Pietenpol-List: Ok, so I cheated and am doing this backwards.
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:34 am
Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
After 18 or so years of research on a Piet, and after taking my rather enterprisingson to Brodhead this year... he proclaimed he could buy one faster than Ican build one. Him starting his last year at home, I figured he had a point so I set out lookingfor one for us to fly while I build one.Sort of remembering that one was going to be for sale at Brodhead, and disappointedthat I didn't see it there (it was there, I just didn't know which one) Ifound by reading old posts that it was Dick Navratil's NX2RN (his first Piet,blue and yellow with an A-65). Turns it, it's the exact configuration I wantto build, except I'm sort of leaning towards a Model A. However, I've neverthought having an aviation engine was a bad thing in a plane. Also, having nolight civil aviation experience and having never owned a plane... thought theA-65 would be great!So, I call Dick, fly to MN, he graciously picks me up, drives me way out to theplane, I look it over (can't get a ride because Dick's biannual checkride isout of date) and REALLY like it! Here's my son's conditions. He wants a Piet, he didn't care about configuration,but was insistent I didn't buy a project! This plane was perfect. Tested but not old, solid as a rock, materials and workmanshipin the build perfectly documented and beyond question in my mind. SoI jump in it (it's the short fuse) and about cry. No way I can manipulate therudder.... I'm heartbroken. Dick says to taxi it around. I've never eventaxied a tailwheel plane in my LIFE! But, I decide to take him up on it. Itstarts on one pull, and with the steerable tailwheel I realize the pedals aren'ttoo bad. I pull the trigger and strike a deal!Now, second problem. Remember no projects? Not quite true, I AM the project.Not only havn't I not taxied a tailwheel, I've never flown one either! Goodnews, this plane is in MN. I right then start a month long stint in a hotel inSt Paul getting checked out a very similar plane... the venerable Airbus A-330...Ya, I went to MN late Sep to get checked out in two planes. One with a wingspanof the other's takeoff roll. Now, going to say this here. This is a great plane. But it's NOTHING comparedto the man who agreed to let me buy it. Dick insisted it be freshly annualled.He insisted on a few other nice things. He hauled my butt out to that airporta dozen or more times. He had me over for dinner. In the buy, he agreedto help me with the annual condition inspection if I bring it to Brodhead. Heagreed to letting me keep it in his hangar (possibly till next spring!) untilI can ferry it a thousand miles home. More than all of that, just one hellof a great guy. One might say I bought a good friend and got a free plane inthe deal, but friends like that can't be bought at any price. So, Dick helps me find a tailwheel instructor at Osceola (where the plane is) andpatiently waits around on a couple trips while I get an endorsement. Two ridesin a 180hp Super Decathalon (in the front seat) and I have an endorsement.YIKES. Took one more ride in the back seat of a 110hp BRAND NEW Champ. Uh,that thing had a moving map display with terrain alerting! It's better thanthe map in a $100 million dollar Airbus! Very gusty, feel better.... but still...yikes. Two days ago I run the Piet up and down the grass strip with the tail up... wow.First few tries I aborted way early in that process. But figured it out reasonablyquick. Yesterday Dick takes me up for a few landings. THAT HELPED aTON. So, under no pressure at all (it was a BEAUTIFUL day), the builder andmy son there watching, only a few hours after my type rating ride with the FAAin an Airbus A330, I flew the Piet!What a day. Nearly 20 years of waiting for that, I flew solo for the first timesince Mar 1, 1999 (and that was a A-4), my first light civil flight since Julyof 1982, I got to fly a Piet. I'm flying the Airbus to Barcelona tomorrow, so hope to get up next week to ferrythe Piet back. Going to be a fun few days for my son and I. I would be interested in recommendations for fuel and overnight stops between StPaul and Chatt TN if anyone knows that route well. Don't worry, this has completely increased my resolve to get cracking on my Piet.Not giving up on that at all. Besides, don't want to fight my son for timein the plane!Cheers,ToolsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
