Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: tmbrant(at)msn.comTo: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.comSubject: Pietenpol-Lis
Hi TomI am an Australian PPL=2C around 180hrs=2C taildragger and aeros endorsements. I fly because I simply love flying. Freedom=2C vistas and aspirations are realised at 1500' which are simply dreamworks at 0' agl. I also fly no more than 20hrs/year. The 180 hours have taken a while Most often I fly with an instructor=2C because 20hrs/year doesn't do enough to keep me current practically=2C even if it keeps me current legally.I have a fuselage 50% complete=3B tail=2C ribs=2C trailing edges=2C wing tip bows and spars done=3B presently enjoying those curlicues of douglas fir coming off the leading edges from the block plane.I have kids 15=2C 13 and 10=2C and a wife who not only says she buys into the build=2C but also complains when I haven't told her I'm doing some gluing (the activity she feels most comfortable with). The plane will be named after her: black cursive letters on a silver cowling: Antonia. My dad=2C a lapsed PPL=2C is 78. Much as I'd love it=2C I don't expect to fly with him as the build time left likely exceeds either his life or his ability to get into the front cockpit. I work as a radiographer in a major hospital here in Perth=2C Western Australia which includes a normal 76hr fortnight as well as on call commitments. Money and time are both tight.I fly because I enjoy flying. I build because I enjoy building. One day I will enjoy flying that which I enjoy building. For me these are mutual synergies=2C not competing demands. An hour's flying costs a lot more than an hour's building=2C but gives me that delight in the air. An hour's building=2C although leaving me on the ground watching the local traffic going by from Jandakot Airport=2C is cheap and contributes to the dream. My glass is half full either way.Best wishes in your deliberations. Just make sure that the nett benefit to your life is always positive.CheersRob

Original Posted By: tmbrant(at)msn.comTo: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.comSubject: Pietenpol-Lis
Tom=2CI suppose all of us share your dilemna of trying to justify the time and expense that we devote to our passion for flying. If I can add my two cents here=2C I am a professional pilot who was in your position with a fresh IFR ticket and plans to build a Piet over 12 years ago (with a two year old son in toe). My instrument rating was to be my meal ticket so there was no question of whether that was going to lapse or not. This being the case=2C some of my ambitious plans had to be temporarily shelved in favour of my work and family obligations. Life went on=2C I moved ahead in my flying career but the Piet consisted of a mailing tube with a couple of dusty manuals in my workshop. Beaming ahead=2C my son (having grown to nine years old) and I drove to and camped at Brodhead. With a little more time on my hands and a little better disposable income=2C I felt I could "unshelve" my Piet plans and start the building process. The tradition of Brodhead continued for the past five years and for my boy and I it is truly a father and son bonding experience. We listen to William Wynn's inspiring=2C "Get in the Arena" presentations=2C go for an annual ride in a Piet with Chuck G=2C take lots of pictures and stay up late by the fire listening to different builders and flyers of my favorite little airplane. As far as building goes=2C we have made a rib jig and about 14 cool looking ribs. I don't have much to show for my 12 years of effort but that's OK. We all have this burden called life that we have to contend with and it takes a certain amount of drive out of our passion. I suppose I divide things into two categories=3B things I need to do and things I'd like to do. I need to go to work=2C pay my bills=2C watch my boy's football games=2C take my bride on holidays and save for my retirement. The Piet falls into the like to do category that tends to slide forward anytime a need to do gets in the way. Nevertheless=2C I think I will fly my bird to Brodhead one day (or maybe share the trip trading places with my son in the chase car...) but it would only be a frustration to put a date or year on when the event will transpire. In the meantime=2C my project is something that I attend to when I want to relax or spend some quality time with my boy. Most things that we do have a timeline attached to them and these deadlines are the stress inducers in life. I don't want my piet project to be lumped into that category.Aviation is an expesnsive hobby and one which should be approached with a focus if someone has to budget time and money (which most of us do). Your IFR ticket=2C unless you use it very frequently will probably become a burden if you chose to keep it current. It will take you away from your family and the return (the ability to fly in less than VFR weather conditions) probably won't be worth the investment. Your pietenpol=2C however=2C is a project of so many different aspects that it could very easily reflect the different phases of your life (slow progress while your family is young - perhaps a late hour or two in the shop after the youngsters are asleep) with an increase in activity as your family grows seeing you spend time with your kids in the shop. No chore of building here=2C just relaxation and enjoyment as the parts and pieces of your airplane are slowly manufactured. In sum=2C I think your project would be much easier to dust off and get back into than a rating which really isn't necessary to be proficient at unless you have a huge need to go somewhere anytime in any weather ("any wheather" should be taken loosely unless you fly a bird equipped for known ice=2C have a good weather radar=2C oxygen or pressurization......). Basic VFR flying skills are something you will always have and dusting those off would consist of a fun five our checkout in a champ or cub in preparation for the maiden flight of your piet!Just my thoughts on your situation.Scott Knowlton

