Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Peter W Johnson"
Does anyone have a intercom installed? I tried a portable Sigtronics and it didnt work, it kept the mic open because of wind noise. I'm thinking it might work if I installed a PTT in the front cockpit and we talked but broadcast the conversation, but I dont want that.Dick N.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Dick,I use an HM200 (http://www.ozpilot.com.au/cgi-bin/webitempage.pl?hm200).There is a fair amount of wind noise but I put some large foam covers overthe microphone (ala Sports Commentators) and that stops some of it. It alsoplugs nicely into the Icom hand held.CheersPeterWonthaggi Australiahttp://www.cpc-world.com _____

Original Posted By: Ben Ramler

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Hi Dick,I've got one and it works to some extent. It is a panel mount (I think itis Sigtronics but will have to check it to make sure). It did not work wellusing regular headphones, but when I use the leather flying helmets fromGibson & Barnes that have headsets built in with noise cancellingmicrophones, it works fairly well. The squelch is always open, but you canat least hear each other talk. Sure is nice when taking passengers for aride.Jack PhillipsNX899JP _____

Original Posted By: Jack Phillips
Dick I have a open cockpit Skybolt with the same or louder noise problem. I used a Micro-Air radio with a built in intercom. I installed a centering togle switch in both cockpits. If you push it down you talk to each other. And if you push it up you talk to the world. It works very well. Glad I could finaly give some advice.Jerry Grogan ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Ben Ramler

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

Original Posted By: Ben Ramler
This is very interesting stuff.BTW, how does a Piet's useful load compare to some other small planes like a C-152and J-3 Cub? I mean "real world" usefulness, not the published numbers.I just don't want to spend years building an aircraft only to find out that I (6'2"and 195 lbs) can't carry a 180 lb. passenger without scaring the schit outof myself. I'd be kinda heartbroken if I couldn't share the ride with others.Jack,I think you're probably a gold nugget for my research. What's the best way forme to get in touch with you?--------Location: Eastern N.C.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 07:12:37 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: Jim Ash

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Hello All!I am building the short fuselage version.... I sat in it and said NOWAY!!!! (I am 6'2") I then removed the front seat, moved the rudder barforward. Now I fit! But it is now a single seat with baggage in front.Maybe I will make a Mail Plane out of her!!!!Dave -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Dave Abramson
Dave, let me know how it works as I am also 6'2", but I have not begun the building process yet! I am getting the engine ready first and reading as much as I can. I helped build a Piet back in 87, it was just the ribs, so I have a long way to learn, but I am having so much fun I don't think I'll ever build another R/C aircraft! Thanks for the posts, they are a real help!!! Joser ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "walt"
Here's a re-post from an earlier post on this subject by Walt Evans. I haven'ttried it yet. I have a portable intercom, I think it's an older PS Engineeringunit. works OK but it's very easy to open the mic if you turn your head orlift your head up out of the protection of the windscreen. I have yet to trymy brother's intercom set... he flies a trike, which is completely open, and hisintercoms are integral to the flight helmets. My headsets are Pacific CoastAvionics with the foam muff on the mic (knockoff of David Clarks) and work great.Here's Walt's tip:Got a great idea from somebody, and the cost is free! Get the plastic 35mmfilm containers. Cut an "X" in the lid and slide it on the mic arm. Thenwrap some foam around the mic and slide on the 35mm can after you havedrilled a 1/4" hole in the side. Line up the hole with your mouth. Betterthan sliced bread. Just keep the hole tight against your mouth to keep outengine noise.My engine noise keeps my intercom open, but makes for a pleasant ride withme as the tour guide.walt evansNX140DLOscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CCSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:53:11 -0400

Original Posted By: Ben Ramler

Original Posted By: "KMHeide, BA, CPO, FAAOP"
Thanks all for the responses. I'll keep working on it. I need to do something about the open mike problem. I now have info to start.Dick N.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 22:21:10 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright
Subject: Pietenpol-List: intercom> > Hey,> > What would be a good set up to allow pilot and passenger to talk through> their headsets. Is all I need two headsets, a battery powered intercom unit> and two push to talk adaptors? I prefer push to talk as they just seem less> finnicky in an open cockpit enviornment.> > Thanks> > Douwe> > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:24:34 -0400

