Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Clif Dawson"
Can of worms here but I'll give my own opinion.1. If you don't have a license, learn to fly in rented aircraft. Much easier thanthinking you can build your own and then learn to fly in it.2. Once you have your license, if you're a tinkerer or a builder or a gear-heador have a shop, you'll be happiest if you build your own airplane, whether it'sfrom scratch or if you purchase a project and finish it.3. If you're not a shop person or you're not sure, buy a completed aircraft andbe flying in it tomorrow. Once you have it and are flying, you can tweak itto personalize it, or overhaul things you don't like, or modify to your heart'scontent (assuming it's an experimental, and that's what we're discussing here).There are plenty on the market for $15K or less, depending on finish andquality. That's the cost of buying a new car these days, so what's another vehiclein the driveway ;o)Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CCSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Michael Perez
You definitely DO NOT want to mill slots across your spars.Most of the stress from flight loads concentrates at thislocation.If you made a chart of measured compression loads alonga beam with the support in the middle it would be aparabolic in nature, not straight.Even if this weren't the case, reducing the width of the sparat any point negates having that width anywhere else onthis beam so that material becomes useless weight.This is the " weakest link " principle in living colour. "Education: the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty."- Mark Twain, writer and humoristMiserably yours, Clif , Hahahaha. ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Ryan Mueller"