Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Dave and Connie

Original Posted By: Don Morris

Original Posted By: lshutks(at)webtv.net (Leon Stefan)
I've got mixed feelings on this one. Having taken the wings off of NX41CC, I came to realize that while it is a fairly quick and easy project, it isn't something you can do every weekend and expect the airplane to fly the same after each time. There are struts, strut braces, control cables, wing attach fittings, gap covers, pitot lines, possibly fuel lines (if you have a wing tank in the outboard sections), and other things involved.I don't know that I would consider it something that would require sign-off though, any more than tweaking the rigging in the hangar yourself, after a flight, to correct a heavy wing or something of the sort. However, it makes sense to expect the work to be done by someone with knowledge of what they are doing, and if a guy just goes and buys himself a Piet without having the skills necessary to rig and adjust things, and he thinks he can take the wings off and put them back on and get it right, there's an accident waiting to happen. At the very least, there is the possibility of getting controls reversed, not reconnecting controls, or rigging the wing in such a way as to make the plane marginally controllable.There... I've talked myself into the "get an Ao) 41CC will be due for an annual when I reattach the wings anyway, so mine is a no-brainer.Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________ ETAtAhROM/QOI6rTn+KHezPI3AgrgjI9SwIVAMuZoXJZi0UuBxRxsPNazGLx8qIs

Original Posted By: "Mike Whaley"
My Pietenpol has the seat made in accordance with the plans for the "Improved Air Camper". I was about 5' -9" tall when I built it many years ago, but have shrunk some since then (not in girth, however). The seat height is about right for me because I am/was about BHP's stature. Taller friends who flew it said that they got a face full of fresh air and/or bugs. The fuselage was made 2 inches wider from the firewall to the rear seat back, allowing space for extra clothing. This is a popular modification with all who have flown it.If I were to build another Pietenpol (which I won't), I would seriously consider extending the seat back to the floor, eliminating the seat bottom, and shimming my butt with cushions to get a comfortable height. Changing the elevator control would be necessary to place a push-pull tube below the floor from the rear stick to a bellcrank. The belly would be faired with formers, stringers and fabric to cover this setup.There is a Pietenpol in this area with a modified elevator control much like the system described above. It has been flying since 1968 and I have flown it a number of times. The main difference from the above setup is that the seat back bulkhead has been omitted (which I don't like) and a lightweight WW II surplus aluminum aircraft bucket seat is used (which I do like).In our Canadian climate, open cockpit airplanes need to offer as much protection from the elements as possible. Even in warmer climates, raising the seat is not the way to go because the upper air can get pretty cool and one's head is too exposed.As I write this, tomorrow's daytime high temperature here is supposed to be about -7 C (approx. 20 F) and I was planning to fly my Pietenpol to mark the 35th anniversary of its first flight on November 15, 1970. I'm glad I don't sit any higher in it--but, as things stand, I may postpone that flight for a few days. I'm not as tough as I used to be!Over the years, I have observed that some of the biggest people seem to be attracted to the Pietenpol, which is a relatively small airplane "designed at a time when midgets ruled the earth", as a friend once said. I would suggest that these folks seriously consider building a single place version of this venerable design which should provide sufficient room for them without extreme modification.Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN) ________________________________________________________________________________