Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: steve(at)byu.edu
After much ground testing and some test flights by a friend, my FordEscort powered Piet finally took to the air with me at the controls lastSaturday. With air temp 50F and field altitude 4880', the old planeperformed very well. I've never had a flying thrill quite like this one. When I shoved the throttle forward the straight pipes on the Ford began tosing. I was airborne before I knew it climbing rather steeply at 60 mph. By the time I reached the end of the 4200' runway, I was at 300' andreally climbing well compared to my tired C-120. The sensation of rollingmy eyes to the left or right and being able to look down so easily wasamazing--my bod was that close to both sides at once. I could glance overmy shoulder for traffic easily. With the cut out in the wing and myheight, I was comfortable looking under and yet had good coverage above. The tail wasn't nearly as sensitive as in the C-120. I came over thefence at 65 mph and flared too high--that long nose! I dropped in around5', putting the traditional straight axle wooden-gear legs and motorcycletires to the test. They ironed out the bounce amazingly well. I didbetter on my next five landings but now have great respect for the gearthat those old Jenny's flew with in WWI. I've soloed 4-5 other airplanesbut haven't had the thrill that this first flight gave me. I immediatelydecided to keep the Piet and sell my 1/3 interest in the C-120.My plane weighs 770 lbs, pretty heavy for a Piet. Yet, at 9200' it wouldstill climb well. I don't have accurate figures but with a watch I'dguess 300' per minute. Cruise at 4300 rpm was around 75mph with a 2.5 to1 reduction. Having the 70-80 hp seems to compensate pretty well forsome of the weight. I can't wait to fly it again and enjoy that open-airfeel.Since my plane is fairly heavy, but performs well, I've decided to keep ata single-seater. In addition, winter is coming to this country and I'mscheming to add a light heater: two t's in the water hoses, a fan, and aradiator core with a cover over the front cockpit. Has anyone else hadany Piet experience with such an installation? With full car ignition andalternator, obviously the power plant can handle the electrical need.I used aluminum on the leading edge of the wing and would do it again. Iused it on the trailing edge as well. Works well. CU________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Paris Wilcox
Congratulations, Bill! Are you comming down for the Heber Fly-in on the18-19th? We will have two piets and would love to make it a threesome!Stevee-----Original Message-----William ConwaySent: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 1:36 PMSubject: Pietenpol-List: First flight and miscAfter much ground testing and some test flights by a friend, my Ford Escortpowered Piet finally took to the air with me at the controls last Saturday.With air temp 50F and field altitude 4880', the old plane performed verywell. I've never had a flying thrill quite like this one. When I shovedthe throttle forward the straight pipes on the Ford began to sing. I wasairborne before I knew it climbing rather steeply at 60 mph. By the time Ireached the end of the 4200' runway, I was at 300' and really climbing wellcompared to my tired C-120. The sensation of rolling my eyes to the left orright and being able to look down so easily was amazing--my bod was thatclose to both sides at once. I could glance over my shoulder for trafficeasily. With the cut out in the wing and my height, I was comfortablelooking under and yet had good coverage above. The tail wasn't nearly assensitive as in the C-120. I came over the fence at 65 mph and flared toohigh--that long nose! I dropped in around 5', putting the traditionalstraight axle wooden-gear legs and motorcycle tires to the test. Theyironed out the bounce amazingly well. I did better on my next five landingsbut now have great respect for the gear that those old Jenny's flew with inWWI. I've soloed 4-5 other airplanes but haven't had the thrill that thisfirst flight gave me. I immediately decided to keep the Piet and sell my1/3 interest in the C-120.My plane weighs 770 lbs, pretty heavy for a Piet. Yet, at 9200' it wouldstill climb well. I don't have accurate figures but with a watch I'd guess300' per minute. Cruise at 4300 rpm was around 75mph with a 2.5 to 1reduction. Having the 70-80 hp seems to compensate pretty well for some ofthe weight. I can't wait to fly it again and enjoy that open-air feel.Since my plane is fairly heavy, but performs well, I've decided to keep at asingle-seater. In addition, winter is coming to this country and I'mscheming to add a light heater: two t's in the water hoses, a fan, and aradiator core with a cover over the front cockpit. Has anyone else had anyPiet experience with such an installation? With full car ignition andalternator, obviously the power plant can handle the electrical need.I used aluminum on the leading edge of the wing and would do it again. Iused it on the trailing edge as well. Works well. CU________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Jim Sury
>After much ground testing and some test flights by a friend, my FordEscort powered Piet finally took to the air with me at the controls lastSaturday. Congratulations Bill !!!! Nuthin like it, is there ??Michael Cuy________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Mike Cunningham
Congratulations. That makes me go out to the shop and work on my plane.>After much ground testing and some test flights by a friend, my FordEscort powered Piet finally took to the air with me at the controls lastSaturday. With air temp 50F and field altitude 4880', the old planeperformed very well. I've never had a flying thrill quite like this one.When I shoved the throttle forward the straight pipes on the Ford began tosing. I was airborne before I knew it climbing rather steeply at 60 mph.By the time I reached the end of the 4200' runway, I was at 300' and reallyclimbing well compared to my tired C-120. The sensation of rolling my eyesto the left or right and being able to look down so easily was amazing--mybod was that close to both sides at once. I could glance over my shoulderfor traffic easily. With the cut out in the wing and my height, I wascomfortable looking under and yet had good coverage above. The tail wasn'tnearly as sensitive as in the C-120. I came over the fence at 65 mph andflared too high--that long nose! I dropped in around 5', putting thetraditional straight axle wooden-gear legs and motorcycle tires to thetest. They ironed out the bounce amazingly well. I did better on my nextfive landings but now have great respect for the gear that those oldJenny's flew with in WWI. I've soloed 4-5 other airplanes but haven't hadthe thrill that this first flight gave me. I immediately decided to keepthe Piet and sell my 1/3 interest in the C-120.>>My plane weighs 770 lbs, pretty heavy for a Piet. Yet, at 9200' it wouldstill climb well. I don't have accurate figures but with a watch I'd guess300' per minute. Cruise at 4300 rpm was around 75mph with a 2.5 to 1reduction. Having the 70-80 hp seems to compensate pretty well for someof the weight. I can't wait to fly it again and enjoy that open-air feel.>>Since my plane is fairly heavy, but performs well, I've decided to keep ata single-seater. In addition, winter is coming to this country and I'mscheming to add a light heater: two t's in the water hoses, a fan, and aradiator core with a cover over the front cockpit. Has anyone else had anyPiet experience with such an installation? With full car ignition andalternator, obviously the power plant can handle the electrical need.>>I used aluminum on the leading edge of the wing and would do it again. Iused it on the trailing edge as well. Works well. CU>>________________________________________________________________________________