Original Posted By: "Don Emch"
Michael,No, I don't know of any data regarding the current design and midairimpacts. I would imagine that flying into a seagull (or a seagull shapedhammer) with either design would likely be catastrophic. The data we DO haveis that the existing design as per the plans works (and has done so foreighty years). Period.As an engineer, when deciding on the feasibility of a design change, onedoes a cost/benefit analysis. You systematically look at all of the costsinvolved (this includes financial as well as incidental costs, among others)and you also look at the benefits that would be a result of the change. Indoing a very preliminary analysis, I don't really see any benefits - Itdoesn't look like any less work (wait till you try to pre-form the plywood),or financial cost - there is maybe a slight potential weight saving. On therisk side I see potentially large risks - making a design change based on "Iwould think that would be pretty strong", or "I may build a mock-up".I'm not saying that it is not possible to design and build a Pietenpol wingthat has no solid leading edge, and just a plywood skin. However, I stillmaintain that you would need something to hold the shape. If you look at theGrega rib design you see that the leading edge is a much smaller stick ofwood, but the rib construction is more complicated and the rib profile iscomplete, not chopped off flat like the Piet rib. The Grega wing is alsodesigned to use an aluminum skin, rather than plywood, which wraps aroundthe bottom as well.In order to determine the net worth of your proposal, one would really needto have a background in aircraft design. I don't have that. I'm going tobuild to the plans. But, I don't think you have that background, either. Ithink you are treading on shaky ground here. You are suggesting makingstructural changes to an aircraft, without really knowing why the thing isdesigned the way it is. You say you would "only wrap the ply as far asneeded". How are you going to figure out how far that is? I'm worried thatyou are taking the term "experimental" a little too literally. All I have tosay is "Be careful". Bill C.________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Super strong, super simple leading edge
Pietenpol-List: Super strong, super simple leading edge
Original Posted By: Tim Verthein
I don't mean to continue to stir the pot, but... it would be tough to come up witha much simpler, stronger leading edge than what is on the plans. It is sucha simple concept to take a piece of spruce, run it through the table saw thenglue and bolt it to the leading edge of the ribs and plane it down to shape.Then what could be stronger than simply gluing a piece of 1/16" plywood toit and the ribs, no steaming or forming necessary. It creates an incredibly strongand lightweight leading edge with no complex steaming, forming or bendingrequired.I have a really great airplane friend who suffers from a condition known as "Over-AnalysisParalysis". It gets in the way of his airplane building. I knoweveryone's idea of building an airplane is different, and some people may enjoyhaving this type of condition, but look at those plans, digest it, then enjoybuilding it, then you can really enjoy FLYING IT! Off the soapbox now.......
Don EmchNX899DERead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 15:48:22 -0800 (PST)
I don't mean to continue to stir the pot, but... it would be tough to come up witha much simpler, stronger leading edge than what is on the plans. It is sucha simple concept to take a piece of spruce, run it through the table saw thenglue and bolt it to the leading edge of the ribs and plane it down to shape.Then what could be stronger than simply gluing a piece of 1/16" plywood toit and the ribs, no steaming or forming necessary. It creates an incredibly strongand lightweight leading edge with no complex steaming, forming or bendingrequired.I have a really great airplane friend who suffers from a condition known as "Over-AnalysisParalysis". It gets in the way of his airplane building. I knoweveryone's idea of building an airplane is different, and some people may enjoyhaving this type of condition, but look at those plans, digest it, then enjoybuilding it, then you can really enjoy FLYING IT! Off the soapbox now.......
Don EmchNX899DERead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 15:48:22 -0800 (PST)RE: Pietenpol-List: Super strong, super simple leading edge
Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"
Pietenpol-List: Super strong, super simple leading edge
Original Posted By: Michael Perez
RE: Pietenpol-List: More leading edge questions/ideas
Original Posted By: John Egan
Re: Pietenpol-List: gas tank filler neck options
Original Posted By: John Egan
Aircraft Spruce has them. Page 170 P/N05-01060Gene in wet Tennessee ----- Original Message -----
Aircraft Spruce has them. Page 170 P/N05-01060Gene in wet Tennessee ----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: gas tank filler neck options
Original Posted By: John Egan
Sorry, guess I should have read further. Not sure Aircraft Spruce can help you.Gene ----- Original Message -----
Sorry, guess I should have read further. Not sure Aircraft Spruce can help you.Gene ----- Original Message -----
Pietenpol-List: gas tank filler neck options
Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright
Pietenpol-List: gas tank filler neck options
Original Posted By: Michael Perez
Not sure if you're willing to cut off the neck that you have and weld in a newone,but that could definitely be done. Another way would be to cut off the top partof your existing neck with a tubing cutter or hacksaw, then weld in an extension.It sounds like you're looking for something that could be screwed right into yourexisting neck to bring it a bit higher but you'd have to make your own.You can get a neck from an auto junkyard by cutting the neck off an old fuel tankbut it would have to be an older vehiclewithout the screw-in cap. Or browse Summit Racing or Moroso- they have all kindsof filler necks available for building your own tanks. I got the filler neck formy smoke oil tank from Summit but it's for a radiator cap, not a fuel filler cap.Search their website on "filler neck" or something like that.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CCSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:32:57 -0800 (PST)
Not sure if you're willing to cut off the neck that you have and weld in a newone,but that could definitely be done. Another way would be to cut off the top partof your existing neck with a tubing cutter or hacksaw, then weld in an extension.It sounds like you're looking for something that could be screwed right into yourexisting neck to bring it a bit higher but you'd have to make your own.You can get a neck from an auto junkyard by cutting the neck off an old fuel tankbut it would have to be an older vehiclewithout the screw-in cap. Or browse Summit Racing or Moroso- they have all kindsof filler necks available for building your own tanks. I got the filler neck formy smoke oil tank from Summit but it's for a radiator cap, not a fuel filler cap.Search their website on "filler neck" or something like that.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CCSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:32:57 -0800 (PST)