Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Sunday outing - Skytek struts

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:32 pm

Original Posted By: Prange Larry J CONT PSNS
Larry,I'm using the same Skytek struts. Are you glad you went that route? anythingyou would do differently about them in afterthought?DJ ----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 12:06 pm

Original Posted By: "DJ Vegh"
Hey DJ!I like your web site and your graphic-design skills a lot! I am verypleased with the Skytek struts. The only thing that I might change is thenumber of end fitting mounting bolts that I used on each. I might decreasethe number, by one, for each fitting. Sometimes I get a bit carried awaywhen I am not sure about the strength of something. Maybe one of the guyson the list, with a structural engineering background, could tell us howmany bolts would be an adequate number . . .For each strut end fitting I used a pair of 'nested' (one inside the other)lengths of square, 0.065", 4130 tube. I then put a short length of verythick, 4130 rod, perpendicular, at the end and wrapped part of the squarestock around it before welding, for the end mounting bolt to go through.After welding, I drilled out the short tube, which deforms under the heat,to accommodate size of the end mounting bolt.I also used the Skytek Jury Strut kit. The kit consists of a couple of sixfoot long lengths (I think they were six feet . . .) of 6061-T6, smallstreamlined tubing, AN nuts and bolts, aluminum support blocks andinstructions. They look good and are very much worth the price.- Gotta finish the Honey-Doos so I can get back to work on the Piet . . .Larry Prange - NX1929A********************************************************

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 12:26 pm

Original Posted By: Prange Larry J CONT PSNS
Thanks Larry.I also purchased the Skytek jury strut kit. I like the streamline extrusion theysend with it.... looks good.I'm not sure how I will terminate the ends on my struts but your method soundsgood.DJ ----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 1:51 pm

Original Posted By: ""

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:01 pm

Original Posted By: dpilot

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 9:41 am

Original Posted By: "Steve Eldredge"
Greg,Believe the red and white Cont. Piet is Chuck Gantzer's, he will probablychime in and let you know.I remember the other uncowled Cont. Piet, parked on the end a couple downfrom Larry Williams. I will check my pictures at home and let you knowtonight, if no one else has answered before then.SkipPS The pictures of your and Dales Piet are great!________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Re: Sunday outing - Skytek strutsDate: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 10:03:59 -0600

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 11:51 am

Original Posted By: ""

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:08 am

Original Posted By: "dpilot"
Jim, this ain't right. The Piet does not have "flying wires." The strutsare there to carry the weight of the fuselage. The wires between the strutsare drag and anti-drag wires, just like the ones in the wing itself, and theairplane would not fly fine without struts. It could, however, probably doquite well without one or two of the drag wires.Gene----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 10:44 am

Original Posted By: Edwin Johnson

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 11:12 am

Original Posted By: "Gene Rambo"
BUT..... if the drag anti-drag wires are attached not to the strutsthemselves, but to the fuselage fitting and wing spar fitting then it couldbe true that the wires would also hold some lift loadDJ VeghN74DVMesa, AZwww.imagedv.com/aircamper----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 3:02 pm

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
You'd better make them bigger than the 3/32" the plans call for, if you'replanning on them carrying much in the way of flight loads. Gene's right -the struts carry the flight loads, the wires are just for drag and anti-dragbracing.Jack -----Original Message-----