Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "K5YAC"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: EAA Sport Aviation Magazine article on six builders fromGA Please ignore if already posted, otherwise enjoy the various uses of Bernard, Bernie, Piet and Pietenpol !Mike C.Big Piet BuildersSix build Bernie's PietenpolAll of us bifocal wearers have difficulty reading theinstruments, so we tilted the seat back 4 inches at the top.Along with adjustable rudder pedals, we fit down insidethe cockpit with all the comfort of your favorite recliner.We were not worried about these changes, because Berniewas always changing the Pietenpol as new ideas came out.In conversation with Don Pietenpol, Bernie's son, he saidhis dad never built any two exactly alike.http://www.sportaviationonline.org/spor ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: EAA Sport Aviation Magazine article on six buildersfrom GA

Original Posted By: "gcardinal"
Great article. I've been wondering about something for several weeks since I first read this article,perhaps you guys can provide an answer. When I look at the photo of thewing rib on page 66 (lower left), I see that the leading edge is done a bitdifferently than mine. I am using the original Bernie plans, which call fora 1/2" x 1/2" block reinforced with a small gusset. These guys have a notchedleading edge with a fully sheeted area in front of the spar. Is this just adifferent technique or different plans? I like the way theirs look... just wonderingif I should have done that too? It also looks like the spacing for their spar is likely 1". I built my wing ribsto accept a 3/4" spar as I have read that the 3/4" is sufficient. This iscorrect, right? I guess I'm just second guessing my techniques since their build looks a littledifferent than mine.--------MarkRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: "K5YAC"
3/4 inch spar will work just fine.Greg C.----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Thanks for your comment.We built the nose of the rib like this only for (our) speed ofbuilding. We have built 6 planes in 6 years or 1 per year from plans toengine break-in. This nose (like another plane one of us had built before)lets you just slip in a small standard lightweight piece of wood to form theleading edge and adjust it in or out as necessary. We used an aluminumleading edge for the profile and the wood leading edge became just a bracebehind it. It's a lot faster (to us) than the handrail forming. We had 4 ribjigs going at the same time and there was a concern that they might beslightly different. As it turned out, all the ribs came out identical andare exactly to plans in profile. You can see in the middle picture the lightning hole and behind theguys the leading edge in place. Also in the very back corner under the lightis a stack of ribs for 4 more wing panels. Our spars are 1" before routing,but 3/4" non-routed is sufficient, it's sort of builders choice.Be extra careful in changing plans as this can (will) lead todifficulties down the road. The Pietenpol plans are very very good and avast amount of information is there. Building by myself, I would have builtstrictly to plans. It's amazing that you will see something new almost everytime you study them. And just when you think that some detail has been leftoff the plans, just go back and look again, it's there!Boy, we looked a lot younger in those pictures and some of us had alot more hair.Barry DavisNX973BP-----Original Message-----