Re: Pietenpol-List: wings (3-piece vs. one piece)
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:35 pm
Original Posted By: "Mike Whaley"
Dan,The 3-piece wing is heavier than the one piece version. How much I don't know, but BHP himself told me the difference could be as much as 15 pounds when the weight of the extra hardware, two more ribs, etc. is taken into account. Note also that the butt ribs and center section ribs need to be reinforced and braced against fabric pull.More pieces = more weight (and complexity)I used the 3-piece wing on my Pietenpol because of work space limitations. As far as awkwardness in handling the one piece version is concerned, I have had the wings off my Pietenpol only twice, for re-painting and recovering, in over 36 years. A friend built a Pietenpol with a one piece wing years ago and removed the wing for winter storage every autumn, and re-installing it in the spring, for several years. The job required three men and wasn't all that difficult. I wouldn't want to do it now, though; I'm 78 and everything is heavier than it used to be.If I were to build another (which I won't), it would have the one piece wing, provided I had the working space to build it.Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN in an Alberta blizzard.)________________________________________________________________________________
Dan,The 3-piece wing is heavier than the one piece version. How much I don't know, but BHP himself told me the difference could be as much as 15 pounds when the weight of the extra hardware, two more ribs, etc. is taken into account. Note also that the butt ribs and center section ribs need to be reinforced and braced against fabric pull.More pieces = more weight (and complexity)I used the 3-piece wing on my Pietenpol because of work space limitations. As far as awkwardness in handling the one piece version is concerned, I have had the wings off my Pietenpol only twice, for re-painting and recovering, in over 36 years. A friend built a Pietenpol with a one piece wing years ago and removed the wing for winter storage every autumn, and re-installing it in the spring, for several years. The job required three men and wasn't all that difficult. I wouldn't want to do it now, though; I'm 78 and everything is heavier than it used to be.If I were to build another (which I won't), it would have the one piece wing, provided I had the working space to build it.Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN in an Alberta blizzard.)________________________________________________________________________________