Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Ken Beanlands
Since I've never seen a Piet in the flesh, I'm a little worried how I'mgoing to get in.Just got to the point of installing the center struts and center section.got the cross cables in and now fabricating the supports down to the enginemounts. Adjusted the struts verticle to longerons, where I hope I canleave them, and all I can see is a tight little cockpit that doesn't lookpossible to get into! Put the front on a horse at the right heightfor 24" wheels , and the tail down where it should be, and still it lookstight.My question is,,,I'm trying to picture getting in, and don't know if youduck under the wing and get in from the side,,,or get in behind the wing,and drop into the seat.Kind of seems like one of these pull out steps from under the seat would beright.Please tell me it's no big deal.walt-----------------------------------------------------________________________________________________________________________________Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 16:19:47 -0700 (MST)

Original Posted By: dralle(at)matronics.com (Matt Dralle)
Walt,It's no big deal.Just increase the height of the cabanes 2" and add a hinged section from aft of the rear spar and extending from the first rib to the rightof center line to the second rib left of the center line.Lift hinged section up and let it rest on the top of the wing.Do warm up bending and stretching exercises.Grasp left upper longeron at cockpit and swing right leg up and ontothe longeron and hobble close to fuselage to place said foot on seat.Grasp left and right longerons and hoist left leg up over cockpit edgewhilst leaning forward under sharp edge of rear spar.Settle gracefully into seat and breath again.Reach up and lower hinged section carefully down into position.It's no big deal.Now, if you leave the crossed brace wires on the left side of the forwardcockpit and a passenger wants to have a ride, well, now that's a sight tobehold them trying to get in. I hear tell it can be done, however... that'swhy the solid braces were added from the engine mount to the upperforward cabane fittings and the crossed wires on the left were omitted.As for the hinged section aft of the rear spar, some have some sort of latch and some don't saying it is a stall indicator. They say the hingedsection just floats up a few inches as the stall is entered. I would think that your seat of the pants would say the same thing about when itstalls or not.And a small step with a long rope has been seen around a Piet or two.(The better to pull it up with when seated aboard the craft.)RodgerPiet in progress________________________________________________________________________________