Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
I have found that the elevator and rudder response in the Pietnpol is superb and requires no gap sealing unless you're thinkingyou might get a slight reduction in drag but to me it isn't worth it. There is so much drag back there to begin (tail brace wires, tailwheeland tail spring assemblies) with that getting a little less drag out of the gaps will create more headaches than it is worth when they startto peel and look ratty over the years.Gap seals back there also make it more difficult to do satisfactory preflight inspections of the tail hinges, pivoting hardware, and cotters/securing nuts.If you want drag reduction, build and RV-something.Mike C.Ohio________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
I agree completely, Mike. For a few years I had gap seals (Duct Tape) on myelevators. Saw no real impreovement in anything except I could raise thetail a little earlier on takeoff. When the duct tape started peeling off, Ijust removed it and have not put it back.The ailerons are a different story. I built mine with piano hinges acrossthe full span of the ailerons, so mine are automatically gap-sealed. Thefirst time a I flew a Pietenpol with the barn-door type hinges and no gapseals I thought something was wrong with it on takeoff. The ailerons wereless than half as effective as mine. Gap seals are VERY important on theailerons.Jack PhillipsNX899JPSmith Mountain Lake, Virginia _____