RE: Pietenpol-List: Re: Leading airfoil shape-- wood vs. metal

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:14 pm

Original Posted By: Rcaprd(at)aol.com
The GN-1 plans show .013" aluminum sheet on the leading edge. The aluminumwill cost less and be easier to install. Aluminum leading edges also getdented up a lot easier than the plywood. Any opinions on which is better?Brian KrautEngineering Alternatives, Inc.www.engalt.com________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:25 pm

Original Posted By: Matt Dralle
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Leading airfoil shape-- wood vs. metalIn a message dated 11/12/2007 9:17:39 PM Central Standard Time, brian.kraut(at)engalt.com writes:The GN-1 plans show .013" aluminum sheet on the leading edge. The aluminum will cost less and be easier to install. Aluminum leading edges also get dented up a lot easier than the plywood. Any opinions on which is better?Brian,I still much prefer the plywood, because I don't think it is any more difficult to install than aluminum, it is more durable than aluminum - as you mentioned, and because wood and aluminum have different expansion rates with temperature changes - which may cause some wavy looks, or loosen the nails in thealuminum.Chuck G.NX770CG________________________________________________________________________________Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:12:26 -0800

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:04 am

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Leading airfoil shape-- scalloped back edgeGuys,Since I tried to "make it better" by supporting and nailing down the aft edge of the 1/16" plywood, I think I will cut the scalloped edge, simply becauseit will be easier to cut away my "improvement"! This was done before I discovered this list. Very helpful!!! Dan HelsperPoplar Grove, IL.________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Re: Leading airfoil shape-- scalloped back edgeDate: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 07:24:47 -0500

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:35 am

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:15 am

Original Posted By: "Scott Schreiber"
I had same question a while ago. My top wing is GN-1 and has .026 aluminum, withthe brass coated nails. However it sat a long time in AZ and the nails werepulling out. Consensus seems to be that wood is better, stiffer and it expands/contractsmore like the wood in the wings. Think in my case I will end up using aluminum for bottom wing as it would lookodd to do one aluminum, other wood, and I am more comfortable working with aluminum.(Lived in Wichita, KS, took sheet metal classes thinking I might need themto work at Beechcraft/Boeing or Cessna ... fortunately career went other direction.)Did see a nice tip on cutting sheet metal (light gage only) you can score it witha hobby mat cutter a few times and get a clean line. Then bend it till it comesclean off. Much easier to get a mat cutter than a good 8-10ft metal shear.Snips make a pretty rough edge too.JimRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:41 pm

Original Posted By: Oscar Zuniga
How timely! I was just starting on this part myself and you just illustrated everything I was uncertain about on the leading edge sheet. -Scott ________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:20 pm

Original Posted By: "Bill Church"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:36 pm

Original Posted By: "Rick Holland"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:39 pm

Original Posted By: "Bill Church"

Brodhead Pietenpol Association