Today's Message Index:
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1. 01:28 PM - Re: enclosed cockpit piet? (lshutks@webtv.net (Leon Stefan))
2. 10:38 PM - Re: enclosed cockpit piet? (Mike Whaley)
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Subject: | Re: enclosed cockpit piet? |
--> Pietenpol-List message posted by: lshutks@webtv.net (Leon Stefan)
Mike, The problem is adding weight. From all I have read, the Piet
doesn't tollerate adding weight, even if you up the h.p. The flying
qualities will go down. Leon S.
Message 2
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Subject: | Re: enclosed cockpit piet? |
> Mike, The problem is adding weight. From all I have read, the Piet doesn't
tollerate adding weight
Actually, this photo of an Acey-Deucy with a canopy is the photo I was
trying to find yesterday. The caption says that top speed increased by 8mph.
This plane is very much like a Piet in size and layout. In my opinion, this
is a very nice-looking installation, it's (arguably) prettier than the
traditional Acey-Deucy, in a way. Certainly makes it unique-looking if
nothing else. Note that this plane also has a front cockpit side door. There
may also be some benefit to a canopy like this, in that it would likely
smooth out the airflow to the tail a tad... may lead to slightly improved
tail surface effectiveness, perhaps, and maybe even a slight increase in
lift or climb rate (I suspect this effect would be minor though.)
I would think that this could be done without a large amount of weight gain.
Since you're still in the neighborhood of 90-100 mph, there really is no
need for a thick, heavy, bird strike-proof canopy, is there? Very thin (1/8
inch) lexan on a thin aluminum frame should do nicely. You would probably
want to use something slightly thicker for the windshield, but I would think
that 1/4 inch plexiglas or lexan would still be plenty strong and not weigh
a ton. If the side panels had a simple piano hinge at the top so they could
swing upwards (J-3 style) then there would be no need to worry about
complicated, heavy sliding rails. A simple latch would suffice and you could
likely even fly with the windows open. (The sliding fighter-style canopy
setup on the Firebolt takes a year to build... just for the canopy part...
it is nice, but that's kind of against the whole idea of a Pietenpol!)
-Mike
Mike Whaley merlin@ov-10bronco.net
Webmaster, OV-10 Bronco Association
http://www.ov-10bronco.net/
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