Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Ryan Mueller
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Cockpit covering for tying down outside

Original Posted By: "Ryan Mueller"
I considered this same issue and lucked into an elegant solution... I foundsome surplus bomb bay actuators and hanges at an aviation flea market acouple years ago, they only cost me a couple thousand bucks for the wholeset of 16. A few hundred more to restore the 8 units that I actually need,and they look spiffy. The guy said they were from a B-36 but I think heeither lied or was confused since the serial numbers match a B-58, which isfine for my purposes. I also got a surplus high-pressure hydraulic pump todrive them, it's not that much bigger than the Corvair, so I think I canmount that into a very unobtrusive pod under the fuselage. I'm making aremotely-actuated, bifold, articulated cockpit cover to close over both thefront and rear 'pits to protect from the weather and such. I also got a gooddeal on some old B-29 wing skins that are slightly curved in just the rightway, so I'll just cut those to shape for the 'pit covers. I'm also going todrive the wing flop position with the same system. My flight data computer(surplus B-52 part, it's about the size of a microwave oven and only about85 lbs, but I haven't re-wired it yet) should be able to automaticallycalculate the proper flop position several times a second, so it can doubleas both a flap for takeoff and as a spoiler for quick descents. I figurethat I'll need that capability, since with all the streamlining and suchit'll be hard to get the Piet to come down otherwise.BTW, anyone know anything about reprogramming a B-52 flight data computer?-MikeMike WhaleyMerlinFAC(at)cfl.rr.com----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By:> "Ryan Mueller"
Dang, and I gave away my old B-52 flight manual, too. Sorry! But I think that if you change out the printed circuit card for the -H version, it'll work well enough. Maybe you can get a local high school kid to help with that.Still, I've got to ask... did you install the zero-zero ejection seats or the original ones that needed some altitude to work with? If you used the original ones be careful, because they don't like a rate of descent. Best to operate while still in a rate of ascent, if achievable.David Paule>> I considered this same issue and lucked into an elegant solution... I > found> some surplus bomb bay actuators and hanges at an aviation flea market a> couple years ago, they only cost me a couple thousand bucks for the whole> set of 16. A few hundred more to restore the 8 units that I actually need,> and they look spiffy. The guy said they were from a B-36 but I think he> either lied or was confused since the serial numbers match a B-58, which > is> fine for my purposes. I also got a surplus high-pressure hydraulic pump to> drive them, it's not that much bigger than the Corvair, so I think I can> mount that into a very unobtrusive pod under the fuselage. I'm making a> remotely-actuated, bifold, articulated cockpit cover to close over both > the> front and rear 'pits to protect from the weather and such. I also got a > good> deal on some old B-29 wing skins that are slightly curved in just the > right> way, so I'll just cut those to shape for the 'pit covers. I'm also going > to> drive the wing flop position with the same system. My flight data computer> (surplus B-52 part, it's about the size of a microwave oven and only about> 85 lbs, but I haven't re-wired it yet) should be able to automatically> calculate the proper flop position several times a second, so it can > double> as both a flap for takeoff and as a spoiler for quick descents. I figure> that I'll need that capability, since with all the streamlining and such> it'll be hard to get the Piet to come down otherwise.>> BTW, anyone know anything about reprogramming a B-52 flight data computer?>> -Mike>> Mike Whaley> MerlinFAC(at)cfl.rr.com>>> ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Lagowski Morrow"
Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Cockpit covering for tying down outside________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Ryan Mueller
I used waterproofed canvas pieces (2) and shock cords to grommets and parts of the plane. I used small sailing pad eyes on the bottom of the fuselage. Every thing rolls up into a small bag--Jim Lagowski, making 2 new windshields, one cracked by a "friend". ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Don Emch"
That's weird. Doesn't happen to me.That's weird. Doesn't happen to me.That's weird. Doesn't happen to me.Tim wrote:Chris, I am getting 3 copies of your emails. Why?Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Cockpit covering for tying down outside

Original Posted By: brian.e.jardine@l-3com.com
Hey Thanks Mike!I'm really not as homesick as I look in that picture! In fact I really enjoyedthe whole Brodhead and Oshkosh trip last year. Even during the rain!The tarp was a quick last minute answer for my first trip to Brodhead a few yearsback. I've been wanting to get covers made but just haven't gotten aroundto it. The tarp is just an 8' x 10' Walmart Special with a couple of tent stakesand clothesline. Tied nice and tight it has weathered several storms andpacks pretty tight. I would like to get a nice canvas tarp about the same size.It would be a little more 'period like'.Boy, that picture kinda makes me want to fly back up there this year!Don EmchNX899DERead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: "David Paule"
Actually I've changed out the B-52 computer now for a surplus NASA unit fromthe Space Shuttle. It weighs a lot more, and it's actually fairly low-tech,but it's radiation hardened which could be important on those long trips athigh altitude. Besides, unemployed shuttle engineers are a dime a dozenaround here, so support won't be much of a problem. Also in keeping with theShuttle thing, I've decided to build a reinforced titanium capsule for theoccupants, which can be ejected at any altitude, attitude, or speed by fourmilitary JATO rockets I have acquired. With the cockpit covering doorsclosed, the capsule should be watertight down to about 80 meters. Which isgood, because I don't think it's going to float very well like the old F-111escape capsules (I estimate the weight at between 2,900 and 3,300 lbs). Ofcourse I've added an oxygen supply good for 8 days and a full kitchenetteand pantry... just in case.Only downside to all my improvements are that the original wire wheelsdeformed badly under the increased load, so I'm installing a set of surplus727 main wheel asemblies that I got a good deal on from eBay. I'm alsoadding 6 inches to each wing to make up for the additional weight of thewheels.What could possibly go wrong?-MikeMike WhaleyMerlinFAC(at)cfl.rr.com----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By:> "David Paule"
Mike,Pure Pietenpol all the way. Good for you.Dave>> Actually I've changed out the B-52 computer now for a surplus NASA unit > from> the Space Shuttle. It weighs a lot more, and it's actually fairly > low-tech,> but it's radiation hardened which could be important on those long trips > at> high altitude. Besides, unemployed shuttle engineers are a dime a dozen> around here, so support won't be much of a problem. Also in keeping with > the> Shuttle thing, I've decided to build a reinforced titanium capsule for the> occupants, which can be ejected at any altitude, attitude, or speed by > four> military JATO rockets I have acquired. With the cockpit covering doors> closed, the capsule should be watertight down to about 80 meters. Which is> good, because I don't think it's going to float very well like the old > F-111> escape capsules (I estimate the weight at between 2,900 and 3,300 lbs). Of> course I've added an oxygen supply good for 8 days and a full kitchenette> and pantry... just in case.>> Only downside to all my improvements are that the original wire wheels> deformed badly under the increased load, so I'm installing a set of > surplus> 727 main wheel asemblies that I got a good deal on from eBay. I'm also> adding 6 inches to each wing to make up for the additional weight of the> wheels.>> What could possibly go wrong?>> -Mike>> Mike Whaley> MerlinFAC(at)cfl.rr.com>>> ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Clif Dawson"
> If you need more empty milk jugs, let me know, we go through the stuff> like, uh, milk.Oh wow, I had forgotten about that. The floatation solution was right infront of my nose. It'll be even easier to stuff the wings with 'em, since Ihave a fly-by-wire control system and only have to deal with a couple ofshielded 250-conductor cables and quadruple-redundant hydraulic lines goingout to the actuators, instead of those pesky, antiquated steel aileroncables.Mike WhaleyMerlinFAC(at)cfl.rr.com________________________________________________________________________________