---------------------------------------------------------- Pietenpol-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 03/28/12: 23 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:20 AM - Re: talk to me about seat cushion material (IT Girl) 2. 06:51 AM - Re: talk to me about seat cushion material (TOM STINEMETZE) 3. 07:30 AM - Re: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material (Ken Bickers) 4. 08:06 AM - an alternative to seat cushions (Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]) 5. 08:35 AM - Re: an alternative to seat cushions (IT Girl) 6. 08:51 AM - Re: hand help radio question (K5YAC) 7. 09:45 AM - ignition noise when using radios (nothing about antennas--I PROMISE!) (Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]) 8. 09:49 AM - Inst. Panel design (santiago morete) 9. 10:29 AM - Re: Inst. Panel design (Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]) 10. 10:40 AM - Re: Inst. Panel design (Brett Phillips) 11. 10:43 AM - Re: Inst. Panel design (Dan Yocum) 12. 11:28 AM - Re: Inst. Panel design (Chris Rusch) 13. 01:32 PM - Re: ignition noise when using radios (nothing about antennas--I PROMISE!) (Andrew Eldredge) 14. 01:44 PM - ignition noise (Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]) 15. 01:49 PM - Re: ignition noise when using radios (nothing about antennas--I PROMISE!) (John Hofmann) 16. 02:41 PM - Fuel Tank Finished (Michael Perez) 17. 03:03 PM - Re: Fuel Tank Finished (brian.e.jardine@l-3com.com) 18. 04:25 PM - Re: Fuel Tank Finished (aircamperace@yahoo.com) 19. 04:58 PM - Re: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material (airlion) 20. 05:01 PM - Re: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material (airlion) 21. 08:26 PM - Re: hand help radio question (Clif Dawson) 22. 09:04 PM - Re: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material (Dortch, Steven D MAJ NG NG NGB) 23. 10:25 PM - talk to me about seat cushion material (Oscar Zuniga) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:20:49 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material From: "IT Girl" Hi Douwe, My 2 cents. The front seat, based on the plans has very little if any angle in the seat back, and is just not designed to be comfortable. The seat itself is only about 11" wide? at best and the passenger and seat cushion must stay clear of the pilots feet. We have put a lot of time, energy, and money into cushions to make that seat more comfortable for me and the only real secret is short flights. I cannot take 6 hour days in the front seat. Now if you can get Dan Helsper to chime in.... I think that his cane seats are the answer! If Kevin would let me, I would make that upgrade!..... But Kevin is a slacker... I'll take it up with Ken, we all know that he does all of the work anyway. From: kevinpurtee Subject: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material --> Pietenpol-List message posted by: "kevinpurtee" Hi Douwe - I do fly. Shelley made the cushions. We used the high-dollar foam from aircraft spruce and she bought a cow-hide off ebay and used it to make both seat cushions and the coaming, similar to what Jack described. Also similar to Jack, she layered the various densities to make the cushions more comfortable. I believe the cushions are 2". In the back: the bottom cushion takes up almost the whole seat bottom and is not secured by anything but my butt. That has never, ever created a problem. It does not move. My back rest cushion is a neck pillow that she covered in duck cloth of an appropriate color (same fabric as the cockpit covers). BTW: The duck cloth on the cockpit covers shrinks and the red trim bleeds color when wet. In the front: she made a cushion that takes up the tiny seat bottom. Even with the high-dollar foam people get uncomfortable up there pretty quick. My record day was 500 miles and that's pretty tiring. The seat cushion was not a problem, though. As you may be aware, the trips from Texas to Brodhead are 3 days each way and I fly a lot while at Brodhead. Hope this helps. -------- Kevin "Axel" Purtee NX899KP Austin/San Marcos, TX Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369409#369409 -------- Shelley Tumino IT Girl wife of "Axel" NX899KP DO NOT ARCHIVE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369462#369462 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 06:51:21 AM PST US From: "TOM STINEMETZE" Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material If you are all wondering what an IT girl looks like, here's a photo I took last summer when she and Kevin were in McPherson. 