Original Posted By: foto(at)alaska.netTo: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.comSubject: Pietenpol-Lis
Another option for the school if they have no luck with a donation would be the Primary Glider. Plans and kits from Wag Aero are well supported.Scott Knowlton

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Michael,Interesting questions. Reaching waaaay back to my A&P training, I recalldiscussion about how important it is to maintain the leading edge profile,plus offer sturdy design (can you imagine the effect of a tear in the fabricon the leading edge?). The Taylorcrafts (& Cubs and Aeronca's too, Iimagine) used wood spars, aluminum ribs, and a thin sheet of aluminum overthe nose of the ribs, from the bottom of the spar to the top of the spar,covered with fabric. I guess aluminum could be used on a Piet, but I'm not sure how it could bebest attached.Gary BootheCool, Ca.PietenpolWW Corvair ConversionTail done, working on fuselage (endless metal parts!)(12 ribs down.) _____

Original Posted By: Michael Perez
Michael,The leading edge is an important part of the airfoil. Change the leadingedge profile, and you change the airfoil. Change the airfoil and you changethe performance of the plane.So, while it may be possible to build your ribs with a full airfoil shape(as opposed to the flat front ribs, with a seperate leading edge, per theplans), and then wrap the front section with plywood, you would still wantto put something behind that plywood, for strength and resistance to impact(like say, flying into a bird). This could be, like you say, some kind ofconnector piece between each rib. So now, the question becomes "Why wouldyou want to do this?" Sounds like a whole bunch of extra work, withabsolutely no obvious benefit (unless I'm missing something here).Usually design changes like this are investigated and carried out by someonewith a strong background in aircraft design. That ain't me. I think this isan example of "Do what you know, and know what you do." I wouldn't do thisone.Bill C.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 11:14:20 -0800 (PST)

Original Posted By: Michael Perez

Original Posted By:> owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Guys,I did the aluminum method -- leading edge material from AS. Very difficult getting it formed around the leading edge, but cargo straps helped. Attached with small PK screws.Regards,Tom BernieGloucester, MassOn Dec 8, 2008, at 1:28 PM, Gary Boothe wrote:> Michael,>> Interesting questions. Reaching waaaay back to my A&P training, I > recall discussion about how important it is to maintain the leading > edge profile, plus offer sturdy design (can you imagine the effect > of a tear in the fabric on the leading edge?). The Taylorcrafts (& > Cubs and Aeronca=92s too, I imagine) used wood spars, aluminum ribs, > and a thin sheet of aluminum over the nose of the ribs, from the > bottom of the spar to the top of the spar, covered with fabric.>> I guess aluminum could be used on a Piet, but I=92m not sure how it > could be best attached.>> Gary Boothe> Cool, Ca.> Pietenpol> WW Corvair Conversion> Tail done, working on fuselage (endless metal parts!)> (12 ribs down=85)

