Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Ron Gipson
Subject: Pietenpol-List: How heavy is too heavy??>Hi all,> I've been reading with great interest the posts from the past 4 days, and>learning a lot about this wonderful aircraft. But, I have a question for>y'all (from Texas!) that I was wondering about:>I weigh about 250 lbs, and that being the case, is it still advisable forme>to entertain thoughts of building a Pietenpol? I was planning on using an>A65 or even C85 for power, any advantage there?> Am I dreaming the impossible dream, or could I pull it off with all that>mass in the back? I have a Cessna Cardinal that is big and roomy, but I>really have always wanted to build a wood and fabric plane, and the>Pietenpol seemed like the right answer to me. Any hope, or am I doomed to>spam cans?>>________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "William C. Beerman"
I live in Pipe Creek, Texas - in the Texas Hill Country - and I don'tthink you will have any problem. One of my partners is over two hundredpounds and we plan to use a Model A. Our runway is 2100 ft at 1200 ftMSL.John Langston writes:>Hi all,> I've been reading with great interest the posts from the past 4 >days, and >learning a lot about this wonderful aircraft. But, I have a question >for >y'all (from Texas!) that I was wondering about:>I weigh about 250 lbs, and that being the case, is it still advisable >for me >to entertain thoughts of building a Pietenpol? I was planning on >using an >A65 or even C85 for power, any advantage there?> Am I dreaming the impossible dream, or could I pull it off with all >that >mass in the back? I have a Cessna Cardinal that is big and roomy, but >I >really have always wanted to build a wood and fabric plane, and the >Pietenpol seemed like the right answer to me. Any hope, or am I doomed >to >spam cans?>__________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: ToySat(at)aol.com
Hi all, I've been reading with great interest the posts from the past 4 days, and learning a lot about this wonderful aircraft. But, I have a question for y'all (from Texas!) that I was wondering about:I weigh about 250 lbs, and that being the case, is it still advisable for me to entertain thoughts of building a Pietenpol? I was planning on using an A65 or even C85 for power, any advantage there? Am I dreaming the impossible dream, or could I pull it off with all that mass in the back? I have a Cessna Cardinal that is big and roomy, but I really have always wanted to build a wood and fabric plane, and the Pietenpol seemed like the right answer to me. Any hope, or am I doomed to spam cans?________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Gary Meadows
Hi Gary, I weigh 260 lb. an am 6'2" tall. I have no problem in flying my Piet,except that it is very tiring for a long trip, but i have heard this also frommost of the rest of the group... DaveGary Meadows wrote:> Hi all,> I've been reading with great interest the posts from the past 4 days, and> learning a lot about this wonderful aircraft. But, I have a question for> y'all (from Texas!) that I was wondering about:> I weigh about 250 lbs, and that being the case, is it still advisable for me> to entertain thoughts of building a Pietenpol? I was planning on using an> A65 or even C85 for power, any advantage there?> Am I dreaming the impossible dream, or could I pull it off with all that> mass in the back? I have a Cessna Cardinal that is big and roomy, but I> really have always wanted to build a wood and fabric plane, and the> Pietenpol seemed like the right answer to me. Any hope, or am I doomed to> spam cans?>________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Earl Myers
Dave, That is certainly good news on the weight thing. I had read a quote from somone that was 230 lbs and it sounded like he was a little tail heavy I was concerned about the width too, I'm a little wider than you since I'm only about 5' 10", & 250, but we're not that different, so I think I may be able to do this! I ordered a book on wood aircraft, a bag of sticks, and some T-88 from AS&S today, I'm gonna play with gluing some, and just play with it a little, and I think I'll order the full plans set in a few days and get to work. I always loved building R/C models, this should be even more rewarding! By the way, after cross countries in my Cardinal, I feel a bit tired too! About 3 hours at a stretch is about all I can handle without a break. I had a 150 before the 177, and man after 3 hours in that thing, I felt like I needed to go in traction! I do bet the opencockpit is more tiring, but man what a way to go!Randall - Thanks for sharing your information also, it's good to see that two wide bodies can fly at the same time in the Piet. I'll bet the front seat ingress was quite a site to behold! Maybe I'm not the only economy size pilot out there after all! I like to think of it as "full figured" ala Jane Russell! (Well, not exactly!) Thanks again for the info everybody, this has really helped my decision. I'm gonna build a 2'X 2' box to see how it feels, but I think I'll be okay. Maybe I need to go out and sit in it for an hour or two, (making appropriate airplane noises, with a floor fan blowing in my face), and see how stiff I get!Many Thanks,Gary Meadows________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Gary Meadows
GARY; I WEIGH (AT TIMES) UP TO 240 AND HAVE FLOWN IN PIETS AT THAT WEIGHT. ALLYOU HAVE TO DO IS MOVE THE WING BACK TO COMPENSATE. DON'T GIVE UP AS THIS ISA VERSITILE AIRPLANE! A LITTLE PUSH BACK FROM THE DINNER TABLE HELPS TOO.THAT WILL HINDER YOU FROM GETTING INTO YOUR OWN FRONT COCKPIT...ER...FLITEDECK ALTO I GOT IN BOTH PITS AT 240/245 & 6'-2"...... IT IS TIGHT! I BUILTMY SCOUT A BIT WIDER TO ACCEPT ME (245 AT THAT TIME, 225 NOW). GO FOR IT!EARL MYERS-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Gary Meadows [
I'm 6'-2", 250 lbs., and building a "wide body" Pietenpol. The fuselage iswidened by 2". What a difference! If you would like more information, giveme a call sometime in the evening at 440-965-4677. (no computer at thehouse) -----Original Message-----Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 3:46 PMSubject: Pietenpol-List: How heavy is too heavy??Hi all, I've been reading with great interest the posts from the past 4 days, and learning a lot about this wonderful aircraft. But, I have a question for y'all (from Texas!) that I was wondering about:I weigh about 250 lbs, and that being the case, is it still advisable for meto entertain thoughts of building a Pietenpol? I was planning on using an A65 or even C85 for power, any advantage there? Am I dreaming the impossible dream, or could I pull it off with all that mass in the back? I have a Cessna Cardinal that is big and roomy, but I really have always wanted to build a wood and fabric plane, and the Pietenpol seemed like the right answer to me. Any hope, or am I doomed to spam cans?charsetwindows-1252">5.5.2448.0">RE: How heavy is too heavy??I'm 6'-2, 250 lbs., and building awide body Pietenpol. The fuselage is widened by 2.What a difference! If you would like more information, give me a callsometime in the evening at 440-965-4677. (no computer at thehouse) -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: C10K100(at)aol.com
hello !please delete me from the mailing list.thank you________________________________________________________________________________