Pietenpol-List: Wing Construction
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 2:14 am
Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Wing ConstructionHere is how I built my one piece wing: I used T88 exclusively, and Ace Spar Varnish #16375. The most tedious part, was applying 2 coats of the spar varnish, after ALL construction was 100% complete, getting in every nook & cranny between the gussets, with a small paint brush. I used the 'Single Wrap Spiral' method, as called out in the AC 43-13, to saftey all the turnbuckles. I used torque seal (small squeeze tube of thick laquer paint) on all hardware and fittings, so future inspections through the 10 inspection holes will show any movement. I used Stits Covering method, with 2.7oz on the wing & fuselage, and 1.8oz on the ailerons and empenage. The ribs will now be referred to as 'L1'- Left 1st rib. 'R1' - Right 1st rib. There are 14 ribs on each side. The center rib will be referred to as 'C', and is cut apart to make room for the fiberglass fuel tank. All ribs are identical. Build the rib jig to accept 3/4" spars, and so that the gussets and the upright x next to the spars, are spaced 28 1/16" to 28 1/8" apart. This should be the exact dimention between the spars, with the exception of the 3 center ribs, and the ribs where the lift struts attach. These rib locations have 1/8" plywood doublers on front and aft sides of each spar, and will have to have 1" spar openings. Leave the gussets off in 2 locations of each rib. On the lower forward side of the front spar, and on the aft upper side of the aft spar. Install these gussets after the ribs have been assembled to the spars. This will ensure an easy assembly of the ribs to the spars, and a nice tight fit when it is done. Other gussets to be left off are on the ribs at the inboard aileron station. On this rib (L8 and R8), leave the outboard trailing edge gusset off, for the later installation of the aileron blank plywood (1/16"). I did not cut the ailerons free, untill ALL wing construction was 100% complete, including the aileron spars, braces, hinges, horns, cables & pulleys, and drag / anti-drag cables were installed. After removing the aileron, I removed the fittings, so as to apply varnish underneith, as I did with all fittings. The center section of my wing (forward of the front spar), is designed so as to allow the top of the radiator tank to be within the wing, behind the leading edge. Two 1/8" plywood L.E. ribs, are spaced evenly between, and paralell to, R1 and L1. These sub ribs will accept the 1/16" plywood L.E. (on top), and the 1/32" plywood (within the radiator cavity). The radiator was custom made, to be the width between the cabane struts, and I have forward view below the radiator. Plans type, barn door hinges are numbered 1 thru 6, beginning on the left wing tip. The aileron gap was sealed with a piece of 2" fabric tape, before paint was applied. I also made sealed gap hinges on the empenage, but used a different method, due to the Vi Kapler hinges, that pivot at the center. I have pictures of this scanned in, if anyone is interested. Lots of places on the wing needed to be drilled using Granpap's hand crank drill (chordless !!), because of clearance reasons. Cable guide blocks were numbered 1 thru 8, starting at the top left. I glued 1/4" plywood to the spar, then screwed the guide blocks to the plywood, so as not to drill any extra holes in the spars. Jury strut C/L is 37" outboard of C/L of cabane strut attachments. I estimated the placement of the jury strut attachments by referring to the picture of the Pietenpol on the 1999 I A M Union Calender. The 1/8" Plywood doublers, located at the center section and the lift strut attachments, should have Spaded Ends (football shaped). These doublers bring the width of the spar to the plans width of 1", and allow the plans dimentions to be used for all the fittings. These 5 ribs must be made to accept 1" spars. The ribs were weighted, without varnish, and the heaviest ones were installed inboard, progressively installing the lighter ones toward the wingips. The two inboard ribs are the only ones that are made out of Spruce, the rest of the ribs are made out of Western Cedar. LEFT SIDE RIGHT SIDE 1.) 7.24 oz Spruce 1.) 7.4 oz Spruce 2.) 7.8 oz All other ribs are Cedar 2.) 7.96 oz All other ribs are Cedar 3.) 7.91 oz 3.) 7.93 oz 4.) 7.5 oz 4.) 7.91 oz 5.) 6.58 oz 5.) 6.56 oz 6.) 7.94 oz 6.) 6.34 oz 7.) 6.4 oz 7.) 6.44 oz 8.) 7.93 oz 8.) 6.4 oz 9.) 6.44 oz 9.) 6.3 oz 10.) 6.34 oz 10.) 6.25 oz 11.) 6.29 oz 11.) 6.2 oz 12.) 6.22 oz 12.) 6.17 oz 13.) 6.15 oz 13.) 6.14 oz 14.) 6.1 oz 14.) 