Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Doug413(at)aol.com
Kip and Group,My fuselage outline followed the 1933 Improved AirCamper plans, except that the front bay was extendedsix inches---as recommended by BHP himself whenlighter Continentals, etc. were to be installed. This also gives more leg room in the front cockpit and space for a larger fuselage nose tank. BHP cautioned that thefuselage should not be extended more than six inchesforward when following the Improved Air Camper plans.(He said handling would suffer in a steep slip.)I also made my fuselage two inches wider at the cock-pits, than the plans indicate, to allow room for extra cloth-ing to be worn when it gets chilly and one wants to fly.If I were to build another, I'd incorporate these changesbecause I'm quite satisfied with them.Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN)________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Graham Hansen"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Pietenpol fuselage outlineGraham,Did you extend the total length of the fuselage by six inches? Also did you raise your cabane struts? Tom Travis________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Carl Loar"
Tom and Group,My fuselage wound up being six inches longer than thelength shown on the 1933 plans. This increase was en-tirely at the front end. Essentially, the firewall is movedsix inches forward.My center section strut lengths follow the plans. A shal-low door on the right side of the front cockpit would ease entry and egress without requiring longer center sectionstruts. I wish I had the door because passengers require considerable agility with the standard strut length. Some thirty years later I know that it is feasible to incorporate a door, but back then I was apprehensive about doing so and didn't. Big people have a difficult time with that frontpit. The Pietenpol is a pretty small airplane and folks aregenerally much bigger (and heavier) than when it was de-signed. A friend of mine, who is rather large, sums it up:"These airplanes were designed at a time when midgets ruled the earth!"Graham CF-AUN________________________________________________________________________________