Original Posted By: Kirk Huizenga
Pietenpol-List: How high does a Pietenpol fly?
Re: Pietenpol-List: How high does a Pietenpol fly?
Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Re: Pietenpol-List: How high does a Pietenpol fly?
Original Posted By: Fisherman Caye
----- Original Message -----
----- Original Message -----
Re: Pietenpol-List: Intercom
Original Posted By: "Mike King"
If you are just talking between cockpits, you could rig up a "gosport"system -- my instructor in the Sterman (a few years back!) had a 1-waysystem (he got to do ALL the talking -- I just got to nod my head ! ;-)Mike C.Pretty Prairie, KS----- Original Message -----
If you are just talking between cockpits, you could rig up a "gosport"system -- my instructor in the Sterman (a few years back!) had a 1-waysystem (he got to do ALL the talking -- I just got to nod my head ! ;-)Mike C.Pretty Prairie, KS----- Original Message -----
Pietenpol-List: How high does a Pietenpol fly?
Original Posted By: Dave and Connie
Re: Pietenpol-List: How high does a Pietenpol fly?
Original Posted By: Fisherman Caye
Fisherman and others:I dunno. Never tried to see how high I could get mine, but did takeit (once) to about 5000 feet above ground level (approx. 7500 feetabove sea level in these parts) back in the 1970's when it waspowered by an A 65 Continental.Several things will discourage you from taking a Pietenpol tohigher altitudes. Namely:1. It seems to take forever to get there---and does indeed take a long time.2. I found it was darned cold in the open cockpit.3. At about a mile above the surface, one develops a precarious sensation, realizing that he is sitting in a little wooden box under a wing in the middle of a vast sky. This discourages all but the bravest from trying for the absolute ceiling, or even the service ceiling, of the a/c. There is comfort in flying this type of airplane closer to the surface where you can count the cows, etc.4. It takes a long time to come back down and you must be careful lest your engine cools too much. If this happens, you will be the captain of a glider. So take this into account before you fly high. If you are on a cross-country flight, the letdown can be gradual, co- vering a lot of distance with enough power on to keep the engine warm. But if you have to descend practically over your airport, it is much more difficult to keep the engine temps. up..5. Airspace restrictions may prevent you from finding how high your bird can fly, so any further discussion becomes academic.*****************************************************************************During WW I, the little Sopwith Pup biplanes were routinely taken towell over 20,000 feet and they were powered by a rotary engine of80 horsepower turning a large diameter propeller at maybe 1100to 1300 rpm. Very efficient for an 80 -90 mph airplane. An 85 hp Pietlike mine couldn't come even close to that height. How those youngfellows managed without breathing oxygen, I can't imagine. Rarelydid they dogfight at those heights, but would have the advantage ofheight in order to dive on an enemy a/c spotted below them. The Pupwas a pretty light airplane and its altitude capability would be amaz-ing even today.If you want a "good read" about this sort of thing, try to find a pocket-book edition of NO PARACHUTE by Arthur Gould Lee, published in1969 (I think), in Great Britain. A.G.L. flew Pups and, later, Camels.His book is simply excellent. If anyone is interested, I'll try to find theISBN and publisher. No doubt, it is long out of print.******************************************************************************Anyway, Pietenpols are not designed to fly high. Remember the logoon the back of Steve Eldredge's caps:"Low and slow for 70 years."Cheers,Graham Hansen (CF-AUN)________________________________________________________________________________Date: 20 Feb 2002 04:19:48 -0800
Fisherman and others:I dunno. Never tried to see how high I could get mine, but did takeit (once) to about 5000 feet above ground level (approx. 7500 feetabove sea level in these parts) back in the 1970's when it waspowered by an A 65 Continental.Several things will discourage you from taking a Pietenpol tohigher altitudes. Namely:1. It seems to take forever to get there---and does indeed take a long time.2. I found it was darned cold in the open cockpit.3. At about a mile above the surface, one develops a precarious sensation, realizing that he is sitting in a little wooden box under a wing in the middle of a vast sky. This discourages all but the bravest from trying for the absolute ceiling, or even the service ceiling, of the a/c. There is comfort in flying this type of airplane closer to the surface where you can count the cows, etc.4. It takes a long time to come back down and you must be careful lest your engine cools too much. If this happens, you will be the captain of a glider. So take this into account before you fly high. If you are on a cross-country flight, the letdown can be gradual, co- vering a lot of distance with enough power on to keep the engine warm. But if you have to descend practically over your airport, it is much more difficult to keep the engine temps. up..5. Airspace restrictions may prevent you from finding how high your bird can fly, so any further discussion becomes academic.*****************************************************************************During WW I, the little Sopwith Pup biplanes were routinely taken towell over 20,000 feet and they were powered by a rotary engine of80 horsepower turning a large diameter propeller at maybe 1100to 1300 rpm. Very efficient for an 80 -90 mph airplane. An 85 hp Pietlike mine couldn't come even close to that height. How those youngfellows managed without breathing oxygen, I can't imagine. Rarelydid they dogfight at those heights, but would have the advantage ofheight in order to dive on an enemy a/c spotted below them. The Pupwas a pretty light airplane and its altitude capability would be amaz-ing even today.If you want a "good read" about this sort of thing, try to find a pocket-book edition of NO PARACHUTE by Arthur Gould Lee, published in1969 (I think), in Great Britain. A.G.L. flew Pups and, later, Camels.His book is simply excellent. If anyone is interested, I'll try to find theISBN and publisher. No doubt, it is long out of print.******************************************************************************Anyway, Pietenpols are not designed to fly high. Remember the logoon the back of Steve Eldredge's caps:"Low and slow for 70 years."Cheers,Graham Hansen (CF-AUN)________________________________________________________________________________Date: 20 Feb 2002 04:19:48 -0800