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright
Gardnier.I use a cork just to fit through the filler, about 2 inches long, with a SS wirepushed through, and bent 120 degree, pushed back into the cork.Dip 5 or more times in Shellac.Remove when not flying, cap with a vent is to keep fuel clean when not flying.I have used this construction in Piets since 1965, running 90 % on auto gas and10 % 100 low lead. Keep the SS wire small dia.Still working well.Pieti LowellRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:11:35 -0400

Original Posted By: "Pieti Lowell"
Hey,What would be a good set up to allow pilot and passenger to talk throughtheir headsets. Is all I need two headsets, a battery powered intercom unitand two push to talk adaptors? I prefer push to talk as they just seem lessfinnicky in an open cockpit enviornment.ThanksDouwe________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: cork float

Original Posted By: Douwe Blumberg
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: intercomA buddy of mine has a motorcycle battery that he recharges and uses for his handheldradio. Blue Skies,Steve d----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Dortch, Steven D MAJ NG NG NGB"
luther b green wrote:> Just something to think about. The more systems you have the more preceived > problems you have to solve. How much redundantcy do you really need on a > simple plane and when does that plane become complicated?> JMHO if you have an electronic fuel gauge that is backup for a stick fuel > tester watch and the knowlege of your fuel burn per hour plus reserve. The > best backup fuel guage would be a sight glass. I am not trying to start > anything just start a thought process.> > "Trusting any fuel gauge should only be done in the pattern for dead stick > practice"> Bryan Green> Elgin SC> ---Something else to think about, there was a recent article in the EAA ultra light online newsletter. http://www.eaa.org/lightplaneworld/arti ... arning.asp A fellow fried his rotax engine because of a fiberglass and epoxy gas tank. T88 is epoxy and may be subject to deterioration by the ethanol blend fuels. I am not recommending the use of ethanol but it could end up in a fuel tank by mistake for someone who uses auto fuel. cork is a natural material and doesn't really absorb liquid. Does it need to be sealed? I would put a cork in a can of gas and let it sit for some days and see what happens.Jon Adirondack Park NY--------Jon Coxwell GN-1 BuilderRecycle and preserve the planetRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
Check out Lynx headsets at:http://www.easyflight.com/price/sr1ss.htmlI have no experience with them but they are designed for open cockpit / high noise enviroments. I have heard reports that they work well.Greg Cardinal----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Jerry Dotson"
If you take the photo at the highest resolution on your camera then eachpixel blob is really small. When you reduce that image you still havereally small pixels. On the other hand, taking the pic with low resolutionmeans they are quite large.This means that magnifying the image will give a clearer pic to a highermagnification on the former than it will on the latter.My images all start out at 1 to 1.5 meg. I reduce that to 90-120 rangeto send to the list. Although sometimes I do forget. :-)Clif>> I'm not on dial-up; it's DSL. What I am on is a web-mail server with > limited buffer space for each user. I'm a visual guy, and a picture is > worth a thousand words to me also. >> I'm not trying to cause any dissention amongst the ranks. If I'm the only > one who cares, I'll sit down ahd shut up.>> Blue skies.>> Jim________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: intercom

Original Posted By: "bryan green"
David Clark Model H5030 is sound powered. No boxes. Just a coax between the two.I have several years experience with them in a noisy 100-110db work area(14,000HP engine room). The mouthpiece can be stuffed with cotton and just abouttotally eliminate the background noise. If you are just wanting intercom it can'tbe beat...at least 20 years without failure.--------Jerry Dotson59 Daniel Johnson RdBaker, FL 32531Started building NX510JD July, 2009Ribs and tailfeathers doneusing Lycoming O-235Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: "coxwelljon"
My cabanes need rebuilding but are measurable and I will do that and post results today sometime. The picture of mine in flight looks level to me so I will keep the length to start with. I'll post the picture also so you guys can take a look.Bryan GreenElgin SCGN-1 rebuilding----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Jerry Dotson"
My intercom box is from Comtronics and has worked well for years with good mike muffs.Bryan GreenElgin SCGN-1 rebuilding----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Rick Holland
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: intercom

Original Posted By:

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Here's a link to a retailer for the float Hans is referring to (.to whichHans is referring): http://johnsmustang.com/Parts/details-5899.html Gary Boothe Cool, Ca. Pietenpol WW Corvair Conversion, mounted Tail done, Fuselage on gear (18 ribs down.) _____

Original Posted By: Rick Holland
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: cork float

