Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: jcmjones
These questions are addressed to Steve E., and to anyone else who has increasedthe width of the center section of a 3-piece wing. With the benefit of your 20/20 hindsight, can you tell me if there are any disadvantages to increasing this width? Are there any advantages that are not so obvious? Have you thought carefully about changes in the loads distributed to attachment fittings? Were there changes made to the way the spars are connected, or werethe standard Pietenpol fittings (drawn by Kapler) used without adjustment (except in the position on the spars).I'm curious because of the availability of local, high quality spar stock in 12foot lengths. Would be nice to use this without having to scarf, but if there's even the slightest loss of strength or dependability, I would naturallyante up for the traditional length spar. I'm still a LONG way from assemblingwing parts, but I need to make decisions soon about the use of material I presently have on hand.Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated!--Peter________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Kyle Ray
Sorry this took so long to reply too. It took me all day yesterday to getmy van registered and passing the safety and emmissions test. It would havebeen a good day to go flying too. I did make the center section 48" ratherthan the plans width. I did it for the very reason you stated. 12' spars.I have had no problems with the design and benefit from a 14.5 gal centersection tank. I could have gone larger, but didn't see the need. One ofthe advantages it that the cabane strut fittings are now separate from thewing attach fittings. Eliminating some fabrication and welding. One thingI should have done however is extend the wing flop across the whole width ofthe center section. Would have been much easier to build and would lookbetter. Bending loads at the joint are a non issue since the loads arenearly identical at the new location and the old. 80 hours in the past 11months.Steve E.-----Original Message-----Peter P FrantzSent: Monday, October 26, 1998 5:07 PMSubject: Pietenpol-List: 3-piece center section widthThese questions are addressed to Steve E., and to anyone else who hasincreasedthe width of the center section of a 3-piece wing. With the benefit of your20/20 hindsight, can you tell me if there are any disadvantages toincreasingthis width? Are there any advantages that are not so obvious? Have youthought carefully about changes in the loads distributed to attachmentfittings? Were there changes made to the way the spars are connected, orwerethe standard Pietenpol fittings (drawn by Kapler) used without adjustment(except in the position on the spars).I'm curious because of the availability of local, high quality spar stock in12foot lengths. Would be nice to use this without having to scarf, but ifthere's even the slightest loss of strength or dependability, I wouldnaturallyante up for the traditional length spar. I'm still a LONG way fromassemblingwing parts, but I need to make decisions soon about the use of material Ipresently have on hand.Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated!--Peter________________________________________________________________________________