6.09 ozChuck GantzerNX770CGp.s. I'm re-powering my plane with a Continental A65 engine. ________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Wing ConstructionHere is how I built my one piece wing: I used T88 exclusively, and Ace Spar Varnish #16375. The most tedious part, was applying 2 coats of the spar varnish, after ALL construction was 100% complete, getting in every nook & cranny between the gussets, with a small paint brush. I used the 'Single Wrap Spiral' method, as called out in the AC 43-13, to saftey all the turnbuckles. I used torque seal (small squeeze tube of thick laquer paint) on all hardware and fittings, so future inspections through the 10 inspection holes will show any movement. I used Stits Covering method, with 2.7oz on the wing & fuselage, and 1.8oz on the ailerons and empenage. The ribs will now be referred to as 'L1'- Left 1st rib. 'R1' - Right 1st rib. There are 14 ribs on each side. The center rib will be referred to as 'C', and is cut apart to make room for the fiberglass fuel tank. All ribs are identical. Build the rib jig to accept 3/4" spars, and so that the gussets and the upright x next to the spars, are spaced 28 1/16" to 28 1/8" apart. This should be the exact dimention between the spars, with the exception of the 3 center ribs, and the ribs where the lift struts attach. These rib locations have 1/8" plywood doublers on front and aft sides of each spar, and will have to have 1" spar openings. Leave the gussets off in 2 locations of each rib. On the lower forward side of the front spar, and on the aft upper side of the aft spar. Install these gussets after the ribs have been assembled to the spars. This will ensure an easy assembly of the ribs to the spars, and a nice tight fit when it is done. Other gussets to be left off are on the ribs at the inboard aileron station. On this rib (L8 and R8), leave the outboard trailing edge gusset off, for the later installation of the aileron blank plywood (1/16"). I did not cut the ailerons free, untill ALL wing construction was 100% complete, including the aileron spars, braces, hinges, horns, cables & pulleys, and drag / anti-drag cables were installed. After removing the aileron, I removed the fittings, so as to apply varnish underneith, as I did with all fittings. The center section of my wing (forward of the front spar), is designed so as to allow the top of the radiator tank to be within the wing, behind the leading edge. Two 1/8" plywood L.E. ribs, are spaced evenly between, and paralell to, R1 and L1. These sub ribs will accept the 1/16" plywood L.E. (on top), and the 1/32" plywood (within the radiator cavity). The radiator was custom made, to be the width between the cabane struts, and I have forward view below the radiator. Plans type, barn door hinges are numbered 1 thru 6, beginning on the left wing tip. The aileron gap was sealed with a piece of 2" fabric tape, before paint was applied. I also made sealed gap hinges on the empenage, but used a different method, due to the Vi Kapler hinges, that pivot at the center. I have pictures of this scanned in, if anyone is interested. Lots of places on the wing needed to be drilled using Granpap's hand crank drill (chordless !!), because of clearance reasons. Cable guide blocks were numbered 1 thru 8, starting at the top left. I glued 1/4" plywood to the spar, then screwed the guide blocks to the plywood, so as not to drill any extra holes in the spars. Jury strut C/L is 37" outboard of C/L of cabane strut attachments. I estimated the placement of the jury strut attachments by referring to the picture of the Pietenpol on the 1999 I A M Union Calender. The 1/8" Plywood doublers, located at the center section and the lift strut attachments, should have Spaded Ends (football shaped). These doublers bring the width of the spar to the plans width of 1", and allow the plans dimentions to be used for all the fittings. These 5 ribs must be made to accept 1" spars. The ribs were weighted, without varnish, and the heaviest ones were installed inboard, progressively installing the lighter ones toward the wingips. The two inboard ribs are the only ones that are made out of Spruce, the rest of the ribs are made out of Western Cedar. LEFT SIDE RIGHT SIDE 1.) 7.24 oz Spruce 1.) 7.4 oz Spruce 2.) 7.8 oz All other ribs are Cedar 2.) 7.96 oz All other ribs are Cedar 3.) 7.91 oz 3.) 7.93 oz 4.) 7.5 oz 4.) 7.91 oz 5.) 6.58 oz 5.) 6.56 oz 6.) 7.94 oz 6.) 6.34 oz 7.) 6.4 oz 7.) 6.44 oz 8.) 7.93 oz 8.) 6.4 oz 9.) 6.44 oz 9.) 6.3 oz 10.) 6.34 oz 10.) 6.25 oz 11.) 6.29 oz 11.) 6.2 oz 12.) 6.22 oz 12.) 6.17 oz 13.) 6.15 oz 13.) 6.14 oz 14.) 6.1 oz 14.) 6.09 ozChuck GantzerNX770CGp.s. I'm re-powering my plane with a Continental A65 engine. ________________________________________________________________________________