8>) Tom Stinemetze N328X >>> "IT Girl" 3/28/2012 8:20 AM >>> Hi Douwe, My 2 cents. The front seat, based on the plans has very little if any angle in the seat back, and is just not designed to be comfortable. The seat itself is only about 11" wide? at best and the passenger and seat cushion must stay clear of the pilots feet. We have put a lot of time, energy, and money into cushions to make that seat more comfortable for me and the only real secret is short flights. I cannot take 6 hour days in the front seat. ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:30:41 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material From: Ken Bickers Shelley, thanks for the shout out. Please tell Kevin to quit being such a slacker. Meanwhile, I'll get back to work on those caned seats. Best, Ken Do Not Archive On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 7:20 AM, IT Girl wrote: > > Hi Douwe, > > My 2 cents. The front seat, based on the plans has very little if any angle in the seat back, and is just not designed to be comfortable. The seat itself is only about 11" wide? at best and the passenger and seat cushion must stay clear of the pilots feet. We have put a lot of time, energy, and money into cushions to make that seat more comfortable for me and the only real secret is short flights. I cannot take 6 hour days in the front seat. > > Now if you can get Dan Helsper to chime in.... I think that his cane seats are the answer! If Kevin would let me, I would make that upgrade!..... But Kevin is a slacker... I'll take it up with Ken, we all know that he does all of the work anyway. > > > From: kevinpurtee > Subject: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material > To: pietenpol-list@matronics.com > Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 10:54 AM > --> Pietenpol-List message posted > by: "kevinpurtee" > > Hi Douwe - I do fly. > > Shelley made the cushions. We used the high-dollar > foam from aircraft spruce and she bought a cow-hide off ebay > and used it to make both seat cushions and the coaming, > similar to what Jack described. Also similar to Jack, > she layered the various densities to make the cushions more > comfortable. I believe the cushions are 2". > > In the back: the bottom cushion takes up almost the whole > seat bottom and is not secured by anything but my > butt. That has never, ever created a problem. It > does not move. My back rest cushion is a neck pillow > that she covered in duck cloth of an appropriate color (same > fabric as the cockpit covers). BTW: The duck cloth on > the cockpit covers shrinks and the red trim bleeds color > when wet. > > In the front: she made a cushion that takes up the tiny seat > bottom. Even with the high-dollar foam people get > uncomfortable up there pretty quick. > > My record day was 500 miles and that's pretty tiring. > The seat cushion was not a problem, though. As you may > be aware, the trips from Texas to Brodhead are 3 days each > way and I fly a lot while at Brodhead. > > Hope this helps. > > -------- > Kevin "Axel" Purtee > NX899KP > Austin/San Marcos, TX > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369409#369409 > > -------- > Shelley Tumino > IT Girl > wife of "Axel" > NX899KP > > DO NOT ARCHIVE > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369462#369462 > > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 08:06:05 AM PST US From: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]" Subject: Pietenpol-List: an alternative to seat cushions Southwest. do not archive ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 08:35:46 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: an alternative to seat cushions From: "IT Girl" nope... those are awful too do not archive -------- Shelley Tumino IT Girl wife of "Axel" NX899KP DO NOT ARCHIVE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369467#369467 ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 08:51:01 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: hand help radio question From: "K5YAC" Another vote for the Icom radios... although I have also heard good things about the Vertex line... makers of Yeasu products. Quick story, and nothing about getting the most out of your radio or any of that boring stuff... LOL! I was flying the first leg of my long cross-country several years ago from Tulsa to Springfield, MO. On my solo training flights I always carried my flight bag, to include handheld radio and GPS, just in case I got turned around. So, I'm flying along and getting near Springfield... as I reach up to tune the old radio to listen to traffic, the knob slips right off into my fingers! I thought, no biggie, I'll just slip it back on and then keep it handy for whenever I need to change freqs, but when I looked at the knob I noticed that there was no flat, just a round shaft and a set screw! What a terrible design, especially for an airplane radio! So, I