Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By:> ----- Original Message ----- "Bill Church"
Wood Wing Strut FittingNo Charles, you missed my point, appearance is not just what I'm interested in,although it is a factor. I want to use wood struts, not just have the appearanceof wood, and I like laminations both for appearance and because they arestronger and it's easier to get a uniform final product. I generally don't likemetal, it gives me the heebie jeebies to work with. I know it's unavoidablein building an airplane, but I like and prefer working with wood where possible.Gary, there are scant examples of wood struts on Piets out there, and none thatI've seen that I'm entirely happy with.KIp GardnerOn Jan 12, 2011, at 10:11 AM, Charles Campbell wrote:> > Why not just glue 1/16" plywood on metal struts if appearance is all you're interestedin?>

Original Posted By: "Gboothe5"
I don't see the need for all the discussion about wing-strut adjustment forks. Bernie's plans don't show any adjustment forks in the wing struts. He just put the wing in the position he wanted it, measured the distance between the attachment bolts at each end, and cut the strut to the proper length and installed it.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Is it not possible to just copy what has been successfully used already?Gary Boothe-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: "Bill Church"
Why not just glue 1/16" plywood on metal struts if appearance is all you're interested in?----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By:> ----- Original Message ----- "Bill Church"
No Charles, you missed my point, appearance is not just what I'm interested in,although it is a factor. I want to use wood struts, not just have the appearanceof wood, and I like laminations both for appearance and because they arestronger and it's easier to get a uniform final product. I generally don't likemetal, it gives me the heebie jeebies to work with. I know it's unavoidablein building an airplane, but I like and prefer working with wood where possible.Gary, there are scant examples of wood struts on Piets out there, and none thatI've seen that I'm entirely happy with.KIp GardnerOn Jan 12, 2011, at 10:11 AM, Charles Campbell wrote:> > Why not just glue 1/16" plywood on metal struts if appearance is all you're interestedin?>

Original Posted By: Michael Perez

Original Posted By: Rick Holland
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Complexity

Original Posted By: gboothe5(at)comcast.net
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Adjustable Wood Wing Strut FittingNot proposing to get involved within a contest of urination and whom can higher on the fire hydrant, I am using laminated wooden struts with steel embedded at what I alone considered critical points. Not that it matters much however when you add a piece of steel that is glued in with epoxy. I like the appearance of wood over full steel along with the cost of the laminated wood over aluminum so wood appeals to my aesthetic, economical and style needs as a slave to fashion. The embedded steel is 8 inches long and will be thru bolted at the topbefore being bolted to the mounting as such, will reduce the likelihood of splitting out at the mounting point closer to the end of the strut. Now because I prefer the look of wood in this application, the lamination is of whit ash and black walnut which matches all of the other outside wooden stylecomponents. For which I was sharing what I was doing as opposed to looking for conscious opinion of approval.So the point is, I like it, the metal extends bell above the attachment point and the thru bolting adds a margin of safety, which in my own mind reduces the remote possibility of breaking out holes at the lower end mountingpoint. This is all designed to provide me, piece of mind. Ultimately its my airplane, my decision and obviously I really have no particular bent on arguing the point, however if I get into a situation where the airframe is being stressed in excess of the tear out of 8 inches of steel thru bolted to wooden struts at 2 locations with appropriately sized AN bolts and nuts, than I have much bigger issues to contend with; for which aluminum struts, carbon fiber, full length embedded metal or and any other strut material combination cannot and or will not provide any better of a solution. Of course ruling out the possibility of missing the trap on the 4 wire and bolting to a missed trap go around. Fortunately I have yet to do that so am feeling rather confident in my strut plans.John In a message dated 1/12/2011 10:02:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, billspiet(at)sympatico.ca writes:--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: "Bill Church" Kip wrote:"If you went with full length steel, what's the point to wood struts except appearance?"Well, IS there another reason to go with wood struts, other than appearance?Don't get me wrong, I really like the look of wood struts, and I have an idea that I think will work, but need to prove it out before sharing it with everyone. I just don't know of a reason why anyone would use wood struts rather than steel, other than for appearance.Bill C.Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Adjustable Wood Wing Strut Fitting

Original Posted By: Kip and Beth Gardner
Douwe, John Greenlee, and, more recently, the notorius Axel Purtee, just to namea few, all have functioning attachments for wood struts. Since I'm not educatedenough to figure out such things, I'll just copy what's already flying, butwill be interested in seeing what you come up with.Gary Sent on the Sprint Now Network from my BlackBerry-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Rick Holland
----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Charles Campbell
I know the PA22/20 that I rebuilt back in the 80's had an adjustable fitting on the rear struts. Had to use them when cranking in the washout in the wing tips. ----- Original Message -----