Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: jmcnarry(at)techplus.com (John McNarry)
Subject: aileron hinges question Group, Haven't seen mention of aileron hinges for a while. Now I'm at thatpoint, and need input. I'm trying to build to original, but when I putthe Home Depot strap hinges on the wing......hmmmmm. Did anyone use these? If so , did you weld up the split in the ring? I even bought 4130 tubing and sheet to fabricate lookalikes, butstarted and found that they will be intense to build. Did anyone build to the original prints? walt evans________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Gary Meadows
Group,Haven't seen mention of aileron hinges for a while. Now I'm at thatpoint, and need input. I'm trying to build to original, but when I putthe Home Depot strap hinges on the wing......hmmmmm. Did anyone use these?If so , did you weld up the split in the ring?I even bought 4130 tubing and sheet to fabricate lookalikes, but startedand found that they will be intense to build.Did anyone build to the original prints?walt evansGroup,Haven't seen mention of aileronhinges for awhile. Now I'm at that point, and need input. I'm trying tobuild tooriginal, but when I put the Home Depot strap hinges on thewing......hmmmmm. Did anyone use these?If so , did you weld up the split inthering?I even bought 4130 tubing and sheetto fabricatelookalikes, but started and found that they will be intense tobuild.Did anyone build to the originalprints?waltevans________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: del magsam
Walt, I used the 3-inch strap hinges spelled out in the 1933 plans. They work quite well and I have no concern with them other than the gap you mention. I have not welded it up on the premise that the aileron stops I installed will keep much of the strain off of them. However as I get closer to covering I keep eyeballing that gap and have just about convinced myself to braze them. I just hope they won't distort to where I loose the the real clean alignment I now have.Don H. ________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: walter evans
Walt; Use piano hinges, also serve as gap seal & much tighter controlfeel......Earl Myers -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By:> walter evans [SMTP:wbeevans(at)worldnet.att.net]
Hi Walt,I had the same feeling you do about the "Barn Door" hinges called out on theplans.I used MS20001 piano hinges. They are stronger, and they allow a muchsmaller gap between the aileron and the wing. I originally intended to usthe piano hinges for the full span of each aileron to provide gap seals, butI elected to just use two hinges per aileron. I used hinge sections about12" long that fit in between the ribs. if I feel more gap seal isnecessary, I can use cloth tape to seal the rest of the gap.If you use piano hinges, a couple of words of caution. The MS20001 hinge isextruded and is much stronger than the MS20257. (Of course, it costs more).If you decide to use full span hinges, be sure to make them in sections sothe hinge won't bind and lock your controls when the wing flexes under load.And be sure to provide some means of locking the hinge pin in place.Tony Bingelis has a good chapter on using piano hinges in his book"Sportplane Construction Techniques". Like all his books, it's worthreading.Jack Phillips> -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: walter evans
x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"Walt,I just used the hardware store version like the plans call for andwelded the end of the hinge down. Bought aircraft piano hinges anddecided I did like it as well because it did reach down over the woodsurface on the aileron and wing as far.Craig________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Mike Kay
Walt, I have Home Depot strap hinges on my Piet. There is no load onthe ailerons that will casue them to fail. They looked kind ofinadequate at first, but after reassurance fromother builders I stayedwith them and have 55 trouble free hours since July.Copinfo(at)ix.Netcom.ComTim CunninghamDes Moines, Iowa (515) 237-1510 Group, Haven't seen mention of aileron hinges for a while. Now I'm at thatpoint, and need input. I'm trying to build to original, but when I putthe Home Depot strap hinges on the wing......hmmmmm. Did anyone use these? If so , did you weld up the split in the ring? I even bought 4130 tubing and sheet to fabricate lookalikes, butstarted and found that they will be intense to build. Did anyone build to the original prints? walt evans________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: VAHOWDY(at)aol.com
Jack, Most of the small planes I've been around have three (3) hinges on a control surface. This way if one fails, the surface will stay on.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: jmcnarry(at)techplus.com (John McNarry)
Steve wrote:I am interested in what manner did yall mount yer piano hinges. I ambuilding a GN-1 and now I will switch to piano hinges too but just dontunderstand how and where to install them. Hepme yall.Steve> Walt,> > I just used the hardware store version like the plans call for and> welded the end of the hinge down. Bought aircraft piano hinges and> decided I did like it as well because it did reach down over the > wood> surface on the aileron and wing as far.> > Craig> Steve W GN-1 builder#6________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: robert hensarling
Thanks Tim for the reassurance. For a while there I was beginning to think I was the only one around who did it Bernie's way. On second thought Alan Weiss's Piet (which was built by another gent) was done according to the plans and has been flying quite successfully.with those hardware store hinges for many, many years.Don H.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Earl Myers
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: aileron hinges question>Steve wrote:>>I am interested in what manner did yall mount yer piano hinges. I am>building a GN-1 and now I will switch to piano hinges too but just dont>understand how and where to install them. Hepme yall.>>Steve>>>> Walt,>>>> I just used the hardware store version like the plans call for and>> welded the end of the hinge down. Bought aircraft piano hinges and>> decided I did like it as well because it did reach down over the>> wood>> surface on the aileron and wing as far.>>>> Craig>>>>Steve W GN-1 builder>#6>>________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By:> VAHOWDY(at)aol.com [SMTP:VAHOWDY(at)aol.com]
Good point! Maybe I should add another one in the middle of each aileron.> -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: vistin(at)juno.com
On original construction, floating nut plates are screwed on the inside ofthe wing spar and inside of the aileron spar. Holes naturally go thru thespars with screws to hold on the hinge. On replacements, just use screwsinto the spars with epoxy so they wont vibrate loose.......if you forwardyour snail address, I will send you a detailed drawing...............Earl Myers-----Original Message-----