Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Kip & Beth Gardner
Anyone with brakelss, tailskid experience out there? am compiling tipsand advice from guys who know how. What are some good runup tricks andsteering and general handling techniques that have worked. Please onlyoffer advice if it is first-hand experience, I've heard enough secondhand horror stories to last me for a while.thanks,Douwedouweblumberg(at)earthlink.net Anyone with brakelss, tailskidexperience outthere? am compiling tips and advice from guys who know how.What aresome good runup tricks and steering and general handling techniques thathaveworked. Please only offer advice if it is first-hand experience,I'veheard enough second hand horror stories to last me for awhile.thanks,Douwedouweblumberg(at)earthlink.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 21:01:58 -0400

Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Rcaprd(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: tailskid, brakeless groundhandling adviceIn a message dated 10/5/03 6:59:30 PM Central Daylight Time, douweblumberg(at)earthlink.net writes:>Douwe,I have about 36 hrs on my Piet, with the plans built tail skid, short fuselage, and no brakes. It works suprisingly very well...ON THE GRASS. Takeoff, and landing were no problem (well almost), after I got some time in the seat. I always did run - up in the chocks, climb back out to remove the chocks, thenclimb back in. It was much easier if someone was around to help, but that wasn't always the case. Before I moved the wing back, with the Model A still on'er, I would get some forward motion with about half power (maybe 1 or 2 mph), holding full forward stick to lighten up the tail, add full rudder, and shewould just turn around like I had brakes to pivot 'er around at the wing tip. After moving the wing back 3 1/2" it would do the turn with the pivot point about 5' outboard of the wing tip. I'm here to say, that the short fuselage, Model A engine, no brakes and tail skid, the Pietenpol Aircamper handles verywell - ON THE GRASS...ya just gotta stay ahead of the airplane. On hard surface, though, it's a totally different story...ya can't stay ahead of the planeif it doesn't take you to where you wanna go !! With a tail skid the tail just has a mind of it's own, on hard surface.Chuck Gantzerlogged 2.3 hr flight today - Beautiful day to do two T.P. drops, take 7 aerial photos, and a lap around Cheeney lake !! Ten sail boats on the lake.________________________________________________________________________________