After 18 or so years of research on a Piet, and after taking my rather enterprisingson to Brodhead this year... he proclaimed he could buy one faster than Ican build one. Him starting his last year at home, I figured he had a point so I set out lookingfor one for us to fly while I build one.Sort of remembering that one was going to be for sale at Brodhead, and disappointedthat I didn't see it there (it was there, I just didn't know which one) Ifound by reading old posts that it was Dick Navratil's NX2RN (his first Piet,blue and yellow with an A-65). Turns it, it's the exact configuration I wantto build, except I'm sort of leaning towards a Model A. However, I've neverthought having an aviation engine was a bad thing in a plane. Also, having nolight civil aviation experience and having never owned a plane... thought theA-65 would be great!So, I call Dick, fly to MN, he graciously picks me up, drives me way out to theplane, I look it over (can't get a ride because Dick's biannual checkride isout of date) and REALLY like it! Here's my son's conditions. He wants a Piet, he didn't care about configuration,but was insistent I didn't buy a project! This plane was perfect. Tested but not old, solid as a rock, materials and workmanshipin the build perfectly documented and beyond question in my mind. SoI jump in it (it's the short fuse) and about cry. No way I can manipulate therudder.... I'm heartbroken. Dick says to taxi it around. I've never eventaxied a tailwheel plane in my LIFE! But, I decide to take him up on it. Itstarts on one pull, and with the steerable tailwheel I realize the pedals aren'ttoo bad. I pull the trigger and strike a deal!Now, second problem. Remember no projects? Not quite true, I AM the project.Not only havn't I not taxied a tailwheel, I've never flown one either! Goodnews, this plane is in MN. I right then start a month long stint in a hotel inSt Paul getting checked out a very similar plane... the venerable Airbus A-330...Ya, I went to MN late Sep to get checked out in two planes. One with a wingspanof the other's takeoff roll. Now, going to say this here. This is a great plane. But it's NOTHING comparedto the man who agreed to let me buy it. Dick insisted it be freshly annualled.He insisted on a few other nice things. He hauled my butt out to that airporta dozen or more times. He had me over for dinner. In the buy, he agreedto help me with the annual condition inspection if I bring it to Brodhead. Heagreed to letting me keep it in his hangar (possibly till next spring!) untilI can ferry it a thousand miles home. More than all of that, just one hellof a great guy. One might say I bought a good friend and got a free plane inthe deal, but friends like that can't be bought at any price. So, Dick helps me find a tailwheel instructor at Osceola (where the plane is) andpatiently waits around on a couple trips while I get an endorsement. Two ridesin a 180hp Super Decathalon (in the front seat) and I have an endorsement.YIKES. Took one more ride in the back seat of a 110hp BRAND NEW Champ. Uh,that thing had a moving map display with terrain alerting! It's better thanthe map in a $100 million dollar Airbus! Very gusty, feel better.... but still...yikes. Two days ago I run the Piet up and down the grass strip with the tail up... wow.First few tries I aborted way early in that process. But figured it out reasonablyquick. Yesterday Dick takes me up for a few landings. THAT HELPED aTON. So, under no pressure at all (it was a BEAUTIFUL day), the builder andmy son there watching, only a few hours after my type rating ride with the FAAin an Airbus A330, I flew the Piet!What a day. Nearly 20 years of waiting for that, I flew solo for the first timesince Mar 1, 1999 (and that was a A-4), my first light civil flight since Julyof 1982, I got to fly a Piet. I'm flying the Airbus to Barcelona tomorrow, so hope to get up next week to ferrythe Piet back. Going to be a fun few days for my son and I. I would be interested in recommendations for fuel and overnight stops between StPaul and Chatt TN if anyone knows that route well. Don't worry, this has completely increased my resolve to get cracking on my Piet.Not giving up on that at all. Besides, don't want to fight my son for timein the plane!Cheers,ToolsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________