was out of luck on using the panel radio. The only thing that kept me from having to use light signals to land was my Icom A-22. I grabbed it and the Y-adapter from my bag, hooked it up and was able to contact Springfield approach loud and clear about 10 miles out. I just threw the HT on the dash and pressed on with the rest of my flight... my next stop was Chanute, KS and then back home to Tulsa. The A-22 worked fine just sitting on the dash... no ground plane, no feedline issues, just the ol rubber duckie... Ha! Yes, I'm just being a smart aleck. No, this is not how I'll use it in the Piet. -------- Mark Chouinard Wings, Center Section and Empannage framed up - Working on Fuselage Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369469#369469 ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 09:45:56 AM PST US From: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]" Subject: Pietenpol-List: ignition noise when using radios (nothing about antennas--I PROMISE!) As long as we are talking radios, I use an Icom A-5 and it works really well. I have unshielded wiring on my spark plug wires so the radio picks up the 'buzz' noise of the engine firing. An old trick my Champ buddy Joe Tomasic told me wayyyy back was to switch to one mag and throttle back some when wanting to listen or transmit as it cuts the plug noise in half. Have used that method for years and years--works fine. Mike C. ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 09:49:04 AM PST US From: santiago morete Subject: Pietenpol-List: Inst. Panel design My full IFR panel. I still think I have too many instruments.....=0A=0ASant iago ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 10:29:55 AM PST US From: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]" Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Inst. Panel design S25vd2luZyBob3cgaGlnaCB5b3UgYXJlIGlzIHJlYWxseSBvdmVycmF0ZWQgU2FudGlhZ2/imLoN Cg0KTWlrZSBDLg0KDQpkbyBub3QgYXJjaGl2ZQ0KDQoNCg0KRnJvbTogb3duZXItcGlldGVucG9s LWxpc3Qtc2VydmVyQG1hdHJvbmljcy5jb20gW21haWx0bzpvd25lci1waWV0ZW5wb2wtbGlzdC1z ZXJ2ZXJAbWF0cm9uaWNzLmNvbV0gT24gQmVoYWxmIE9mIHNhbnRpYWdvIG1vcmV0ZQ0KU2VudDog V2VkbmVzZGF5LCBNYXJjaCAyOCwgMjAxMiAxMjo0OCBQTQ0KVG86IHBpZXRlbnBvbC1saXN0QG1h dHJvbmljcy5jb20NClN1YmplY3Q6IFBpZXRlbnBvbC1MaXN0OiBJbnN0LiBQYW5lbCBkZXNpZ24N Cg0KTXkgZnVsbCBJRlIgcGFuZWwuIEkgc3RpbGwgdGhpbmsgSSBoYXZlIHRvbyBtYW55IGluc3Ry dW1lbnRzLi4uLi4NCg0KU2FudGlhZ28NCg= ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 10:40:30 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Inst. Panel design From: Brett Phillips Santiago: It's beautiful! I really like your slip/skid inclinometer. Please tell me m ore about it. Brett Phillips On Mar 28, 2012, at 12:48 PM, santiago morete w rote: > My full IFR panel. I still think I have too many instruments..... > > Santiago > ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 10:43:09 AM PST US From: Dan Yocum Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Inst. Panel design Nice. Oil pressure and temperature go... where? Dan On 03/28/2012 11:48 AM, santiago morete wrote: > My full IFR panel. I still think I have too many instruments..... > > Santiago ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 11:28:16 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Inst. Panel design From: "Chris Rusch" Here is mine, compass goes in the top center hole. Slip indicator goes on the bottom center. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369479#369479 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/img_2034_577.jpg ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 01:32:38 PM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: ignition noise when using radios (nothing about antennas--I PROMISE!) From: Andrew Eldredge Are your p-leads shielded? I've encountered the "buzz" but performance is still marginal even with shielded ignition wires. I'm looking at using shielded leads to see if that can get me into an operable situation. Andrew On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP] wrote: > AEROSPACE CORP]" > > As long as we are talking radios, I use an Icom A-5 and it works > really well. > > I have unshielded wiring on my spark plug wires so the radio picks up > the 'buzz' noise of the engine firing. > > An old trick my Champ buddy Joe Tomasic told me wayyyy back was to switch > to one mag and throttle back some when wanting to listen or transmit as it > cuts the plug noise in half. > > Have used that method for years and years--works fine. > > Mike C. > > -- Andrew Eldredge Provo, UT ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 01:44:07 PM PST US From: "Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP]" Subject: Pietenpol-List: ignition noise Andrew-yes, I used shielded p-leads