Pietenpol Air Camper Corvair build

[Bubbleboy]

Hi all......starting a Pietenpol Air Camper build with a Chevrolet Corvair conversion. I have the Corvair block here now and the plans are on the way.

 

Can someone who has used the T88 Adhesive let me know if it has a use by time once opened? I am ordering it from the USA as I have not heard of a supplier here and want to order a reasonable amount but not if it goes off after opened.

 

I know I have asked this question previously but does anyone have any contacts for Spruce here in Australia? I have a quote to get it from Aircraft Spruce in the USA but just want to exhaust all options here first.

 

Scotty :thumb_up:

 

 

[Riley]

Aircraft spruce Australian Representation

 

Try Rod Tyson at XXXXXXX in Redcliffe. From A/Spruce 2009 catalogue their contact details are: Tel 3040 0502. Fax 3886 1917. email <<[email protected]>>, Website <<www.XXXXXXX.com.au>>, Address U9, 16-22 Bremner Rd, Rothwell, 4022, Qld. Enjoy your Piet build - actually perved a couple of corvair-engined ones at last Oshkosh. Cheers

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Thanks Riley...will send him an email. I had seen he was an agent before but usually they wait till they have a number of orders before sending them. Will find out for sure.

 

Scotty

 

 

[Admin]

Why not try Wicks at Wicks Aircraft Supply - if there is anything there that you want you just order it through Clear Prop

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Hi Ian...yes I looked at their site and the spruce is double the price.

 

Scotty

 

 

[Admin]

Just send me a PM with what you need inc part numbers off the Wicks site and Clear Prop handles it all and you only pay what the price is on the Wicks site plus shipping

 

 

[bushcaddy105]

Gooday Scotty

 

I'm always interested in alternative engines for U/L aircraft, and have put my hand up to chair a forum on this topic at Natfly this Easter. Never having even seen a Corvair engine in Oz, can you provide me with any details and/or pics of yours? Or even better, if you are going to Natfly would you like a spot to talk about them?

 

Happy building on the Piet - they surely rate as a classic aircraft.

 

PM me if you prefer

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Hi John...have PM you. My website is Scottys Pietenpol Air Camper Build

 

Scotty :thumb_up:

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Spruce has arrived and the build has begun.......

 

 

[Phildo]

Scotty,

 

Hey mate. I have been lurking around the Piet idea for years. Good to hear you got a good supply of spruce. I was wondering, did you order the complete plans (option 9) plus flying and gliding manuals? I take it your going with the three piece wing?

 

I might join you on this journey even yet!! Piet's are such lovely looking aircraft but man, its a real project! I would love to see a section of the plan detail. Do you think you could snap a portion and upload a bit to see?

 

Good on you again mate.... Its great to see another build going on.

 

P.s ... I see your a member of the SAAA. Do you intend to RAA register or VH through the SAAA?

 

So many questions (sorry! )

 

Phil, Brisbane.

 

 

[Phildo]

Actually Scotty,

 

I just looked a bit more into your website and saw the plans in the back ground.

 

I see the a laser quality. Are they detailed??

 

Cheers mate,

 

Phil.

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Hi Phil.......questions are how we all learn. I will offer you the same courtesy as the many other builders who have taken the time to answer my million questions :thrown out:You have a couple of options as far as the plans are concerned. There is a guy in the UK by the name of Jim Wills. If you build one of these in the UK you must use his plans. Basically he provides you with a set of the original 1933 plans as well as a number of supplements of his own. If you use Jim's set you can increase the MTOW to 1200 pound which is 544kg, exactly the limit to register this RAA.

 

The plans are very good and detailed. Daunting when you first look at them but dissect them in to sections and you will soon work them out. Also there are numerous build forums where folk are more than happy to help you all around the world. If you want a snap of a particular part of the plans let me know and I will see what I can do. I have made contact with another chap in QLD building one. He is further along than I am. I am using the 3 piece wing. Depending on how tall or big you are and what engine you plan to use, there are a couple of fuselage lengths you can use.

 

I love the idea of building. I went to Natfly over Easter and although there was plenty of plastic plane porn there, I cant go past the old style rag and wood/tube aircraft.

