Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Oscar Zuniga
Subject: Pietenpol-List: A few thoughts as the project winds upNow that I'm really about finished with Mike Lima, I thought I'd bore you all with a few random thoughts. Years ago, I wrote some columns for AvWeb on building the Piet. and in one of those, written in 2002, I opined that I thought I might be able to keep the cost at about $8000. I wish I'd been able to keep it at twice that! Of course, a lot of stuff increased in price from 2002 to 2011, but there are some things I should have done to keep costsdown.I just had to add up all the invoices to pay the Commonwealth of Virginia "sales tax" on the airplane. All in all, I have a bit over $22,000 in it. $8400 is in the engine, which I had overhauled by Bob Barrows, the designer of the Bearhawk and my Technical Counselor. He's tops and I have great confidence in his work. I think the money put into the engine is worth the price. But, in looking at the 150-odd invoices from AC Spruce over 11 years, Ipaid a TON of shipping costs. The moral - try to combine your orders as much as possible. See if you can find a local or area source for the few things you may have overlooked. I thought I'd be able to build the airplane in 2-3 years. If I'd worked on it at least 5 days a week, for 2-3 hours, I think I would have finished in that time. But there are at least 4 years in which nothing was done, and sometimes weeks when I did no actual work on it. But often during those 'times off', I was thinking about a problem and often would solve them in my head without having to go down blind alleys and then redo things. I even remember once dreaming about a problem and coming to a solution in the dream.Other than some changes necessitated by the realities of flying in today's world, like seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, brakes and tailwheels, I stuck with the plans. I did appropriate Mike Cuy's fuselage tank idea, and Jack Phillips's tailwheel steering plan. But most everything else is pure Bernard Pietenpol. I'm already missing having the plane in the workshop and thinking and planning what's next. There are a few things left to do before the airworthiness inspection and that will keep me busy for the next weeks. It is true that the journey is as important, or more so, than the end result. I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I look forward to seeing many of you at Brodhead.Matt PaxtonNX629ML________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Clif Dawson"
Beautiful, Matt! Thanks for the post and picture. I've realized/done a lot ofthe same things you've mentioned: total costs, shipping costs, thinking aboutit while out of town, etc.Good Lord willin' we shall fly formation in July!Will be excited to hear about the first flight.Kevin--------Kevin "Axel" PurteeNX899KPAustin/Georgetown, TXRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: Woodflier(at)aol.com
Matt=2CThanks for sharing your experience - this is the kind of stuff that inspires the rest of us. I like you have spent - and will spend far more on my Piet than I originally thought. I started in 2000 and I still have a long way to go. I work on it when I can which is very seldom=2C but tonight was a good night. I finally got two of my spars cut out. I plan to start working on the Cabanes this week and with a little luck i can get the center section mounted to the fuselage in another week or so. Maybe by spring I'll start stringing the spars with ribs - or maybe not - depends on what life brings I guess.. I've finally accepted that completion is a long term goal - not a short term goal. Congrats on your aircraft - it looks like a beauty. I'm looking forward to seeing it at Brodhead this summer. Enjoy.Tom B.

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Congratulations, Matt! Looks very niceIf Gene Rambo gets his Pietenpol finished this spring we should have quite acontingent flying up from Virginia to Brodhead.Jack PhillipsNX899JP "Icarus Plummet"Raleigh, NC but based at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia _____

Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
I just had to add up all the invoices to pay the Commonwealth of Virginia "sales tax" on the airplaneWhat's this all about? I have heard of this kind of thing happening in IL. when kit panes such as RV's were registered, but so far I have not been contacted by anyone saying I owe sales tax. I think my standard line is going to be "I bought everything locally at Lowes, Home Depot and Ace, and have already paid the sales tax". Dan HelsperPoplar Grove, IL.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: A few thoughts as the project winds upNow that I'm really about finished with Mike Lima=2C I thought I'd bore youall with a few random thoughts. Years ago=2C I wrote some columns for AvWeb on building the Piet. and in one of those=2C written in 2002=2C I opined that I thought I might be able to keep the cost at about $8000. I wish I'd been able to keep it at twice that! Of course=2C a lot of stuff increased in price from 2002 to 2011=2C but there are some things I should have done to keep costs down.I just had to add up all the invoices to pay the Commonwealth of Virginia "sales tax" on the airplane. All in all=2C I have a bit over $22=2C000 in it. $8400 is in the engine=2C which I had overhauled by Bob Barrows=2C the designer of the Bearhawk and my Technical Counselor. He's tops and I have great confidence in his work. I think the money put into the engine is worth the price. But=2C in looking at the 150-odd invoices from AC Spruce over 11 years=2C I paid a TON of shipping costs. The moral - try to combine your orders as much as possible. See if you can find a local or area source for the few things you may have overlooked. I thought I'd be able to build the airplane in 2-3 years. If I'd worked onit at least 5 days a week=2C for 2-3 hours=2C I think I would have finished in that time. But there are at least 4 years in which nothing was done=2C and sometimes weeks when I did no actual work on it. But often during those 'times off'=2C I was thinking about a problem and often would solve them in my head without having to go down blind alleys and then redo things. I even remember once dreaming about a problem and coming to a solution in the dream. Other than some changes necessitated by the realities of flying in today'sworld=2C like seatbelts=2C shoulder harnesses=2C brakes and tailwheels=2C I stuck with the plans. I did appropriate Mike Cuy's fuselage tank idea=2C and Jack Phillips's tailwheel steering plan. But most everything else is pure Bernard Pietenpol. I'm already missing having the plane in the workshop and thinking and planning what's next. There are a few things left to do before the airworthiness inspection and that will keep me busy for the next weeks. It is true that the journey is as important=2C or more so=2C than the end result. I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I look forward to seeing many of you at Brodhead.Matt PaxtonNX629ML ________________________________________________________________________________