Original Posted By: AMsafetyC(at)aol.com
I know=2C it's been a topic here before=2C but I wanted to share a dilemma I'm facing currently and get others opinions. First off=2C I'm a private=2C instrument rated pilot with about 350 hours. In recent years=2C I've really had to cut my flying back to probably less than 20 hours/year=2C mostly due to finances. I'm beginning to question whether this is enough to stay safe=2C especially in the IFR environment. I don't have a lot of cloud time=2C in fact it was only a year ago that I got the IFR rating. Trouble is=2C I don't really go anywhere - how can I when I only fly an hour or so a month? For similar reasons (finance and time) I've let my Pietenpol project sit for about 2-3 years without touching it. I've got the fuselage about 2/3 complete=2C wing ribs done=2C tail section is 90% complete and I've gathered most of the components for the corvair engine conversion. I really want to work on it=2C but I can't really afford to do much each month with regards to finances and mostly lack of time (I have a 2 year old). I'm considering stopping flying altogether so that the money I am investing in flying is being invested into my Pietenpol. My fear is=2C that if I do stop flying=2C that I may never get back into it=2C and if I do=2C I would never feel confortable flying IFR again with such a "break". My 2 year old is real smart but very impatient=2C so I'm not sure if he's ready to start hanging around in the shop with me=2C unless I'm doing real basic stuff. Not that I'm afraid to run saw around him=2C just that he'd pick up two newly glued pieces of wood=2C right out of a jig and run around with it like a toy - oh to be young...The best rough guess I have to finish my Piet is about $5000-$7000=2C which would take a few years (at the rate I've been flying) to come up with. At this rate=2C I probably spend about $2500/year on flying.Other than the obvious motivations for completing the Piet is some of my families health. I really want to complete it and have them see if fly before they "go" and they want that too. Obviously=2C we never know if we'll see tomorrow so it may be a worthless goal to chase after but it is what it is.Anyway=2C thanks for listening to me rant. I would appreciate any opinions / recommendations of people who've faced similar situations.Tom B._________________________________________________________________Messenger's gift to you! Download free emoticons today!http://livelife.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=669758 ________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Gary Boothe"
I know=2C it's been a topic here before=2C but I wanted to share a dilemma I'm facing currently and get others opinions. First off=2C I'm a private=2C instrument rated pilot with about 350 hours. In recent years=2C I've really had to cut my flying back to probably less than 20 hours/year=2C mostly due to finances. I'm beginning to question whether this is enough to stay safe=2C especially in the IFR environment. I don't have a lot of cloud time=2C in fact it was only a year ago that I got the IFR rating. Trouble is=2C I don't really go anywhere - how can I when I only fly an hour or so a month? For similar reasons (finance and time) I've let my Pietenpol project sit for about 2-3 years without touching it. I've got the fuselage about 2/3 complete=2C wing ribs done=2C tail section is 90% complete and I've gathered most of the components for the corvair engine conversion. I really want to work on it=2C but I can't really afford to do much each month with regards to finances and mostly lack of time (I have a 2 year old). I'm considering stopping flying altogether so that the money I am investing in flying is being invested into my Pietenpol. My fear is=2C that if I do stop flying=2C that I may never get back into it=2C and if I do=2C I would never feel confortable flying IFR again with such a "break". My 2 year old is real smart but very impatient=2C so I'm not sure if he's ready to start hanging around in the shop with me=2C unless I'm doing real basic stuff. Not that I'm afraid to run saw around him=2C just that he'd pick up two newly glued pieces of wood=2C right out of a jig and run around with it like a toy - oh to be young...The best rough guess I have to finish my Piet is about $5000-$7000=2C which would take a few years (at the rate I've been flying) to come up with. At this rate=2C I probably spend about $2500/year on flying.Other than the obvious motivations for completing the Piet is some of my families health. I really want to complete it and have them see if fly before they "go" and they want that too. Obviously=2C we never know if we'll see tomorrow so it may be a worthless goal to chase after but it is what it is.Anyway=2C thanks for listening to me rant. I would appreciate any opinions / recommendations of people who've faced similar situations.Tom B._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Gary Boothe"
If anyone has a project that they would like to donate on this list please contact me. The Begich Middle School here in Anchorage wants to start=2C build=2C rebuild or repair an aircraft project as part of a hands on aviation project in conjunction with the local Chapter 42 EAA=2C and the FAA.According to the FAA Aviation Education outreach contact that I have any donation is tax deductible.I am building a Pietenpol and can advise them of their progress as I make mine.Thanks!RobEAA Chapter 42 Newsletter EditorAnchorage=2C AK_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: foto(at)alaska.netTo: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.comSubject: Pietenpol-Lis
Another option for the school if they have no luck with a donation would be the Primary Glider. Plans and kits from Wag Aero are well supported. Scott Knowlton

Original Posted By: Owen Davies
If anyone has a project that they would like to donate on this list please contact me. The Begich Middle School here in Anchorage wants to start=2C build=2C rebuild or repair an aircraft project as part of a hands on aviation project in conjunction with the local Chapter 42 EAA=2C and the FAA.According to the FAA Aviation Education outreach contact that I have any donation is tax deductible.I am building a Pietenpol and can advise them of their progress as I make mine.Thanks!RobEAA Chapter 42 Newsletter EditorAnchorage=2C AKww.matronics.com/contributionst">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Piet ... ics.comWin a trip with your 3 best buddies. Enter today. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:45:23 -0500