Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Bernard Lefebvre"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: project updatePicture of my Piet up on an Aero Lift at the Fed Ex Trade show last May.I am currently epoxy priming all of the metal pieces and getting readyto cover.Mike LutherNX1953MAnchorage Alaska________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Les Schubert
today was such a beautiful day. blue sky, 75, slight breeze. All the rich dudes out at Falcon Field were flying thier T-6's, T-28's and Stearmans. I figured why should they have all the fun. I decided to get out of my "N74DV misery pit" and do something. Cleaned out the shop and tried my hand at covering the vertical stab.I can see this is going to be a bit of a learning curve, but it seems like I'll catch the hang of it. Vertical stab is covered but still needs to be stitched and tapes applied.I think I've conjured up a small burst of motivation so I need to ride the wave and go with it. Tomorrow I cover the horiz. stab.ohhh a question..... should I be covering the vert and horiz stabs with one piece or 2 pieces (one on each side) ? I started out doing it as one piece but screwed up so now the vert stab is in 2 pieces.... is this a no-no?DJ VeghN74DV back in progress (for the time being)Mesa, AZwww.imagedv.com/aircamper________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2005 19:55:45 -0700

Original Posted By: Mike Luther luther(at)gci.net
Mike,Finally got all of N-1033B recovered in Stits system after welding rebuildof wreck damage, looks great awaiting paint job and assembly. The guy whobuilt this all metal quasi-Piete did a heck of a good job accounting formaking potentially useful the payload available from the Aeronca wings(1300 lbs). He moved CG back 10" by extending the longerons to 168" andleaning the cabanes backward. CG 12"-20" of chord loaded envelope currentlyfall directly over the front seat passengers belt buckle. With O-235 we'recurrently welding up new motor mount, and hope to finish welding of newwing lift struts this week. Plane wreck back in 1996 had been due to nutcoming off of one of the pistons on an C-85, knocking off the no. 4 cycinflight, corn field landing. Maybe in a couple years,(after globalwarming makes AK as hot as FL, where it's 70F and sunny for superbowlsunday) I'll bring it back to Homer and see if it'll haul tundra tires and1/4 of a moose.Gordon Bowen Original Message:-----------------

Original Posted By: "Mike Luther"
Mike, what kind of wheels do you have on the landing gear of your piet?Bernie P. LefebvreVald'Or, Quebec----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Les Schubert
yeah... rib stitching is really not needed on the tail of the Piet, but I figureI'm gonna need to do it anyway on the wings so I may as well try it out. PlusI kinda like the look of the stitches and tapes. I'll pull out the Poly-Fiber video later today and will attempt to stitch thisevening.DJ ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Hi DJ,I did mine with two pieces each. I also found it useful to use the biastapes when taping around the cureve on the top of the vertical stab.Jack -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Isablcorky(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringI wonder where the rumor started that the tail of the Pietenpol does not need rib stitching. I believe it started 6 or 7 years ago. The empenage DOES need to be rib stitched. It is in the prop wash, and according to any manual,the spacing is even closer together, where stitches are in the prop wash. Thetail takes quite a beating from the spirialing slipstream. We need to put a halt to this dangerous rumor.Chuck GantzerNX770CG________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "DJ Vegh"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringDittoCorky________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Clif Dawson

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringThe lack of tail ribstitching should not be classified as "a dangerous rumor", as Bernard Pietenpol never stitched the tail surfaces on any of his airplanes, and I never stitched any of them on my Pietenpol airplanes either. If the fabric is stuck properly to the ribs, this is more than sufficient.Forrest LovleyJordan MN ________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringDate: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 05:15:18 -0800

Original Posted By: Les Schubert
Under the "If Bernie didn't do it, it's overkill" philosophy, I guess you don'tuse seatbelts either. ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringBernard Pietenpol DID use seat belts...I still have the original one I took out of Pietenpol Scout N-12942. Bernard Pietenpol DID NOT stitch the fabric onthe tail surfaces or the ailerons...it wasn't needed if the fabric was stuck to the ribs of the tail surfaces properly. I still have the original fabric from the rudders of N-12937 and N-12942. The last airplane he built, N-899H,also still has its original fabric...with no stitching of the tail surfaces orailerons.Forrest LovleyJordan MN________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:03:33 -0500

Original Posted By: Phillips, Jack
Guys,Rib stitching can be REALLY hard on the back, even when you put the wing vertical.There IS a trick that makes it MUCH faster and easier.First lay out where all the holes are going to be on each side of each rib by punchinga hole with the needle (ALL the holes on both sides of the wing). Youcan get them really straight by snapping a line and they look REALLY professionalthat way. Next you get one needle for EACH RIB. Sit on a rolling chairand look through one hole to place the needle through the opposite side hole onerib after another. All you do is roll down the wing till you have the needlesall through to the other side. Roll around to the other side and pull theneedle through each one and pass it back the same way on the other side of therib. Roll around the first side, tie the knot and pass the needles throughfor the next stitch. By repeating the needle motions over and over you save aTON of time walking around and your back stays comfortable in the chair. Whenyou have done a few rows of stitches it is time to hoist the wing higher sothe stitches are at eye level again (I hung my wing from pulleys from the hangarroof joist and moving it lets you stretch ever 10 minutes or so). Using thismethod (if I remembered all the steps) you will save DAYS and end up makingyou much nicer to your dog and wife when you get home. With a moderately brightlight (a couple or three 40 watt bulbs spaced across each side) it is easyto pass the needle through and you don't need help from a second person.The cost of the extra needles is well worth it and I'm sure we could pass themon to the next guy to recover some cost if you are a Scott like me.Hank J ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: hjarrett
I did something very similar. The wing was stood on its nose in a little rack madefor the purpose (padded, same shape as the L/E). Next, I made 15 needles outof welding rod, punched all the holes. I ran all the needles through the holeson each rib and used a "starting knot" at each site (this is approved by Stitts).As each rib was finished, I moved on to the next one. I stitched the tailfeathers simply because they are stitched on the J-3.....Carl Vought ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Galen Hutcheson

Original Posted By: Les Schubert

Original Posted By: "Bert Conoly"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringIn a message dated 2/7/05 1:46:26 PM Central Standard Time, FTLovley(at)aol.com writes:>I hadn't realized this. So, this is the source. However, I would still highly recomend stitching everything. It's not much work, and very good insurance.Chuck Gantzer________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: FTLovley(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringUsually Bernard just screwed a steel loop into the seat frame...later he attached that steel loop to the seat frame and then a steel strap from the loopto the bottom longeron under the seat.Forrest Lovley________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: started some coveringFor the record...I'm not recommending that anyone stitch or not stitch their tail surfaces on their airplanes. I'm just correcting the statements made by people on this list concerning "rumors" about how Bernard really built his airplanes.Forrest LovleyJordan MN ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 08:37:56 -0500

Original Posted By: "Steve Eldredge"