Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "William Wynne"
Hello good Piet-ple,Things are progressing well on my 1931 Pietenpol, yet this time of year thoughtsoften turn to "What project next"...?!?!I've been thinking that perhaps the Pietenpol needs updating a bit while stillkeeping with the designer's original intent. What better way to do that thanby creating a sheet metal version of the design - the Sheet-en-polI've run some numbers and it looks like the RV-8 wing and empennage would workwell. These parts are readily available as component kits from Vans. This wouldallow me to concentrate most of my design work on the fuselage and paint scheme.The canopy from the RV-8 should fit nicely around the tandem seat arrangementwhich would make the plane useful for a greater portion of the year - especiallyconsidering all the rain we get here in Seattle. The canopy feature mighteven work well in places like Minnesota where the original was designed orOhio where so many Pietenpols get built for some strange reason. (Maybe causeit is the birthplace of the Wright Brothers or something!)I ran some flow analysis (see image) and it looks like with all the changes thedesign might actually reduce the drag enough to require the installation of anairspeed indicator. Not wanting to bite off too much by designing both an experimental airframe ANDan engine (no one would ever want to do THAT) I would use only a certified automotiveconversion.Glad for these early springtime April days to be able to let the mind wander abitJake--------Jake Schultz - curator,Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home)Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ttachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/piet ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Joseph Jameson's Corvair engine runs

Original Posted By: "Ralph"
Builders:We just got back from Corvair College #29, and the high point of the event wasthe perfect engine test run of the 100HP Corvair built by 16 year old Pietenpolbuilder Joseph Jameson. We ran a number of builders engine for the first timeat the College, but everyone present took notice of Joseph's achievement.The October '13 BPA newsletter carried a nice story about Dan Helsper taking Josephaloft for his first flight in a Pietenpol. Doc and Dee, Dan and most everyonewho has met Joseph comments that he is obviously a bright and thoughtfulyoung man, blessed with a supportive family. A few minutes in his company is enoughto make a curmudgeon say something positive about the future of aviation.Joseph has a lot of his airframe built, and is closing in on his PP check ride, but opted to dig into his Corvair engine when Kevin Purtee and Shelley Tumino hosted Corvair College#28 in Texas. You can see Joseph and his father Kelley speaking with award winning Piet builder and flyer Hans Vandervort at the college in this link: http://flycorvair.net/2014/03/13/corvai ... xas/Joseph got his Corvair underway at #28, but signed up for #29 in Florida to finishand test run it. The engine is a 100HP Corvair, with a Roy, 5th bearing andFalcon heads. It is not a "spare no expense" engine, but it is an exceptionallyhigh quality Corvair with electric start, dual ignition, stainless valves,HD oil cooler and filter and some weight reduction items like a flyweight weldeddeep sump pan. The engine is a bit lighter than a C-90 or an O-200.When Joseph was done, we pre-oiled it and put it on our test stand. It startedin less than 2 seconds of cranking. We put down a 30 minute run to break in thecam and lifters, followed by a second run. I have run several hundred Corvairson the stand in the last decade, and Joseph's engine ran as well as any ofthem. It was smooth, didn't leak a drop of oil, and his adjustment of the hydrauliclifters was perfect. A visitor to the college asked what this young man's'secret of success' was. I said "He actually read the book and he follows theinstructions." Hats off to Joseph for his achievement in learning and building, and special thanksto everyone in the Piet community that played a positive role in assistinghim. Joseph and his Dad are planning on attending Brodhead this year, if youhave not met them, take a moment to do so, they are outstanding people. -wwRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________