Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
I always tell people "If you pull the power or lose the engine in aPietenpol, throw out a brick and see where it is heading. That is where youwill land. And when you land, get out of the plane and run so you won't gethit by the brick."Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: "Ray Krause"
Group,I enjoyed Jack Phillips' reference to the gliding angle of a Pietenpol. I have flown four different Pietenpols and, power-off, they all exhibited a steep/high rate of descent. My Piper PA 17 Vagabond (short wing Piper) also displays this characteristic, but does "float" a bit farther than the Piet on landing. For this reason, I normally use a "touch of power" and this makes the approach angle more comfortable for both airplanes .(It also keeps the engine warm--especially important in cold weather.)Years ago, my son and I went for a ride in the front cockpit of a Waco biplane. It was a really nice airplane, but when the owner/pilot closed the throttle to descend it dropped like Jack's proverbial brick. My Sperry Messenger biplane repro that I built in the 1980's was similar to the Waco and a good landing from a power-off approach demanded one's full attention. I have flown a Gypsy Moth and a Tiger Moth, both of which seemed to have a flatter glide than either the Waco or the Sperry. Generally, most biplanes will have a steep power-off approach angle. In my view, my Pietenpol's glide is about the same as that of the Moths I flew. Steep, but not too scary.Occasionally I will close the throttle of the Pietenpol or the Vagabond to practise a power-off approach and landing. Even after having flown both for hundreds of hours, I don't always allow enough height and sometimes have to add a bit of power to get to the touchdown point. (And THAT is why I periodically make myself do some practice!)Graham Hansen (Pietenpol CF-AUN in Alberta, Canada)________________________________________________________________________________