Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Ben Ramler
Thanks, Skip.Your describing the various Pietenpol fuselages is exactly what was wanted. Now to work.Bill Weir________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:15:43 -0800 (PST)

Original Posted By: "gcardinal"
ben_ramler2002(at)yahoo.com wrote:>So I need help and a little guidence. I know this forum is less hostile.Yes, this forum is less hostile but it will not lead you to:-a glass cockpit with IFR capabilities and full electric system;-an airplane that cruises in the triple digits;-redundant systems;-an airplane with an enclosed cockpit and cabin heat;-an airplane with a $15,000 engine;-something you build from parts that you took out of a big box-paint jobs that cost more than the airplane.If any of your goals for building or flying include the above, you probably won't find it here.Ben, you need to go out to an airport on a nice Saturday and watch the airplanes fly, peek into hangars, look at airplanes that are sitting on the ramp, and find one that grabs you. One that you like, one that sounds nice, one that smells nice, one that you want to get into and fly. That's the one you want to work on because it has to grab you in the heart first. A roll of plans won't do it, and neither will an advertisement or a price tag or a pretty paint job. The airplane has to give you "the wink", like a pretty girl does, and not just one that's wearing a lot of makeup and a short skirt. When you get "the wink" and your heart skips, that's your girl... and your airplane.Since you're here on the Pietenpol list, I think an old wood-and-fabric airplane already gave you "the wink". I'll bet there are a good bunch of people in Minnesota who are building or flying Pietenpols that you can look at, smell, listen to, and maybe fly in. Maybe somebody here on the list will hook up with you to see if the Aircamper is "the girl next door" for you. If so, don't expect to do anything in a big hurry... building, flying, or anything else. We don't move too fast here but that's half the fun. Guys that are in a hurry tend to pass by the girl without even noticing "the wink" ;o)Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net_________________________________________________________________Get free, personalized commercial-free online radio with MSN Radio powered by Pandora http://radio.msn.com/?icid=T002MSN03A07 ... __________

Original Posted By: "Ben Ramler"
Hi Ben,Come to Stanton (SYN) next year when the flying weather returns. I will give you a ride in NX18235 (see attached pictures) to give you a taste of flying a Pietenpol.Forget the LMA Cub, no one will give it a second look on the flightline. If you come to Stanton on Father's Day for the annual fly-in you will see hundreds of people walking past Stearmans, Cubs, Waco's, Ercoupes, the usual throng of RV's, Pitts', Howards and many other types as they flock to the Pietenpol to look at it closely. Old men look at it with a gleam in their eyes, kids want to sit in it and woman think it is the "cutest plane ever".To most people big biplanes are intimidating and enclosed cabin airplanes are uninviting. The diminutive Pietenpol with it's open cockpits literally screams "Come and look at me!" People who know nothing about airplanes are drawn to it like moths to a flame. At the end of the day you will be hoarse from answering questions about your plane.Fly-in organizers will ask you to bring your Pietenpol to their airport fly-ins. Owners of private airstrips will literally beg you to land at their strip any time you want.Two weeks ago I took the plane up for the last flight of the season. 70 degrees, sunny and light winds. A perfect day. Lots of farmers in their fields with tractors and combines. With my leather helmet, goggles and silk scarf it was too easy to pretend the farmers and their machines were the mechanized division of the German Wehrmacht. Strafing runs were the order of the day. The crossed cabane cables made a perfect gunsight. Swooping in and out of the Cannon River ravines, dodging red-tailed hawks and just flying for the pure fun of it. I only landed because my gas was getting low.I had a silly grin on my face for two days.Build the Pietenpol. YOU WILL NOT REGRET THE DECISION!Greg CardinalMinneapolis