Pietenpol-List: center section cut out
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:31 am
Original Posted By: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[Vantage Partners, LLC]"
Hey chaps (and lasses.)Just found an interesting article from a 1996 Buckeye Pietenpol AssociationNewsletter about a guy (Joe Leonard from Garrettsville, OH) experimentingwith his center section cut-out.To Paraphrase. He had a cut-out in his center section with a roundedtrailing edge. Somebody at Brodhead suggested the founded edge was causingturbulent airflow over the tail.As an experiment, he laminated up some foam shaped it to fill the cutout,duct taped it in place nad went flying.He did three landings and take-offs, a few stalls etc and reports "it waslike flying a totally different airplane! Stall speed dropped about 5 m.p.h.The best climb rate previously occurred at 65 m.p.h, with the cut-outfilled, it dropped to 60 m.p.h." "With the center section closed, it floatslike a cub at 60. The rate of climb has not increased and I'm still notsure if the cruise speed has increased or not." "I've been telling peopleall along the center section is not a factor in creating lift, which istrue, BUT it affects a bunch of other things."Pretty interesting info to ponder for those eliminating the flop. MayBernhard new what he was doing??DouweProgress report; had a granite engraving friend cut some stencils fromadhesive backed rubber for my tail numbers and a little tail logo (decidedagainst anything on the fuselage because with the side pipes it was toobusy) and that worked great. She now has some stuff on the tail. Going topinstripe the edges of the letters today.When I was building my wheels I forgot grease fittings, plus they're coveredso. rather than having to remove the wheels to grease them (no biggiereally) I welded up a little tube with a ninety degree in it and a greasefitting on one end. This goes inside the axle just behind the wheelretaining cap and is welded into a little hole in the axle between thebearings in the wheel. When I shoot grease into it, it comes out inside thewheel.Triple checking the engine installation before I install the cowling.Working on seat cushion designsDid one coaming then started the other and found out I had underestimatedhow many eyelets I needed so that stopped until more are delivered.The only area I sprayed latex over the old dope, under my center section, isstaying a little tacky. Am hoping it'll dry up eventually.Starting my tailwheel re-education soon from one of the EAA pilots of theFord Tri-motor here in beautiful Fallmouth, KY!!!________________________________________________________________________________
Hey chaps (and lasses.)Just found an interesting article from a 1996 Buckeye Pietenpol AssociationNewsletter about a guy (Joe Leonard from Garrettsville, OH) experimentingwith his center section cut-out.To Paraphrase. He had a cut-out in his center section with a roundedtrailing edge. Somebody at Brodhead suggested the founded edge was causingturbulent airflow over the tail.As an experiment, he laminated up some foam shaped it to fill the cutout,duct taped it in place nad went flying.He did three landings and take-offs, a few stalls etc and reports "it waslike flying a totally different airplane! Stall speed dropped about 5 m.p.h.The best climb rate previously occurred at 65 m.p.h, with the cut-outfilled, it dropped to 60 m.p.h." "With the center section closed, it floatslike a cub at 60. The rate of climb has not increased and I'm still notsure if the cruise speed has increased or not." "I've been telling peopleall along the center section is not a factor in creating lift, which istrue, BUT it affects a bunch of other things."Pretty interesting info to ponder for those eliminating the flop. MayBernhard new what he was doing??DouweProgress report; had a granite engraving friend cut some stencils fromadhesive backed rubber for my tail numbers and a little tail logo (decidedagainst anything on the fuselage because with the side pipes it was toobusy) and that worked great. She now has some stuff on the tail. Going topinstripe the edges of the letters today.When I was building my wheels I forgot grease fittings, plus they're coveredso. rather than having to remove the wheels to grease them (no biggiereally) I welded up a little tube with a ninety degree in it and a greasefitting on one end. This goes inside the axle just behind the wheelretaining cap and is welded into a little hole in the axle between thebearings in the wheel. When I shoot grease into it, it comes out inside thewheel.Triple checking the engine installation before I install the cowling.Working on seat cushion designsDid one coaming then started the other and found out I had underestimatedhow many eyelets I needed so that stopped until more are delivered.The only area I sprayed latex over the old dope, under my center section, isstaying a little tacky. Am hoping it'll dry up eventually.Starting my tailwheel re-education soon from one of the EAA pilots of theFord Tri-motor here in beautiful Fallmouth, KY!!!________________________________________________________________________________