Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Jack Phillips
As you are all aware I have started flying my piet. Challenges are notover however. I have a couple of hours on it now and have found that Iam still going to be doing some tweeking. One problem I didn't expecthowever, that I would like to throw out for comment is my high RPM.Static I can get well over 2500rpm and in the air I am at about 2700!This with an A-65 and a Sensenich 72X44" prop. Everything I havechecked indicated that this should be the prop for this engine, yet Ifeel like the engine has got lots of power being wasted. Comments?what combo's are others using with the ol 65.Steve e.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: dcsBell(at)netcom.ca
Steve Eldredge wrote:> > As you are all aware I have started flying my piet. Challenges are not> over however. I have a couple of hours on it now and have found that I> am still going to be doing some tweeking. One problem I didn't expect> however, that I would like to throw out for comment is my high RPM.> > Static I can get well over 2500rpm and in the air I am at about 2700!> This with an A-65 and a Sensenich 72X44" prop. Everything I have> checked indicated that this should be the prop for this engine, yet I> feel like the engine has got lots of power being wasted. Comments?> > what combo's are others using with the ol 65.> > Steve e.Hi Steve!More congrats on your flight! You're about 3 years ahead of me.I had a J-3 Cub with a 65 Continental for many years. It flies as much like aPietenpol as anything I've ever flown (which is one reason I'm building a Piet). Mine had a McCauley metal prop that was 74"diameter with a 45" pitch. It gave 2100 RPM on climbout and seemed to work just fine. A wooden prop is not as clean, so Iwould think that 72 x 45 or 74 x 42 would work fine. The 74 x 45 that I had was considered a "Cruise" prop and the old Cub wouldindicate 87 mph with it, which just means the Airspeed Indicator was lying in its teeth. It would really do about 75 mph.Good Luck with your test flying.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Barry Davis
Steve Eldredge wrote:> > As you are all aware I have started flying my piet. Challenges are not> over however. I have a couple of hours on it now and have found that I> am still going to be doing some tweeking. One problem I didn't expect> however, that I would like to throw out for comment is my high RPM.> > Static I can get well over 2500rpm and in the air I am at about 2700!> This with an A-65 and a Sensenich 72X44" prop. Everything I have> checked indicated that this should be the prop for this engine, yet I> feel like the engine has got lots of power being wasted. Comments?> > what combo's are others using with the ol 65.> > Steve e.Hi Steve,It could be the sensenich 72X44" prop. itself. Perhaps how they measuretheir pitch. I'm not sure what the standard for measuring is. I have afriend that used the same make and pitch, he also was not very happywith it's performance. He switched to a Flotorp of the same pitch andperformance was greatly improved. He did however have other engineproblems that were never addressed since he crashed on take-off aftermaking a left turnout in front of a barn and only 50ft. off the ground.he survived the crash with minor injuries to his eye. The seat belt letgo. You may know him from Brodhead. I won't mention his name here.Perhaps Brian Kenney can offer you some assistance.Regards, Domenico Bellissimo/Toronto________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: michael list
>Steve Eldredge wrote:>> >> As you are all aware I have started flying my piet. Challenges are not>> over however. I have a couple of hours on it now and have found that I>> am still going to be doing some tweeking. One problem I didn't expect>> however, that I would like to throw out for comment is my high RPM.>> >> Static I can get well over 2500rpm and in the air I am at about 2700!>> This with an A-65 and a Sensenich 72X44" prop. Everything I have>> checked indicated that this should be the prop for this engine, yet I>> feel like the engine has got lots of power being wasted. Comments?>> >> what combo's are others using with the ol 65.>> >> Steve e.>I had a Flotorp 74 x 48 wood prop on the A65 in my Flybaby. Even though thedesigner claimed 105 MPH cruise it was close to the speed of a Pietenpol,about 75 -80. As I remember, I could get about 2000 RPM static. I couldn'tred line it in a climb and yet it performed well - seemed like a goodcompromise.A A65 I know of in a Pietenpol used a 69 x 50 metal prop. Not sure how itperformed.I doubt you are "wasting" power. You are probably getting more than ratedpower out because of the higher RPM. Lots of engines have had the red linemoved up to get more horsepower over the years. At that high speed the lifeof the engine will be reduced and the reliability will go down. I would say you need several inches more pitch. Your takeoff run and climbwon't be as impressive but it will get the RPM down where it should be.Jim________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Gary Gower
Steve Eldredge wrote:> > One problem I didn't expect however, that I would like to throw out for commentis my high RPM.> > Static I can get well over 2500rpm and in the air I am at about 2700!> This with an A-65 and a Sensenich 72X44" prop. Everything I have> checked indicated that this should be the prop for this engine, yet I> feel like the engine has got lots of power being wasted. Comments?> > what combo's are others using with the ol 65.> > Steve e.Steve,Sounds like you need another inch or two of pitch, maybe around 46". The diameter sounds right at 72". You mentioned that the engine andprop came out of a Taylorcraft. That prop/engine combination might workok for the faster Taylorcraft but not for the Piet. I don't have anyexperience with the A-65 in a Piet so maybe some others who do cansuggest a particular prop for you. You may also want to have yourtachometer checked and calibrated before getting a new prop, sometimesthey are off by a hundred rpm or more. If your prop is a Sensenich theyare still doing a good business, now down in Plant City, FL, and theymay be able to suggest a prop or possibly rework yours. There was anarticle on them in the July 1997 Sport Aviation listing a web site athttp://www.sensenich.com.Happy Thanksgiving!Mike List________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Doug Hunt
Steve,What make prop are you using or did you do it yourself? I have a ColverProps 72 44 that I was only getting 2100 out of. I had them take an inchout and am getting 2250. I guess they are hard to measure?Craig________________________________________________________________________________