Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Cy Galley"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: FloatationDear Pietenpawlers,I feel there are many engineers out there in our group who should be able to answer an engineering question without too much technical description. Do any of you have any formula to compute floatation. Such as, how much weight can 3 cu ft of air support? What is the best bouyancy to weight ration of various materials, especially those which could be blown in the leading edge cavity of a Piet? Consider the water as salty.Corky, still in La________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By:
one cubic foot of air can support 62.4 pounds.----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "John McNarry"
Corky, I came up with the same number that Cy did - 62.5 #/cu ft. Looks like you'd better build light, put in 10 cu ft of sealed air, and plan on treading water!! Maybe you could use one of those flotation cushions as your seat pad! This sounds suspiciously like a Texas Aggie float plane deep-sea fishing expedition being planned! Are you building the first hybrid Piet - and airplane crossed with a pirogue? I don't know the volume of the leading edge tube area, but you could always fill it full of those dang packing peanuts! At least that way you could find a use for all those silly things you get in a mail order! It would also make it easier to seal those in a wing than to try to make a wing air tight. I've also heard ping-pong balls mentioned on another list before. That might get expensive! Corky - I just rememberd that BHP had plans for Pietenpol floats in maybe the 1933 Flying and Glider manual? With a decent sized engine, that might be kinda fun! That way, you could land it on the water AND take back off again! I'll shut up now! Have fun Corky, and I support your regional, prejudiced views all the way!Your Texas Breaux,Gary________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Gary Meadows
Corky The first Pietenpol built in Canada that I know of was built in NorthernQuebec at Noranda a mining town and spent all its life on floats and skis.It was powered by a Vellie (spelling) radial. Floats sure could be a lot offun. If you are planning a long trip. may I suggest a video by Dwayne Colecalled Pilotage. A lot of real common sense well explained. The older builders in this group such as yourself that are inspirationto the rest of us. Keep going!John Mc----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "John McNarry"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: FloatationThanks John,Who's old. I've always felt that age was a state of mind.Corky, that kid in La who wants to go somewhere before the curtain falls________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By:
Corky, I ain't old ethier, eh? I might be getting older... but I refuse togrow up!John Mc in spring time Manitoba.Spending too much time on other old airplanes and dreamin' of finishing myPiet.----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Rodger & Betty Childs"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: FloatationJohn,You might have interpreted the "floation" question as for a float plane. NO i will not try to put my Piet on floats even though we have lots of h20 here in LA. My purpose was to find out how much floatation would I need to keep above water level in case....before Sea and Rescue could arrive.Corky________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Isablcorky(at)aol.com
Corky,Hmmmmmmmmmm... a Great Circle Route from La. to Bermuda sounds more likely,just be careful of the Bermuda Triangle effect. Not to mention the sunburneffect on the beaches too.I vote for the foam peanuts ahead of the front spar for floatation, nowthat's a great idea of how to get rid of them. Heck, fill between the sparstoo, just keep them away from the aileron cables. I've kept all I everreceived and recycle them into boxes I ship out to friends and family tokeep keep them out of the landfills. We all could donate for a worthy cause,but that might swamp you. (no pun intended)RodgerStill building in the Texas Hill Country________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Michael Conkling"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: FloatationDid you get my message about my lost friend Lee Graham?________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Rodger & Betty Childs"
Corky,Foam peanuts & ping pong balls aside, you might consider some 1930'stechnology -- a lot of the Navy aircraft of that period had inflatableballoons for flotation for ditching -- don't the dive shops have similar??Mike ConklingPretty Prairie, KS----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
05/07/2001 02:14:10 PMHi Corky,My 2 cents worth re floatation:Remember that not all of the material that goes into your Piet isnegatively bouyant (i.e. sinks rather than floats). Some of it is eitherneutral or positively bouyant (i.e. floats). So you only need enoughfloatation to overcome the effect of the negatively & neutrally bouyantmaterials.The other thing to beware of is that some 'foam' packing peanuts (if youchoose to use them) are actually made out of CORN STARCH. They turn to mushwhen wet. You can usually tell them from the real foam kind, they look likea white Cheese Doodle. The foolproof test is to try eating one - thestyrofoam ones don't melt in your mouth. The only drawback to this is thatthe corn starch ones sure don't TASTE like a Cheese Doodle.If you use the foam peanuts, pack them loosely into plastic trash bagsbefore you put them in the wings - you'll gain a little more bouyant air &more importantly, the peanuts will stay put (believe me, they'll goanywhere positive air pressure can push them).Good luck!Kip Gardner________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 14:14:16 -0400