as per the Tony Bingelis books on both of my unshielded Eismann mags. Mike C. do not archive ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 01:49:41 PM PST US From: John Hofmann Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: ignition noise when using radios (nothing about antennas--I PROMISE!) I have an A-24 and an A-14. I like them both. I use the A-14 more because it is very small and simple to use. I velcro it to the inside of the fuselage. (FYI, JoAnn Fabrics has a great supply of Velcro in sheets and rolls. I also Velcro my iPhone to the instrument panel for navigation and when necessary, attach an intercom next to the radio.) However the A-24 came with the headset adapter and when I bought my A-14 it did not. When I purchased another of those the price was approaching what I paid for the A-24. -john- John Hofmann Vice-President, Information Technology The Rees Group, Inc. 2424 American Lane Madison, WI 53704 Phone: 608.443.2468 ext 150 Fax: 608.443.2474 Email: jhofmann@reesgroupinc.com On Mar 28, 2012, at 3:32 PM, Andrew Eldredge wrote: > Are your p-leads shielded? I've encountered the "buzz" but performance is still marginal even with shielded ignition wires. I'm looking at using shielded leads to see if that can get me into an operable situation. > > Andrew > > On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 10:45 AM, Cuy, Michael D. (GRC-RXD0)[ASRC AEROSPACE CORP] wrote: AEROSPACE CORP]" > > As long as we are talking radios, I use an Icom A-5 and it works > really well. > > I have unshielded wiring on my spark plug wires so the radio picks up > the 'buzz' noise of the engine firing. > > An old trick my Champ buddy Joe Tomasic told me wayyyy back was to switch > to one mag and throttle back some when wanting to listen or transmit as it > cuts the plug noise in half. > > Have used that method for years and years--works fine. > > Mike C. > > > > > > ========== > st" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Pietenpol-List > ========== > http://forums.matronics.com > ========== > le, List Admin. > ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution > ========== > > > > > > > -- > Andrew Eldredge > Provo, UT > > > > ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 02:41:08 PM PST US From: Michael Perez Subject: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank Finished Attached are pictures of my finished fuel tank. With the help of a friend, we fabricated the tank out of- .032" 5052 aluminum. Another post of mine includes pictures showing the tank baffles inside.- The tank was welded a nd pressure tested to about 3 PSI by Greg Klemp, who was mentioned in the f irst BPA newsletter this year. - The tank as pictured with filler neck, cap and finger strainer weighs 6.5lb s.- Next I will find out how many gallons it will hold and start the inst all. and fuel line hook-up. - Michael Perez Karetaker Aero www.karetakeraero.com ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 03:03:13 PM PST US From: brian.e.jardine@l-3com.com Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank Finished Looks great Michael...... beautiful welding job! Brian SLC-UT From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Michael Perez Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 3:40 PM Subject: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank Finished Attached are pictures of my finished fuel tank. With the help of a friend, we fabricated the tank out of .032" 5052 aluminum. Another post of mine includes pictures showing the tank baffles inside. The tank was welded and pressure tested to about 3 PSI by Greg Klemp, who was mentioned in the first BPA newsletter this year. The tank as pictured with filler neck, cap and finger strainer weighs 6.5lbs. Next I will find out how many gallons it will hold and start the install. and fuel line hook-up. Michael Perez Karetaker Aero www.karetakeraero.com ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 04:25:52 PM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank Finished From: aircamperace@yahoo.com Nice Job. Any chance you'll be sharing the plans or will they be in the next video? Ryan Sent from my iPhone On Mar 28, 2012, at 5:40 PM, Michael Perez wrote: > Attached are pictures of my finished fuel tank. With the help of a friend, we fabricated the tank out of .032" 5052 aluminum. Another post of mine in cludes pictures showing the tank baffles inside. The tank was welded and pr essure tested to about 3 PSI by Greg Klemp, who was mentioned in the first B PA newsletter this year. > > The tank as pictured with filler neck, cap and finger strainer weighs 6.5l bs. Next I will find out how many gallons it will hold and start the instal l. and fuel line hook-up. > > Michael Perez > Karetaker Aero > www.karetakeraero.com > > ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 04:58:19 PM PST US From: airlion Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material Hey it girl. As an old furniture builder The correct angle for a chair is 17 degrees. to be comfortable. If you can't get that angle then try dropping the middle of your seat about 1.5 inches by using a sheet of alum to le itt conform to your bottom. It works for me. ----- Original Message ---- From: IT Girl Sent: Wed, March 28, 2012 9:20:02 AM Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material Hi Douwe, My 2 cents. The front seat, based on the plans has very little if any angle in the seat back, and is just not designed to be comfortable. The seat itself is only about 11" wide? at best and the passenger and seat cushion must stay clear of the pilots feet. We have put a lot of time, energy, and money into cushions to make that seat more comfortable for me and the only real secret is short flights. I cannot take 6 hour days in the front seat. Now if you can get Dan Helsper to chime in.... I think that his cane seats are the answer! If Kevin would let me, I would make that upgrade!..... But Kevin is a slacker... I'll take it up with Ken, we all know that he does all of the work anyway. From: kevinpurtee Subject: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material --> Pietenpol-List message posted by: "kevinpurtee" Hi Douwe - I do fly. Shelley made the cushions. We used the high-dollar foam from aircraft spruce and she bought a cow-hide off ebay and used it to make both seat cushions and the coaming, similar to what Jack described. Also similar to Jack, she layered the various densities to make the cushions more comfortable. I believe the cushions are 2". In the back: the bottom cushion takes up almost the whole seat bottom and is not secured by anything but my butt. That has never, ever created a problem. It does not move. My back rest cushion is a neck pillow that she covered in duck cloth of an appropriate color (same fabric as the cockpit covers). BTW: The duck cloth on the cockpit covers shrinks and the red trim bleeds color when wet. In the front: she made a cushion that takes up the tiny seat bottom. Even with the high-dollar foam people get uncomfortable up there pretty quick. My record day was 500 miles and that's pretty tiring. The seat cushion was not a problem, though. As you may be aware, the trips from Texas to Brodhead are 3 days each way and I fly a lot while at Brodhead. Hope this helps. -------- Kevin "Axel" Purtee NX899KP Austin/San Marcos, TX Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369409#369409 -------- Shelley Tumino IT Girl wife of "Axel" NX899KP DO NOT ARCHIVE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369462#369462 ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 05:01:40 PM PST US From: airlion Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material Hey Tom . that is a gross pic for such pleasant and nice looking lady as Kevins' It Girl. Gardiner ----- Original Message ---- From: TOM STINEMETZE Sent: Wed, March 28, 2012 9:50:48 AM Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material If you are all wondering what an IT girl looks like, here's a photo I took last summer when she and Kevin were in McPherson. 8>) Tom Stinemetze N328X >>> "IT Girl" 3/28/2012 8:20 AM >>> Hi Douwe, My 2 cents. The front seat, based on the plans has very little if any angle in the seat back, and is just not designed to be comfortable. The seat itself is only about 11" wide? at best and the passenger and seat cushion must stay clear of the pilots feet. We have put a lot of time, energy, and money into cushions to make that seat more comfortable for me and the only real secret is short flights. I cannot take 6 hour days in the front seat. ________________________________ Message 21 ____________________________________ Time: 08:26:26 PM PST US From: "Clif Dawson" Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: hand help radio question I bought an A14 and in attempting to put some frequencies in memory screwed it up so bad dealing with the silly instructions I almost threw the thing across the room. Stayed my hand though, with extreme difficulty!! Ah, but then I went to Utube and found a whole flock of instruction vids on the various functions including the memory stuff. The guy made it so easy a two year old could do it. A few minutes of work I have twelve frequencies in the memory! