Pietenpol-List: Wood Gear and "Deck Angle"

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "walt evans"
Seeing as we are talking about the wood landing gear, in the past it has been said to use 12 to 13 degrees as the "deck angle", that is the slope of the upper longerons when the plane is on all three wheels. Is this the correct angle?Mike Cuy, Jack Phillips, anyone with wood gear and a tail wheel, did you make the gear taller so you could get the "deck angle" of 12 degrees when you added a tailwheel. Based on a sketch I made tonight, I don't see how you could have done it (added the height of a wheel) without making the main gear taller to compensate. I get slightly less then 7 1/2 inches between the bottom of the fuselage and ground (where the wheel would be). I'm trying to use the plans A frame and coil spring design. Perhaps this is a good reason to use the leaf spring design like Mike did. I guess this question could be for anyone who added a tailwheel as it's more of a skid vs. tailwheel problem.So, do I need to add height to the gear when I add the tailwheel?Chris TracySacramento, Ca ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2006 10:01:44 -0400

[matronics]

Original Posted By: walt evans
Hiya Walt, Congrats on the Cub. Ya just cant beat a nice flying Cub.I walked out of the house this morning to 74F. at 11:30am it's still only 78F. I just dont know how to act! Thats about 10-12 degs below what it usually is by this time of day.I suffered a heat stroke a year ago today up in Savannah, GA and spent 3 days in the hospital. It's true what they say, that after a heat stroke your tolorance to heat is greatly diminished....or I'm getting older. Probably a little of both.I've been in Florida almost all of my 53 years but the last couple of years the summer WX and humidity has really been working on me.I'm ready for some cooler WX.Have fun in the cub!Dave....Down in Florida ----- Original Messa ge -----

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Don Emch"
Chris,I have a fairly high deck angle of about 15 degrees. I have steel gear with spokewheels that are about 26" tall (19" rims). I really like the high angle.The runway is totally blind in the flare but when I land 3-point it is all doneflying for sure. I've learned the trick to getting no-bounce landings is todefinately have the tail at the ground when the mains are even though it seemsto be a very high angle. I do know that Frank Pavliga lengthened his woodgear somewhat to get a more 'correct angle'. This is because the "Flying andGlider Manual" wood gear was designed for the shorter fuselage. When you go tothe longer fuselage the gear would need to be lengthened somewhat to maintainthe same 3-point attitude. Frank and I have nearly the same deck angle. Othershave less though, and seem to really like it too.Don EmchNX899DERead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: fuse survey

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Steve Ruse"
NX899DE has long fuselage (1966 model)Wing is slanted 4" aft of plans.A-65 engine mount is 1" longer than plans (just a little extra without losing 'thelook')Axle is 1" forward of steel gear plans.I have 14.5 gallons in the nose so depending how much fuel I have really changestail weight. Doesn't seem to be a problem though.All of these were just compromises I came up with in talking to people who hadbeen there before. I'm really happy with these measurements although I thinkthey could differ some and I'd still like it. Just remember that one change leadsto many more so try to keep the changes small and few.Don EmchRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Don Emch"
Thanks Don. I'll be running 19" rims too.Chris TracySacramento, Ca----- Original Message -----