceiling: 15,000 feet k.. Power Plant: Wright R-975-E2 Whirlwind, 420 hp ________________________________________________________________________________

[matronics]

Original Posted By:> harvey.rule(at)bell.ca
I went to a forum in Oshkosh and they highly recommended Gaffer's tape as abetter solution than duct tape, even though it costs a little more. Fromits name I assumed it was used around boats...Ted> Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: tape to use on ailerons and elevator

[matronics]

Original Posted By: harvey.rule(at)bell.ca
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Aileron & Elevator GapsFor the ailerons, I used the plans type barn door hinges with steel hinge pins, and bridged the gap with fabric, before the paint process. For the empenage, I used Vi Kapler aluminum hinges, and bridged those gaps with fabric,before paint process. These methods are light weight, simple to build, add efficiency to the flight, and have been trouble free for 4 years. If I were todo it again, I would use the same methods.Chuck G.NX770CG________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: tape to use on ailerons and elevatorDate: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 06:59:20 -0400