Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "The Huizenga's"
There was a question about the correct elevator travel limits on the list a whileback and according to a recent posting, the question was never addressed. Idon't pretend to be the final authority on this, only what Ihave experienced first-hand and gleaned from others over the years.I remember carefully making cardboard cut-outs that accurately matched the limitsthat I'd heard were "the" angles. Upon getting to the airport and moving myelevators, I found that it was impossible for me to move them as far as I wassupposed to be able to. The interference was due to thenarrow hinge gap. In other words, the top and bottom edges of the T.E. of the staband the L.E. of the elevators met before the intended angle was reached. Whatto do? I wasn't about to uncover the tail section, plane down the offendingedges, and recover the whole thing. Besides, it LOOKEDlike I had plenty of travel. Unfortunately, I don't remember what the suggested angles were but I waswithin 4-5 degrees on the "UP" side and just about right on when the elevator washanging down. ( it was like 20 degrees down and 24 degrees up; somebody helpme here!)After flying mine and talking to a lot of others, it became apparent that nobodyI talked to had EVER used all the travel that they had availableto them. I know that I have never run out of travel on mine. Looking back in flightit's apparent that 1-2 inches is PLENTY.......I haven't looked backwardsto check it out during my landing flare but I know that I'm not against thestops.I suppose I'm missing some esoteric aerodynamic fundamental that will bebrought to my attention quickly and forcefully, but in my little universe of "ifit works, it's probably fine", you all have my $.02 worth of elevator travellimits................Larry Paines truthsYou know you're getting old when airplanes you used to fly are sitting up on sticksat airport entrances.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 09:36:18 -0500

Original Posted By: "Graham Hansen"
Hi Kirk,The L/E ply is just butted, centered on a rib, like house construction withsheet rock and wall studs. Pietenpol and others have used cardboard andthat can't be scarfed.Skip> Just wondering if the 1/16" ply on leading edge is scarfed together > to make a continuous piece then bent or is it just butted up to the > previous piece. I would guess that scarfing and epoxying would reduce > Thanks> Kirk________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "D.Dale Johnson"
Lawrence Williams and group,After about two years of flying with no elevator travel stops, I installedstops on the torque tube in the rear cockpit to restrict elevator travelto 32 degrees up and 25 degrees down. This was close to thirty yearsago and the arrangement has been entirely satisfactory ever since.I agree that one never comes close to using all the travel available, even with the stops. The down stop prevents the elevators from hanging in the grass when the a/c is at rest and slackening of the cables at the extremes of travel is hardly noticeable.Pietenpol elevators are very effective and don't need to move much,even at low speeds. I used greater up travel because I thought it mightbe necessary to hold the tail down during runup with my C 85, but thisis likely not the case and 25 degrees both ways may be OK.Just my two cents worth.Graham Hansen Pietenpol CF-AUN________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 17:19:24 -0500Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Leading Edge Ply Scarf

Original Posted By: "The Huizenga's"

Original Posted By: raymond smith