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D2lJUoIjlw I tell you! this is NOT like the written instructions!!! Clif "There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself." ~Johann Sebastian Bach Hey Douwe, I have the ICOM A6 with an antenna back in the fuse. I like it and it gets good reception but it is not user friendly . I have to get the manual to figure out what I am doing. Gardiner ________________________________ Message 22 ____________________________________ Time: 09:04:59 PM PST US From: "Dortch, Steven D MAJ NG NG NGB" Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: talk to me about seat cushion material UNCLASSIFIED I only take my wife's pillow. Besides, I tell her it smells like petunias! Blue Skies, Steve D On 03/27/12, Piet2112 wrote: > > > steven.d.dortch(at)us.arm wrote: > > For long trips in my Vtail (or the 2001 Toyota Corolla), I often take a memory foam pillow off of my bed. Makes a world of difference. > > > > Blue Skies, > > Steve D > > > > --- > > > After using the pillow as a seat cushion, are you sure you want to lay your head on it? > > I guess it has two sides :) > > Curt Merdan > please do not archive > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369444#369444 > > > > > > > > > > UNCLASSIFIED ________________________________ Message 23 ____________________________________ Time: 10:25:12 PM PST US From: Oscar Zuniga Subject: Pietenpol-List: talk to me about seat cushion material OK, now here's a topic that is going to generate some lively discussion! First off, I agree completely with Axel: get temperfoam, get the various densities to build up a custom cushion that is shaped to your backside, and don't spare any expense. If you don't plan to make long flights, then don't give it another thought- you could just put bare plywood down and be OK, or toss a cheapo throw pillow or stadium cushion in there and be just fine. Just don't expect that to work if you'll be flying your airplane cross-country. Definition of x-c in a Piet: anything more than a 0.5 hr. entry in your logbook. Front and rear seats are two entirely different topics. Rear seat is PIC's. If you will fly an hour or two at a time, it won't matter what you do for your seat. If you're a serious flyer, it will. Scout has a full-size seat cushion in the rear cockpit, naugahyde over foam over plywood, and it's OK for puttering around the pattern but not for anything over 30 minutes. I have put various types of cushions on top of the seat for longer flights, everything from the Walmart cushions for bar stools to the flotation cushions from boats, and they all are OK for shorter flights but not for hours at a time and not for x-c. Plus, when I put supplemental cushions in there, I raise my face into the airstream so I prefer not to do that so I can stay behind the windscreen. My problem is that I am a 150lb. guy and in the Piet, all my weight is on the tailbones and there isn't anything there to cushion those two hard points. You have to get in the airplane and fly it x-c to see what will work for you, but craft store cheapo foam stuff won't do it but you won't know until you go for a longer flight. Next point: back rests, front or back cockpits: you could have iron scraps there, or bananas- it doesn't matter because you'll never be sitting back for very long. At least I don't find myself leaning back against the back rest for very long. And I've flown both front and rear cockpits for hours at a time. In the back as PIC and in the front as navigator, with charts. Next point: the front seat. it's not very large. If you'll just be giving rides, your passengers won't know if they are on a soft cushion or a hard one, or if there is a cushion at all. They will be so psyched on the flight itself that they won't know what they sat on or anything else unless it has to do with their experience out of the cockpit. If you build it to plans, there is no cushion on the front seat. Kids won't care in the slightest. Final comment: the padding on the pilot's seat bottom is one of the most important factors in how comfortable you will be flying your Piet for extended periods, and you won't know that until you fly it for an extended period. Don't spend a lot of money on the first try, because chances are, the first time you fly an extended x-c you'll want to change it. After 2 hrs. in the air in Scout, I'm ready for a break and I have determined that after numerous extended flights. I need some Temperfoam but I'm willing to endure almost anything just so I can fly my airplane. There is nothing else like it. Oscar Zuniga Air Camper NX41CC "Scout" Flying Squirrel N2069Z "Rocket" Medford, OR website at http://www.flysquirrel.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message pietenpol-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Pietenpol-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/pietenpol-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/pietenpol-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.