Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
I enjoyed your account of first Pietenpol flight. Thanks,thanks,thanks.PCheers Steve Yahn>What a great day! Had my first flight today in a Pietenpol and it was a>blast! And not just from the slipstream! Thought I would share some of>my first impressions.>>First, this airplane is somewhere between a true Air Camper and the>Grega version, built back in 1972 by my kind host, Scott Liefield, and>his father. Welded steel tube fuselage, door for the front cockpit on>right side, 85 Continental, Cub-like wings(not the Pietenpol airfoil and>27' span with large ailerons) and ooh-gah horn on the side. Weight is>635 lbs and it has 22 gallon capacity with a center section and fuselage>tank. Wire spoked wheels on the straight axle gear with bungees and no>brakes. I flew from the front where my only instrument was a>thermometer, and I didn't need it to tell me it was cold! >>Getting in required some dexterity, even with the door, and I don't>think my wife would care for it without the door. Climb up through the>wing strut x-bracing wires, right hand on front right cabane strut, left>hand on the coaming between cockpits, right foot on the tire and swing>the left leg in. The fit was cozy with thermals and jacket, no extra>shoulder room. Seat was comfortable with a Temperfoam pad. We had>sheepskin lined leather helmets with an intercom, but the wind in the>front cockpit made it hard to transmit.>>Taxiing went ok with no brakes on hard surfaces and winds gusting to 20>kts, typical southern California desert conditions. The usual blind>spots with a tail dragger but s-turns take care of that. Field>elevation is 2300 ft, temp about 45 degrees, visibility down to 60>miles. Takeoff was quick! We went diagonally across the runway into>the wind and maybe used 300 ft (we started the roll on the taxiway). >Tower was impressed and said so! So was that student in a Cherokee>waiting to depart behind us!>>Up at altitude it was my turn, and it sure is fun to fly! Elevator was>sensitive and quick, rudder was well matched to the elevator, and the>ailerons were heavy but responsive. Not a fighter but good enough for>me! A rudder airplane, you have to use those feet to keep the nose>wagging in the right direction. Visibility was comparable to Aeronca,>good over the nose and everywhere else but up. GPS (yes, GPS has made it>into a Piet) showed 51 mph into the wind, 115 with it. No idea what>climb rate was but it was plenty. The wind in the front cockpit is>considerable, even with the windscreen, so make sure your better half is>sporting enough to stand it. >>Landing approach is steep with extra speed only for tempermental winds. >There is lots of drag so it slows right up with the power back. Rudder>dance is not bad and a lot better than some types.>>So do I still think it is the right plane for me? Absolutely! Scott>has promised to take my wife up when it gets warmer just to make sure it>meets her expectations. The short field performance was great, and the>waves from that farmer on his tractor were like 1929! And flying so>slow that I had time to watch that hawk chase after a small bird. Clear>blue skies and snow on the peaks all around, the smell of a plowed field>mixing with that of warm oil. It really does feel like you are part of>the plane, even after only a half hour. If I were to make a change (the>purists won't like this) I would widen the fuselage by two inches and>definitely use the door into the front cockpit. This is personal>preference only and is not required. As mentioned, this Piet is not a>"true" one but I think it is close enough to give the right flavor. It>sure got my day off to a great start! >>Mike List>>________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: stephen
What a great day! Had my first flight today in a Pietenpol and it was ablast! And not just from the slipstream! Thought I would share some ofmy first impressions.First, this airplane is somewhere between a true Air Camper and theGrega version, built back in 1972 by my kind host, Scott Liefield, andhis father. Welded steel tube fuselage, door for the front cockpit onright side, 85 Continental, Cub-like wings(not the Pietenpol airfoil and27' span with large ailerons) and ooh-gah horn on the side. Weight is635 lbs and it has 22 gallon capacity with a center section and fuselagetank. Wire spoked wheels on the straight axle gear with bungees and nobrakes. I flew from the front where my only instrument was athermometer, and I didn't need it to tell me it was cold! Getting in required some dexterity, even with the door, and I don'tthink my wife would care for it without the door. Climb up through thewing strut x-bracing wires, right hand on front right cabane strut, lefthand on the coaming between cockpits, right foot on the tire and swingthe left leg in. The fit was cozy with thermals and jacket, no extrashoulder room. Seat was comfortable with a Temperfoam pad. We hadsheepskin lined leather helmets with an intercom, but the wind in thefront cockpit made it hard to transmit.Taxiing went ok with no brakes on hard surfaces and winds gusting to 20kts, typical southern California desert conditions. The usual blindspots with a tail dragger but s-turns take care of that. Fieldelevation is 2300 ft, temp about 45 degrees, visibility down to 60miles. Takeoff was quick! We went diagonally across the runway intothe wind and maybe used 300 ft (we started the roll on the taxiway). Tower was impressed and said so! So was that student in a Cherokeewaiting to depart behind us!Up at altitude it was my turn, and it sure is fun to fly! Elevator wassensitive and quick, rudder was well matched to the elevator, and theailerons were heavy but responsive. Not a fighter but good enough forme! A rudder airplane, you have to use those feet to keep the nosewagging in the right direction. Visibility was comparable to Aeronca,good over the nose and everywhere else but up. GPS (yes, GPS has made itinto a Piet) showed 51 mph into the wind, 115 with it. No idea whatclimb rate was but it was plenty. The wind in the front cockpit isconsiderable, even with the windscreen, so make sure your better half issporting enough to stand it. Landing approach is steep with extra speed only for tempermental winds. There is lots of drag so it slows right up with the power back. Rudderdance is not bad and a lot better than some types.So do I still think it is the right plane for me? Absolutely! Scotthas promised to take my wife up when it gets warmer just to make sure itmeets her expectations. The short field performance was great, and thewaves from that farmer on his tractor were like 1929! And flying soslow that I had time to watch that hawk chase after a small bird. Clearblue skies and snow on the peaks all around, the smell of a plowed fieldmixing with that of warm oil. It really does feel like you are part ofthe plane, even after only a half hour. If I were to make a change (thepurists won't like this) I would widen the fuselage by two inches anddefinitely use the door into the front cockpit. This is personalpreference only and is not required. As mentioned, this Piet is not a"true" one but I think it is close enough to give the right flavor. Itsure got my day off to a great start! Mike List________________________________________________________________________________