Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: ZigoDan(at)aol.com
If I might add my two cents' worth to the trim setup discussion, I've seen pictures of the Taylorcraft-style setup with mini-tabs on each side of the tailcone near the horizontal stab and it looked interesting and easy to do. However, remember that most Piets tend to be tail-heavy, so adding anything back there is going to cause weight/balance problems. Better to go with the spring or bungee setup like Mike Cuy is using, providing biasing force to the elevator controls.And as for Corky's idea about making the HS adjustable for doing final rigging, it's certainly worth thinking about when building the HS attachment. The alternative is having to 'torque' the HS by differentially tightening the brace wires. Or finding that the plane needs to be trimmed with the elevator out of trail with the HS to fly straight & level, which can only mean more drag. And we certainly don't want more drag on a sports car like the sleek and sassy Pietenpol, do we? ;o)Oscar ZigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: trim systemThe only draw back about Mike Cuys trim system is that if for some strange reason a cable breaks, or there is loss of stick control to the elevator there is no back up. That is why on Cessna 150, Champs, Cubs, the trim is a total different system. You can land a 150, champ, or Cub in an emergency with trim only.I have thought about building one elevator with a cockpit controllable tab.Dan________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "John McNarry"
Dan,This is not entirely accurate. The way my trim is set up (based on MikeCuy's design) the springs are attached directly to the bellcrank for theelevators. If the cable from the rear stick to the bellcrank breaks, thereis still the possibility of flying the airplane with the trim. If a cablebreaks between the bellcrank and the elevators, both cables would have tobreak before you would totally lose control. If one broke but the other wasintact, in theory you should be able to control the plane with only oneoperable elevator. Of course, if the bolt that holds both elevator cablesto the bellcrank comes loose, you in a heap o' trouble.JackThe only draw back about Mike Cuys trim system is that if for some strangereason a cable breaks, or there is loss of stick control to the elevatorthere is no back up. That is why on Cessna 150, Champs, Cubs, the trim is atotal different system. You can land a 150, champ, or Cub in an emergencywith trim only.I have thought about building one elevator with a cockpit controllable tab.Dan________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
DanMy elevator has a controllable tab built in. Haven't figured out exactly howto operate it but will likely use a Bowden cable.Shimming the HS would make a lot of sense to establish level flight inaverage WBwithout needing trim. Almost any trim method will increase drag.Drag is the Square of the speed so every little bit hurts.Could send pix to those who askJohn-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: John McNarry [mailto:jmcnarry(at)escape.ca]
Yes John I would like to see how you have done it.Ken-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Kip & Beth Gardner