Original Posted By: "walt"
Had a Gosport system - look it up - when I learned aerobatics in a Stearman. Worked quite well. No batteries or black boxes or expensive headsets or wind noise."Old technology for old airplanes."David Paule ________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "K5YAC"
Jon, Felix the GN-1 has both cabane lengths front and rear 22.75". The planeflies just like a Piet(longerons level and elevator just down). The planeflies and lands great, the only thing is when I do a full stall landing thetailwheel always hits first. This is not a real problem as it does notcause a bounce, but I wish there was higher AOA at the 3-point attitude.Because of this I am using a smaller tailwheel on the Piet I am building.If I were building a Grega I would make the front cabane an inch longer.Skip>> It looks like the concensus for Piet plans is 1" longer for the front. Iwill have to do some looking at my Piet plans (I have both Piet and GN-1drawings) and see what 1" does as far as the angle of incidence. I willreport back. Seems like with a few GN-1 builders out there it would begood to settle this as there is no support from Don Grega.>> --------> Jon Coxwell >________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: intercom

Original Posted By: jeff wilson
I'm not making a recommendation... I am just curious if anyone is using one ofthese. I have and PSEngineering AeroComIII. It is a microprocessor controlleddevice that samples the ambient noise and adjusts the VOX threshold automatically.It works great everywhere I've used it, but I am wondering if it is capableof doing this in an open cockpit.Anyone have experience with this unit?--------Mark - working on wingsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:45:12 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: "Jerry Dotson"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: simple 1/4" stainless tubing for airspeed pitot tubeRick, group-- I used some 5 minute epoxy in my leading edge hole to secure mypitot tube figuring if I ever bent it or needed to remove it I could just takea pair of vise grips or pliers and twist it radially to break the bond. I slid the tubing into the hole then lathered a small section w/ a little epoxyhoney then slid that forward twisting around to spread the epoxy a little and letcure. All tubing from that 1/4" pitot tube to the air speed indicator is nylon 1/4" tubingand fittings available thru Wicks or ACS. That tubing works nicely for smoke oildelivery tothe firewall too where you then make the transition to metal tubing forward ofthe firewall. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: intercom

Original Posted By: "Clif Dawson"
Rick that is right. Those headsets we used each had a male plug on the wire andwe had different lengths of coax cables up to about 250 feet long. Most of thetime we used a coax about 50 feet. They had female connectors on them. No powerrequired.So the only reason you would need an intercom box and a push to talkbutton is if you want to talk with a passenger and occasionally talkon the com radio?rick--------Jerry Dotson59 Daniel Johnson RdBaker, FL 32531Started building NX510JD July, 2009Ribs and tailfeathers doneusing Lycoming O-235Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: Mike Townsley

Original Posted By: greg menoche

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright

Original Posted By: airlion
luther b green wrote:> My cabanes need rebuilding but are measurable and I will do that and post > results today sometime. The picture of mine in flight looks level to me so I> will keep the length to start with. I'll post the picture also so you guys > can take a look.> Bryan Green> Elgin SC> GN-1 rebuilding> ---Thanks Bryan, I would like to know the lengths and see a picture. Skip, Thanks for that information as well. It sounds like I am in the ball park.Still haven't calculated what 1" equates to on the Piet for comparison butwill do it and post it.Jon Coxwell--------Jon Coxwell GN-1 BuilderRecycle and preserve the planetRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:04:57 -0700 (PDT)

Original Posted By: "airlion"
Hi Gardiner, toe in will acentuate ground looping, it is normal to have zeroor slight toe out on a tail dragger. regards Mike T.----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "airlion"
The tow on N12939 as purchased from Vi Kapler is 0. Handles great on the hard surface I have to operate from.Perry RhoadsN12939----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Jack"
Okay, so if I have two headsets and want to be able to talk back and forth,what do I need?A battery powered intercom and two push to talk switches (if I don't trustthe squelch to work) and that's it?Douwe________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Tim Willis

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
John,I used 12 ga. Galvanized and a former to help make the bends (also my homemade flanging pliers). Not as shiny as Mike C's, nor is it flight tested orfire tested. The sides and top are bent forward, while the bottom is bentback.Gary Boothe Cool, Ca. Pietenpol WW Corvair Conversion, mounted Tail done, Fuselage on gear (18 ribs down.) _____

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
John,I used 12 ga. Galvanized and a former to help make the bends (also my homemade flanging pliers). Not as shiny as Mike C's, nor is it flight tested orfire tested. The sides and top are bent forward, while the bottom is bentback.Gary Boothe Cool, Ca. Pietenpol WW Corvair Conversion, mounted Tail done, Fuselage on gear (18 ribs down.) _____