Pietenpol-List: reducing the wingspan
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:58 pm
Original Posted By: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[Vantage Partners, LLC]"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: reducing the wingspanEllery,Welcome to the group and glad you're building a Pietenpol. This is a good group of folks and there are some very talentedand extremely well versed and knowledgeable people on the list and most of them are even housebroken:). !I've never heard of anyone reducing the wingspan on a Piet but rather making it longer. Most low power (65 horse Continentals and such)planes of the 1940's like Taylorcrafts, Luscombes, Cubs, and Champs had wingspans in the 35' range.The Pietenpols wing is only 29' so making it a little longer is goodness in that you will be able to lift more weight and that is importantif you're on a shorter field or high elevation...even on hotter days it will help you.I built my Pietenpol with the standard 29' wing but if I had to do it over again I might make my center section wider as Jack Phillipsdid and if not mistaken Bill Rewey-this gives you more wing area, greater lifting capability. I wouldn't hesitate to add 2-3 feet tothe overall length of my wing.Whatever you built, Piet or other design, try your best to keep it light and it will then be a GOOD performing airplane. Most of us arenot 150 pound pilots like Bernard Pietenpol was so if you are heavier and you want to take a full-size adult for a Piet ride your best betis too keep the plane light when building.Nothing is more frightening than wondering if you're going to be able to climb high enough on a hot day with a passenger to clearthe tops of telephone wires or tree tops. Every extra pound you add is one you'll have to take for each ride also.Mike C.________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: reducing the wingspanEllery,Welcome to the group and glad you're building a Pietenpol. This is a good group of folks and there are some very talentedand extremely well versed and knowledgeable people on the list and most of them are even housebroken:). !I've never heard of anyone reducing the wingspan on a Piet but rather making it longer. Most low power (65 horse Continentals and such)planes of the 1940's like Taylorcrafts, Luscombes, Cubs, and Champs had wingspans in the 35' range.The Pietenpols wing is only 29' so making it a little longer is goodness in that you will be able to lift more weight and that is importantif you're on a shorter field or high elevation...even on hotter days it will help you.I built my Pietenpol with the standard 29' wing but if I had to do it over again I might make my center section wider as Jack Phillipsdid and if not mistaken Bill Rewey-this gives you more wing area, greater lifting capability. I wouldn't hesitate to add 2-3 feet tothe overall length of my wing.Whatever you built, Piet or other design, try your best to keep it light and it will then be a GOOD performing airplane. Most of us arenot 150 pound pilots like Bernard Pietenpol was so if you are heavier and you want to take a full-size adult for a Piet ride your best betis too keep the plane light when building.Nothing is more frightening than wondering if you're going to be able to climb high enough on a hot day with a passenger to clearthe tops of telephone wires or tree tops. Every extra pound you add is one you'll have to take for each ride also.Mike C.________________________________________________________________________________