 

Come on board and we can do this together!

 

Scotty :thumb_up:

 

 

[Phildo]

Thanks Scotty,

 

I wasnt aware of the Jim Wills plan set. I will check it out.

 

I think I have gotten a general impression from the photos on your site mate, so that will do for now (I just have to order a set eh?)

 

And yes mate, I agree. I love the fantasic plastics for their technology and engineering, however nothing draws my attention faster then the rag and tube stuff.

 

However, I am well aware that the Piet, although simple in design, is quite a build (some, like me think thats a good thing!!).

 

I may just well follow you in your footsteps mate -and ask you some more questions!!

 

Thanks for the reply...

 

Phil

 

 

[slartibartfast]

They seem to handle forced landing really well too.

 

Great photo on ABC today of an incident near Budgewoi.

 

 

Looks undamaged and no-one hurt.

 

Article and photo attribution here.

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Hi Slarti...I know this chap! He has been doing test flights over the last week I believe. Glad he and Pietenpol are unhurt. It has a Subaru engine in it.

 

Scotty

 

 

[ausgee]

cnc cutting fittings for pietenpol

 

I am drawing the metal fittings so that they can be cnc cut.

 

There are several snivels about some of the tabs needing to be lengthened so that the bolts go in easier. Has anyone got a list of where the problems are?

 

Got the official plans this week from the Pietenpols.

 

 

 

 

[winsor68]

That is a really nice internet site Scotty...

 

Good job and thanks for sharing...

 

Scottys Pietenpol Air Camper Build

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Hi Winsor...thanks mate. I am using it as my build record also which I will need to produce before final clearance to fly. I cant spend as much time as I would like on it but I am getting there. Wont be far off ordering the fuselage Spruce, then it will start coming together!

 

Scotty

 

 

[old man emu]

Scotty,

 

How much does a Model A engine + radiator etc weigh? I was wondering of the Corvair was lighter, or not.

 

I was speaking to the buyilder of the Gere Biplane from near Cowra, and he said that when they put the Jabiru into it as its forst engine, they also had to add a great block of lead to the nose. Guess the Jab was much lighter than the A Model.

 

Also, what sort of money are you looking at to get the Corvair to be ready to hang in your plane?

 

Old Man Emu

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

I believe the Model A is considerably heavier. The Corvair cost depends a lot on what you pay for a core I guess. What options are you wanting to put on it? What carby etc?

 

Im bringing rebuilt parts in from the USA. Its the freight that is the killer. I reckon mine will be around the $5000 to get it in the air? That is with a magnafluxed and nitrided crank, heads from Falcon engineering and a 5th bearing. Will also have forged pistons and rods and an OT10 cam. That is the standard at the moment to ensure good safety and reliability.

 

Scotty

 

 

[facthunter]

Power for Pietenpol.

 

The original engine was a model"T" (last build 1927) or an "A". 4 cvlinder Side Valve. Some of the aero engines were chiselled all over the block to reduce weight.

 

I think the output was about 40 horsepower at a fairly modest RPM. The advantage of this low RPM with relatively high torque, is the ability to swing a larger diameter propeller which is appropriate for the Piet. Nev

 

 

[old man emu]

I did some searching after I posed my question. Seems the Corvair weighs about the same as a Model A Might as wel go for a Corvair and the extra HP than use a Jab or VW and have to add a heap of ballast.

 

Having no engine rebuilding experience, I figured that it would be most cost effective to buy a ready-to-go conversion from Florida.

 

OME

 

 

[facthunter]

Oropeller SIZE.

 

The Corvair being a six is very smooth. They are a fairly common engine for that aircraft. You need the Torque so a fairly large displacement engine is good. Nev

 

 

[old man emu]

Scotty,

 

Can you help me?

 

I want to start designing my engine mount, but I don't have any measurements for the Corvair engine. I emailed FlyCorvair, but got no answer. (My request was probably viewed as junk mail by them). I need to know the locations of the attach bolt holes; length, width and height of the engine, and the position of the Thrust line in relation to the attach bolt holes.

 

Would you send me this date, or a link to it?

 

Thanks

 

OME

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Whats your email and I will send you what I have.

 

Scotty