Pietenpol-List: "The nose knows"...my Pietenpol cowling.
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:04 pm
Original Posted By: "Robison"
Group,This cowling is made from .032" commercial soft aluminum and has survived 750 flyinghours over a period of 35 years.The picture was taken on November 15, 2000---the thirtieth anniversary of its firstflight. The engine is a Continental C 85.The upper cowl is made of three pieces: top center portion and two sides. The lowercowl is a single piece of sheet aluminum, with a segment below the propellercut out and the resulting lap joint riveted together. The only compound curvatureis in the top center piece which was made by hammer, sand bag and dolly.If I were to do it again, I'd extend this compound curvature further aft tominimize the "break" in the upper cowl line at the firewall. Otherwise, I'd changenothing in the basic design and construction.This cowling is light in weight and relatively easy to make. Construction paperwas used for a "mockup". Patterns were made and then transferred to the sheetmetal. If anyone is interested, I can perhaps find a more detailed photo and maybe cobbletogether a sketch of its construction.Graham HansenMail0008.JPGto determine how attachments are handled.________________________________________________________________________________
Group,This cowling is made from .032" commercial soft aluminum and has survived 750 flyinghours over a period of 35 years.The picture was taken on November 15, 2000---the thirtieth anniversary of its firstflight. The engine is a Continental C 85.The upper cowl is made of three pieces: top center portion and two sides. The lowercowl is a single piece of sheet aluminum, with a segment below the propellercut out and the resulting lap joint riveted together. The only compound curvatureis in the top center piece which was made by hammer, sand bag and dolly.If I were to do it again, I'd extend this compound curvature further aft tominimize the "break" in the upper cowl line at the firewall. Otherwise, I'd changenothing in the basic design and construction.This cowling is light in weight and relatively easy to make. Construction paperwas used for a "mockup". Patterns were made and then transferred to the sheetmetal. If anyone is interested, I can perhaps find a more detailed photo and maybe cobbletogether a sketch of its construction.Graham HansenMail0008.JPGto determine how attachments are handled.________________________________________________________________________________